A new animated film titled Light of the World has just been released in theaters on September 5, 2025. It is an ambitious project that seeks to bring the life of Jesus Christ to the big screen in a fresh, moving, and family-friendly way.
The film follows the ministry of Jesus, from His call to the disciples to His crucifixion and resurrection, with an interesting twist: it is narrated from the perspective of the apostle John, considered the youngest of the twelve. This creative choice allows children and teenagers to identify with the story, seeing Christ through the eyes of someone close to their age.
A different approach
Director John Schafer explains that they conceived the movie as a coming-of-age story: young audiences connect with John, while adults rediscover Jesus through a childlike gaze filled with wonder.
The approach is supported by research from biblical historians suggesting that some disciples may have been very young when they began to follow the Lord. In John’s case, it has been proposed that he could have been around 13 or 14 years old.
Top-level production
The production is led by The Salvation Poem Project, with a budget of $20 million. The film is directed by Schafer (known for CBN’s Superbook) and Tom Bancroft (former Disney animator for The Lion King, Mulan, and Aladdin), with animation direction by Tony Bancroft (Mulan, Mary Poppins Returns, Space Jam: A New Legacy).
Instead of 3D animation, the team opted for the classic 2D format, for its timeless charm and its closeness to the aesthetics of a children’s picture book.
We wanted it to feel like an illustrated storybook come to life, and the only way to achieve that look and feel was through 2D animation.
Evangelization through art
In addition to the film, the project offers free resources on its official website: devotionals, mini-games, a coloring book, and a picture book. The intention is clear: not only to entertain, but also to serve as an evangelistic tool.
The film is linked to The Salvation Poem, a short six-line song that summarizes the gospel in a simple and memorable way. Millions of people have heard it in multiple languages, and those who follow the animated series Superbook will recognize it since it appears at the end of each episode.
Opinion and context
I am glad to see high-quality animation used once again to tell biblical stories on the big screen. For years, titles such as The Prince of Egypt (DreamWorks, 1998) demonstrated the potential of the medium; in the Christian field, Superbook and VeggieTales marked a generation, but we rarely saw projects as ambitious as Light of the World, with a veteran team and a budget of this magnitude.
I believe this movie can open a new chapter for Christian animation: not only as a resource for churches or Bible schools, but as an appealing proposal for all audiences, even for those unfamiliar with the Bible. At the same time, it is important to remember that the true “light of the world” is not an audiovisual production, but the person of Jesus Christ (John 8:12). Art is a powerful medium; the goal is for more people to know and believe in the Savior.
Availability: Light of the World is in theaters starting September 5, 2025. More information and resources at LightoftheWorld.com.
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