Adam Kozlick, animation, Benjamin Jacobson, Ceara Morgana, David Kaye, David Pettitt, Dylan Leonard, Erin Mathews, Ian Hanlin, Jesse Inocalla, John J. Schafer, Joshua Black, Light of the World, Mark Oliver, Michael Benyaer, movies, Rebekah Schafer, Sam Darkoh, Tom Bancroft, Vincent Tong
December 25, 2025
by Carla Hay
Directed by Tom Bancroft and John J. Schafer
Culture Representation: Taking place primarily in the year 30 A.D., in various regions that are now in modern Israel, the animated film “Light of the World” (based on New Testament teachings in the Christian bible) features a cast of characters who are Jewish or Roman.
Culture Clash: A fisherman’s young son finds out about a preacher named Jesus of Nazareth, who is believed to be the Messiah, but others think that Jesus is a fraud who should be arrested and punished.
Culture Audience: “Light of the World” will appeal primarily to people who are interested in watching animated films that are based on religious teachings.
“Light of the World” is an enjoyable 2-D animated film that gives modern dialogue to the Christian biblical story about Jesus Christ and his disciples, from the perspective of youngest apostle John. It’s a coming-of-age story with Christian teachings. “Light of the World” covers the period of time when adult Jesus became known as a prophet and as a messiah and the aftermath of his persecution, including his trial, crucifixion and resurrection.
Directed by Tom Bancroft and John J. Schafer, “Light of the World” was written by David Armstrong and Drew Armstrong. The movies takes place primarily in the year 30 A.D., in areas of what is now known as modern-day Israel near the Jordan River. “Light of the World” portrays John as a curious and adventurous child.
“Light of the World” begins by showing a fisherman’s wife named Salome (voiced by Erin Mathews) telling her two underage sons—elder son James (voiced by Joshua Black) and younger son John (voiced by Benjamin Jacobson)—the Creation Story that includes how humans were created in the Garden of Eden and how Eve tempted Adam with forbidden fruit, which lead to the world being plagued by sin and wickedness. “The Messiah will overcome the darkness and make all things right again,” Salome tells James and John.
Salome’s husband is Zebedee (voiced by David Pettitt), who is not as religious as Salome. Zebedee is very skeptical that the Messiah will arrive in his lifetime. Zebedee is mainly concerned with getting enough fish to support his family and pay the taxes that the Romans have levied against the Jews in the area. This patriarch expects his sons James and John to also become fisherman
Years later, young adult James (voiced by Dylan Leonard) has become a fisherman who works with Zebedee. Also working with Zebedee are two orphaned brothers who are about the same age as James—Peter (voiced by Sam Darkoh) and Andrew (voiced by Vincent Tong), who view Zebedee as a father figure. John, who is in his early teens, wants to become a fisherman too, but Zebedee thinks that John is too young.
One day, Zebedee gives John the task of selling fish and delivering the money made from the sales to tax collector Matthew (voiced by Adam Kozlick), who is stringent about taxes being paid on time. While John is at the market, he meets a mysterious carpenter in his early 30s, who tells John an alternate way back home. On his way home, through a series of circumstances that won’t be revealed in this review, John encounters some Romans.
By the time John gets home, the bag of coins meant to pay the taxes now has just one coin. Zebedee is furious and blames John for the loss of the money. Matthew demands that Zebedee pay double the original tax amount and gives a deadline of three days. This tax payment deadline is hanging over the family when John has certain experiences that change his life and the lives of others.
Word has spread in the community that man named John the Baptist (voiced by Jesse Inocalla), also known as The Baptizer is the Messiah. In this movie, The Baptizer is depicted as a hippie type who is somewhat goofy and very in tune with nature. John meets the Baptizer, who teaches John about baptism. However, John says he is not the Messiah, even though people want to believe that he is.
John the Baptist says that he is the disciple of someone named Jesus (voiced by Ian Hanlin) is the true Messiah. Romans. As for that mysterious carpenter, John sees him again at a wedding and finds out that the carpenter’s name is Jesus, who is with Jesus’ mother Mary (voiced by Rebekah Schafer) at the wedding. John witnesses his first miracle at the wedding when he sees Jesus turn water into wine.
The rest of “Light of the World” takes on an adventure mystery tone, as the numbers of Jesus’ followers grow to include Peter, Andrew, James and John. The Pharisees and the Romans are persecuting anyone who claims to be the Messiah, which means Jesus becomes a target as the news spreads about his miracles. Jesus remains a calm and steady leader who practices what he preaches in showing forgiveness and compassion.
As expected, other characters in “Light of the World” include Judas Iscariot (voiced by David Kaye), the cowardly and duplicitous apostle; Mary Magdalene (voiced by Ceara Morgana), nicknamed Mags, who has become a society outsider but is accepted by Jesus; Nicodemus (voiced by Michael Benyaer), the Pharisee who schemes to get rid of Jesus; and Pontius Pilate (voiced by Mark Oliver), the Roman governor who decides Jesus’ fate when Jesus goes on trial. All of the voice cast members are serviceable in their roles.
The animation in “Light of the World” isn’t fancy, but it does a very good job at depicting expressions on people’s faces, background scenery and lighting. Because the movie is told from John’s perspective, it maintains a child-like wonder in discovering who Jesus is while also telling a story about a child learning some harsh adult realities. “Light of the World” has moments that are intended to pull at the heartstrings and possibly bring viewers to tears, but the movie doesn’t get too schmaltzy. Whether or not viewers are religious, there’s enough to like about “Light of the World” for depicting how humanity’s goodness can triumph over evil actions.
Epic Pictures released “Light of the World” in U.S. cinemas on September 5, 2025. The movie was released on digital and VOD on October 14, 2025. “Light of the World” was released on Blu-ray and DVD on November 25, 2025.