When I was in sixth grade, my church drove to Sight & Sound Theatres in Pennsylvania to see Behold the Lamb (now remastered as Jesus). We sat near the center aisle, and when the actor for Jesus passed by on a real-life donkey amid palms and fanfare, I had been transported directly into the Bible.

Then … Jesus made eye contact with me. And waved.

For the rest of the evening, I couldn’t stop repeating, “Jesus waved at me! He waved at me!” I knew “Jesus” was only a human actor, but that personal connection was deep. It was when I started to see Jesus as a real person—and a friend.

Now almost twenty years later, Bible stories brought to life still resonate with me. During this year’s Realm Makers Expo, I attended an exclusive screening of Tom Bancroft and John Schafer’s new animated Gospel film, Light of the World, which tells Jesus’s story through the eyes of a child-aged apostle John. I sat next to a friend as we watched Jesus ride into the city on a donkey with palms and fanfare.

Then … Jesus made eye contact with a child in the animated crowd. And waved. The child gasped and screamed, “Jesus waved at me! He waved at me!”

And I lost it.

Bancroft and Schafer created a movie for kids like me: kids who daydream about being a child in first-century Capernaum, meeting Jesus and watching the miraculous; kids who wonder how He smiles, how He laughs, and how it’d feel to watch Him save the world.

Listen to our Aug. 2025 podcast interview with animators Tony Bancroft and Tom Bancroft.

Like The Chosen before it, Light of the World depicts an ethnically accurate Jesus with a personable demeanor and streak of humor, a far cry from the many pasty, wan, and emotionally distant “Jesuses” I grew up seeing in other media. Not only does Jesus feel real, He takes personal interest in the youngest, most-overlooked disciple. He looks at John with the love and attention every kid longs for.

Taking inspiration from films like Netflix’s Klaus, Light of the World dives into fresh animation and carefully considered design. Bible films often depict Jerusalem as different shades of brown, but Light of the World’s artwork is bright and incredibly fresh feeling.¹

The film does move fast—its runtime only eighty-four minutes—and occasionally I wished I could have stopped to appreciate the world and characters a little longer. For story and brevity’s sake, the film combines certain narratives. The events of Palm Sunday, Passover, and the crucifixion all happen within the span of twenty-four hours, and the Ascension and Pentecost are a single event. Some parents may voice concern that their children will adopt the film’s condensed timeline when learning the Gospel, but these concerns are simply evidence that discernment and healthy conversations with family members are always important.

Sixth-grade Jenneth is jealous of today’s kids who’ll get to experience a relatable, down-to-earth Jesus who excitedly finishes your sentences and shares grimaces when the Baptizer gets too enthusiastic about eating locusts. But more importantly, Light of the World shows kids that they’re uniquely special to the Son of God, and no one is too small to be loved by Him.

Light of the World arrives in theaters today, Sept. 5, 2025.