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A brand new 2D animation tells the life of Jesus from the perspective of his youngest disciple, John, and it’s hitting Australian cinemas on 4 September this month. Here is what you need to know.

It’s one story that we can’t get enough of—and that is of course the story of Jesus’ life on earth. A new feature-length 2D animated film promises to bring a unique perspective to the world’s most amazing story, presenting the good news to a whole new generation for the first time.

Here’s What You Need to Know

A veteran team of creatives known as the Salvation Poem Project have put their heads together to produce a high-quality 2D feature film (think Prince of Egypt-esque, hand-drawn, classic 2D feel) entitled Light of the World. The movie tells the story of Jesus’ life on earth (beginning in A.D. 30), his ministry, crucifixion and resurrection, through the eyes of his youngest disciple, John.

According to Christian tradition, John was indeed the youngest of Jesus’ apostles. While scholars dispute his probable age, it is plausible that John was in his teens when Jesus died. Framing Jesus’ life and ministry in this way provides a creative opportunity to reimagine the story in a way that resonates with younger audiences.

 

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Synopsis: “It’s AD 30 and everyone is expectantly awaiting the coming Messiah. While Jesus isn’t exactly what they imagined, there is something special about this man. Soon, John, James, Andrew, Peter, and their new friends begin to follow Jesus on an unexpected adventure. This beautiful, 2D-animated story of Jesus is told through the eyes of His beloved young friend, the Apostle John. From the beginning of Jesus’ ministry through His crucifixion and resurrection, LIGHT OF THE WORLD powerfully illustrates how Jesus of Nazareth changed the world forever and still changes lives today!”

With a budget of USD $20 million, the project is no cheap “typical Christian production”. It was directed by John J. Schafer (Superbook) and Tom Bancroft (Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Mulan), with its animation directed by Tony Bancroft (Mulan, Mary Poppins Returns, Space Jam: A New Legacy).

Why 2D animation? The producers say it is because it’s “a timeless medium that retains its beauty over many decades. It contains all the subtle flaws we’ve come to call ‘human’. To us, it’s a fitting way to express our love and adoration to Jesus—the only unflawed person to ever walk the earth.”

The Project’s president, Brennan McPherson, said the heart behind the story was a desire to “share Jesus through song and story”:

“We are a group of artists who cherish Jesus more than life. This film’s story is intensely personal to us because it shows how Jesus can change the lives of broken people like you and me.”

You can find out more about Light of the World on the film website.

Further information, including release times and theatre showings, can be found at the bottom of this article.

What is the Salvation Poem Project?

The Salvation Poem Project describes their mission as “inspiring lifelong followers of Jesus—and equipping others to do the same”. 

“Our mission is to provide beautiful, high-quality resources to ministries, missionaries and fellow believers—absolutely free. As an independent non-profit creative studio, our hearts beat to empower people who are already sharing the Gospel in their communities and across the globe. Our products have been distributed in 25 countries and nearly 100 languages worldwide—intentionally and beautifully designed to help others tell His story.”

The organisation started with a six-line poem based on the sinner’s prayer, called “The Salvation Poem”. That poem has since been translated into ninety-one languages—and they aim to reach 140.

“Jesus, You died upon a cross
And rose again to save the lost
Forgive me now of all my sin
Come be my Saviour, Lord, and Friend
Change my life and make it new
And help me, Lord, to live for You”
(The Salvation Poem)

The Salvation Poem Project has several initiatives in the works besides Light of the World, and their ongoing efforts to translate and distribute “The Salvation Poem”. These include Clayfire, a “hand-drawn, multi-platform video game inspired by the Gospel of John” slated for release in 2027, which the team see as an  “opportunity to engage an emerging market of 1.3 billion gamers with a high-quality, faith-based video game that will rival the most popular mainstream contenders.”

They are also developing the New Believer Course—a discipleship program for “first-time followers who want to learn more about what being a Christian really means”. With new courses under development all the time, the New Believer Course comprises ten beautifully animated lessons walking through topics ranging from prayer to atonement and the character of Jesus in an accessible and engaging format. It has been translated into thirty-six languages.

The Salvation Poem Project is an example of the opportunities that exist to engage unreached audiences with the message of Jesus through creative, Biblically-based, and high-quality media.

Light of the World is slated to release in select cinemas in Australia from 4 September 2025, with Faith Media handling distribution in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands (including Fiji and Papua New Guinea).

 

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You can find more information about show times and theatres where you can see the film on the Faith Media website.

Image courtesy of Light of the World.