Ex-Disney Animator Tom Bancroft on Faith, Film, and Shifting Entertainment Landscape

Genesis of "Light of the World"

• 💡 The film "Light of the World" originated from a desire to create a 2D animated movie about Jesus, with directors Tom Bancroft and John Schafer collaborating due to their prior experience on the CBN project "Superbook."
• 🎯 The project aimed to tell the story of Jesus through the unique perspective of the apostle John, focusing on his coming-of-age journey and his developing understanding of Jesus.

Unique Storytelling Approach

• 🔑 The film's narrative is grounded in the Gospel of John, highlighting key moments to present the gospel to audiences unfamiliar with the Bible.
• 🧠 The directors emphasized balancing biblical truth with relatable human elements, portraying Jesus as a friend and showing the apostles' imperfections and questioning nature.
• 🎭 The approach sought to make Jesus relatable and showcase his human side through his friendship with John, avoiding a constant lecture-style delivery.

Navigating Faith and Industry Shifts

• ⚠️ Tom Bancroft, an ex-Disney animator, left the company 25 years ago due to a perceived shift in its content direction, moving away from family-friendly themes.
• 🎯 He established a personal mandate to only work on projects he could show his daughters, leading him to turn down jobs that conflicted with his values.
• 🌟 Bancroft found fulfillment in creating faith-based content, working on projects like Veggie Tales, Superbook, and now "Light of the World," allowing him to integrate his beliefs into his work.

The Need for Faith-Based Content

• 🚀 Directors believe projects like "Light of the World" are crucial in the current entertainment climate, offering hope and spiritual truth in a non-threatening medium like 2D animation.
• 🗣️ They aim to provide a simple, engaging, and biblically accurate gospel presentation for both Christian and non-Christian audiences worldwide.
• 📈 The success of faith-based films like "The Chosen" demonstrates a global resonance for spiritual truth, encouraging filmmakers to create more content that aligns with these values.

Supporting "Light of the World"

• 📣 The filmmakers urge audiences to see "Light of the World" in theaters on September 5th to support faith-based filmmaking and signal demand to Hollywood.
• 🌟 A strong box office performance is seen as a way to encourage more Christian filmmakers and studios to produce similar content.
• 🌍 The film is intended as a tool for ministries globally, similar to the impact of the "Jesus Film" project.