In Light of the World, directors Tom Bancroft and John J. Schafer issue a fresh perspective on the story of Jesus for a young audience – a beautifully animated recollection told from the experience of Jesus’ apostle John.

This film is another chapter for The Salvation Poem Project, a non-profit, Christian-based collective co-founded by Schafer that wants to find different ways to deliver devout stories to viewers. Up next is their video game Clayface. I suppose, and if I understand the mission statement for The Salvation Poem Project correctly, Schafer and company will experiment with new outlets for storytelling in the same way Harmony Korine has integrated AI-generated video art into filmmaking. Talk about putting the “lrd” in Edglrd.

For the collective’s film debut, Light of the World is a satisfying session of Sunday school, mixing expressive 2D animation (rivaling the fetching angular visuals from Disney’s Hercules) and biblical easter eggs with messages and lessons that avoid being preachy. The information in Light of the World is delivered in a manner that mirrors ambitious faith-based filmmaking, like Risen, with nostalgic “edutainment”, like The Magic School Bus. The audience doesn’t feel pandered to or talked down to. The trick to this success is that Bancroft and Schafer aspire to tell an epic adventure that’s supported by good will; not the other way around.

Still, Light of the World is at odds with itself. The round edges stop Light of the World from being this generation’s The Prince of Egypt, but a suggestively violent third act will be too distressing for kids. The right audience will have no problem finding Light of the World, but it’s unclear that the film will find the longevity to subvert expectations and step outside of its following.

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Addison Wylie: @AddisonWylie