New Animated Film Reimagines Jesus’ Story
Angel Studios’ upcoming animated film The King of Kings, set to premiere on April 11, offers a fresh take on the life of Jesus Christ, as told through the eyes of a child. Drawing creative inspiration from Charles Dickens’ prose, the film is set in Victorian England and follows the famed author as he shares Jesus’ story with his son. The project was initiated by South Korean director Jang Seong-Ho, who was influenced by Dickens’ lesser-known work The Life of Our Lord. Jang saw a unique opportunity to merge biblical storytelling with Dickens’ literary voice, providing a distinctive and emotionally rich experience.
Jang, a first-time feature director and a Christian, explained that his personal faith played a major role in taking on this ambitious project. He observed a lack of animated features focused on the life of Jesus and felt compelled to fill that gap, especially with younger generations turning away from church, both in South Korea and globally. Through this film, he hopes to reignite interest in Jesus’ teachings, offering a message of hope and love to an increasingly secular audience.
The production of The King of Kings was complex, combining motion capture technology with virtual cinematography to achieve a cinematic feel that goes beyond typical animation. Producer and cinematographer Woo-hyung Kim described the process as intricate and time-intensive. Motion and voice performances were captured separately, with virtual cameras used to build scenes gradually. This method allowed the team to create a deeply immersive experience, blending traditional filmmaking techniques with the flexibility of animation.
Both Jang and Kim encountered various creative and technical hurdles throughout the project. Kim recalled a particularly difficult storm scene that was originally completed years ago without modern virtual tools, requiring a full rebuild while maintaining the integrity of the original version. Jang, on the other hand, highlighted the emotional complexity of a quiet scene where Dickens decides to share the story of Jesus with his child. Communicating the depth and subtlety of this moment to animators proved to be a unique directorial challenge.
At its heart, the filmmakers hope The King of Kings resonates with audiences of all backgrounds. Jang said he was driven by the desire to communicate one central truth from the Bible—love. He hopes viewers will walk away with a deeper understanding of Jesus’ love and sacrifice, the foundation of the Christian message the film seeks to portray.