Photo via angel.com
By Keith Walther | Rose Law Group Reporter
Disney’s chronicled struggles in recent years with their string of disappointing animated films, “Zootopia 2” notwithstanding, has opened the door for studios like Universal and now Angel to gain traction. “David” is Angel’s second feature animated film this year, the first being “The King of Kings.” Like that first release, this is a faith-based family film that follows this biblical figure’s journey from boyhood to his rise as king.
When David (Brandon Engman) was a young boy, he was a humble shepherd only concerned with keeping his family’s flock safe from predators. The king of Israel at the time was Saul (Adam Michael Gold), who was continually beset by enemies from all sides looking for vulnerabilities, but was mainly concerned with holding fast to his fading power over his people. From his legendary battle with Goliath (Kamran Nikhad) to rescuing his people, an older David (Phil Wickham) finds strength in his faith to fulfill a biblical prophecy.
Directed by Phil Cunningham and Brent Dawes, who also worked together to create the “Young David” animated TV miniseries, “David” is a family oriented animated film that is not only informative and compelling but also entertaining. Much like “The King of Kings” brought forth the story of Jesus Christ in a relatable way earlier this year, this film achieves the same by showing David as more than just a religious figure from the Bible. Everyone is familiar with the David vs. Goliath story, and that is very much depicted here, but it’s only a fraction of David’s story.
These directors explore his incredible life from his humble beginnings to becoming the king of Israel, and the impact his relationship with God had on it all. Through well-crafted storytelling, Phil and Brent humanize the legendary religious figure, showing him in more of an imperfect light as his challenges became exceedingly difficult, leading to self-doubt and a wavering of faith that most anyone can relate to in similar situations of life altering curveballs. This relatability transitions nicely to inspiration as viewers witness David’s ability to overcome obstacles through a strength in faith.
Creating this story in the form of animation enables greater exposure to the younger generation. Using computerized 2D animation, the filmmakers clearly want to appeal to a broader, family-based audience that makes the film more character driven and accessible. Coupled with an assortment of beautifully written and catchy songs, children and adults alike will find connectivity through the music. Songs like “Follow the Light” and “I Will Not Be Afraid” help to elevate the production further with its powerful messaging and could even be in contention for Oscar nominations.
While the voiceover cast may consist of a bunch of actors nobody has ever heard of, they all do a fine job of bringing their respective characters to life. Especially Phil Wickham, who is the voice of the titular character as an adult. Through his heartfelt singing and passionate line delivery, he presents an appealing character that resonates with the story. This should come as no surprise, however, because he is a three-time Grammy nominee.
This latest film from Angel Studios is the spiritually uplifting animated motion picture everyone could use right now just in time for the holiday season. “David” proves early and often he has the moxie to hang with giants like Disney and Universal. Grab your whole family, head to theater, and get in the holiday spirit with this wholesomely entertaining movie, releasing everywhere on December 19th.
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