Tom Bancroft, a veteran Disney animator known for his iconic characters like Simba and Mushu, has returned to the big screen with a faith-based animated film titled Light of the World. The film, which follows the story of Jesus Christ from the perspective of his young disciple John, employs a classic 2D animation style similar to Disney’s golden era. Bancroft, who previously worked on Disney’s The Lion King and Aladdin, said the film is the project he is most proud of in his career. The film is set to premiere in theaters on September 5 and was fully funded by the Christian nonprofit Salvation Poem Foundation.
Bancroft left Disney in 2000 after a dispute over a religious-themed short film, which reportedly made Disney executives uncomfortable. He joined the Christian kids’ series VeggieTales and later CBN’s Superbook, and in 2020 co-founded Pencilish Studios to create original 2D content. He has expressed a deep love for hand-drawn animation, which remains a rare art form in the modern era. ‘Light of the World’ represents a significant milestone in Bancroft’s career, as it offers full creative freedom to tell a faith-based story on a grand scale. The film’s release underscores a growing interest in faith-based entertainment, with Bancroft calling it a blessing to bring his artistry and beliefs together in this way.