Animators and filmmakers Tom Bancroft and John Schafer have a long history of inspiring content for Christian children. “Light of the World” is the latest quest to encourage young people with a powerful Bible message and theme.
The co-director, who previously collaborated on CBN’s popular animated series, “Superbook,” worked on the new project, and was set to AD 30, saying “everyone was hoping for the Messiah to come.”
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“This beautiful, 2D animated story of Jesus is told through the eyes of his beloved young friend, the Apostle John,” the description reads. “From the beginning of Jesus’ ministry to his crucifixion and resurrection, the “light of light” is a powerful demonstration of how Jesus of Nazareth changed the world forever and still life today! ”
The director said CBN News, which is working on the project, is “making dreams a reality,” and has a true purpose.
Schafer said “Light of the World” offers a truly unique lens that the Bible is presented to children and families.
“The biggest thing is the perspective: how do you tell the story of Jesus’ life,” he said. “For us, if we could really go through the lens of the Apostle John, if it was based on the historians and theologians we spoke to, they really are saying.
With that in mind, the duo wanted to tell the story through its pulse and John’s eyes. In fact, the story is told from a John’s perspective that is different from what is presented in other similar films and television projects.
“Our goal was to do this (this) for everyone, but we have in mind… people who don’t have gospel ideas,” Schafer said. “Our goal is not to our biggest theatrical release in the US, but ultimately in the hands of ministries from around the world and use it as a tool.”
Bancroft said the responsibility to address such a critical project that fuses eternal truth with entertainment is that the effort aimed at creating fun, powerful and effective evangelistic tools is “intimidating” but rewarding.
“We began praying before the story meeting and said, ‘God, give us knowledge to know what you want in this film,” he said. “And in stages, we had to take root, so we continued it through production.”
“Light of the World” comes when your appetite for faith-based content is obvious. Shows like “The Chosen” and Christian films are becoming increasingly popular and more common.
Schafer believes that “people are looking,” and this reality drives a plot.
“Parents are looking for content,” he said. “Kids, they are looking for a specific answer… I think people are looking for hope right now, especially in the climate we are in.
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