The greatest story ever told gets the big screen animation treatment in The King of Kings, a visually spectacular and heartfelt exploration into the teachings and divinity of Christ that offers a credible faith-based alternative in the mainstream family movie market.
The product of South Korean studio Mofac Animation (faith-based shingle Angel Studios takes of distribution) The King of Kings successfully fills the gap in an animation film space that woefully lacks faith-driven stories, despite an abundance of source material and an audience that has continuously proven to show-up in theatres.
Directed by respected VFX supervisor Seong-ho Jang (who founded Mofac Studios), The King of Kings presents its Christ story through the words of Charles Dickens whose posthumous 1934 novel “The Life of Our Lord” is the films main creative jumping point.
Kenneth Branagh voices Dickens in The King of Kings, as he regales to his rambunctious son Walter (Roman Griffin Davis) the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus (voiced by Oscar Isaac) which Seong-ho brings to life with beautiful computer animation (along with hand drawn animation sequences) to create a cinematic viewing experience worthy of its subject matter.
As young Walter is transported into this tale of the Christ, The King of Kings reminds of the importance that fathers play in the spiritual upbringing of their children, especially in the Chrisitan tenants of love, forgiveness, and the important recognition of Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection.
Although much of Jesus’ story can get quite heavy and theologically deep, Seong-ho does a commendable job in presenting a version of events that is accessible to a young audience without losing the power of its message.
It’s a combination of the epic and the intimae, the playful and the profound, that The King of Kings balances throughout. Also featuring the voices of Uma Thurman, Ben Kingsley, and Forrest Whittaker, The King of Kings biggest draw is, of course, the story of Jesus that Seong-ho and his team deliver in a family-friendly package more than worth investing in.
