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What Disney’s reaction really revealed
Bancroft had long defended Disney, even when critics accused the company of turning its back on traditional values. He argued that cultural and spiritual elements were a natural part of storytelling — pointing to how Pocahontas and Mulan drew from the heritage of those characters.
But when Christianity took center stage, everything changed.
“It really slammed into my face,” Bancroft recalled. “Honestly, six months from then, I left Disney, and it was because of that day.”
Think about that: the studio that once built its reputation on telling timeless moral stories couldn’t stomach a Christian narrative. Other religions and traditions were celebrated. But the moment the name of Jesus Christ entered the picture, Disney executives recoiled.
From Disney to faith-driven animation
Bancroft didn’t disappear after walking away. He joined the team behind VeggieTales, later worked on CBN’s Superbook, and eventually co-founded Pencilish Studios with other veteran animators from Disney, DreamWorks, and Nickelodeon.
Now he’s co-directed Light of the World, a hand-drawn feature about Jesus Christ told through the eyes of John, one of His youngest disciples. The film hits theaters September 5 — animated in the traditional 2D style Disney abandoned. “Just the way Disney would have done it in the ’90s,” Bancroft said.
This time, no one is telling him that Christian themes make them “uncomfortable.”
A company that lost its way
“Disney has never claimed to be a Christian company, and we should never have put that on them,” Bancroft admitted. Still, he noticed the shift over the years. The company that once celebrated family entertainment “crossed the line” by pushing themes parents never asked for.
Consider what Disney has become: they battled Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over parental rights, pushed LGBTQ content at children, and used iconic characters to smuggle in social messaging instead of timeless storytelling.
Meanwhile, one of their greatest animators was told his Christian convictions were unwelcome.
Audiences want what Disney abandoned
Ironically, there’s massive appetite for exactly what Bancroft is now producing. Whenever he posts his hand-drawn work online, it goes viral. “There’s a lot of nostalgia for 2D,” Bancroft explained. “People want those kinds of films to come back.”
History proves him right. The Passion of the Christ grossed over $600 million worldwide. Sound of Freedom blindsided Hollywood by becoming a cultural phenomenon. Families are tired of being lectured and are desperate for films that affirm their values.
Following conviction instead of corporate comfort
“Honestly, that’s what has been the defining thing of the last half of my career – trying to make family-friendly entertainment that edifies families and the Lord,” Bancroft said. With Light of the World, that vision has finally been realized. The project was fully funded by The Salvation Poem Foundation, which gave him full creative control — no nervous executives, no focus groups, no censors.
“I wish that more creators could get that,” he said. “We’d be seeing life-changing movies just like this one all the time.”
Disney’s loss is America’s gain
Here’s the irony: Disney became an empire by producing stories that honored family, faith, and tradition. But the company’s modern obsession with political agendas forced out the very talent that made them great.
Now, Bancroft is showing America what Disney could have been if it had stayed true to its roots. Light of the World carries the heart, artistry, and family spirit that Disney abandoned. And this time, it isn’t just entertainment — it’s conviction brought to life on the big screen.
