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Light of the World is a new Christian animated film set to hit theatres this fall.
The Salvation Poem Project produced the film, as they are a team of filmmakers, game developers, and multimedia storytellers whose goal is the share the gospel through media.
"John was the only apostle present at the crucifixion, and he was likely the youngest," said Brennan McPherson, President of The Salvation Poem Project. "That gave us a natural way to present the story through a relatable teenage perspective without compromising historical plausibility."
Instead of the common 3-D animation for many kids' films these days, the team purposefully chose to animate it in 2-D.
"We wanted it to feel timeless, like the Disney films of the ’90s," said Director John J. Schafer. "But we also liked that hand-drawn animation has imperfections. It reflects humanity, and that ties into the broader message of the Gospel."
The team tried to find the best way to be historically accurate without exposing too much violence for a children's film.
"We didn’t want to avoid the hard parts, but we also didn’t want to be graphic," Schafer said. "We used cinematic techniques to frame certain scenes in ways that would be appropriate for children."
Maintaining integrity with the story from the Bible was important to releasing this film.
"John and I became known as the ‘Bible police’ on set," said McPherson. "We were constantly checking: Is this moment in Scripture? If not, is it plausible? Does it support the message?"
The creation of Light of the World was a collaboration from around the world. Animation was completed in Ireland, the orchestral score was recorded in Budapest, and artists contributed from across Europe.
"People are more likely to accept an invitation to a movie than to a church service," said McPherson. "This is a chance for families to invite others into a story that could spark important conversations."
Light of the World hits theatres across North America on Sept. 5, 2025.