What would make a man leave his dream job at Disney? For Tom Bancroft, the answer was faith. The veteran animator spent years breathing life into characters like Mushu in Mulan (1998) and young Simba in The Lion King (1994).
After more than a decade at the studio, he walked away, trading the glitter of Hollywood for a new project centered on Jesus. “This honestly is the film I never thought I wanted to do,” Bancroft said of his latest feature. “And it’s something I’m probably prouder of than even The Lion King.”
The Magic He Helped Create
Disney’s 1990s run of hits is legendary. From Beauty and the Beast (1991) to Pocahontas (1995) and Brother Bear (2003), those films shaped animation’s modern identity. Bancroft was part of that magic.
His characters didn’t just entertain; they became cultural icons. Mushu’s humor balanced Mulan’s serious themes, while Simba embodied the innocence and growth at the heart of The Lion King.
The Breaking Point
Despite his success, Bancroft’s beliefs began to clash with the direction of his workplace. The tipping point came during screening his short film about John Henry. Its inclusion of Christian themes drew criticism from Disney leadership, with one executive admitting it made them “uncomfortable.”
That moment lingered. Six months later, Bancroft walked away, realizing he couldn’t continue creating in a place where faith was stifled.
Finding New Ground
Leaving Disney was as much about faith as it was about family. Bancroft has shared how he poured himself into his career at the expense of both. “I was worshiping my career, not God,” he reflected.
Stepping back gave him freedom—prioritizing his beliefs and exploring projects aligned with his convictions. This change led him into Christian entertainment, from VeggieTales to eventually co-directing a feature-length film about the life of Christ.
Drawing Jesus
That film, Light of the World (2025), tells Jesus’ story through the eyes of the Apostle John. It captures John’s friendship with Christ, his devastation at the crucifixion, and his eventual realization of its meaning.
The movie is entirely hand-drawn, a deliberate nod to Disney’s golden age. “It’s just how Disney would have done it in the ’90s—without the musical,” Bancroft explained. Its style feels familiar and fresh, designed to engage modern audiences while stirring nostalgia.
A Growing Audience
Christian films are more popular than many realize. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever scored 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, and the animated King of Kings (2025) earned nearly $77 million. Clearly, there’s a market for faith-focused storytelling done with quality and care. Bancroft believes Light of the World will fit right into that space.
Purpose Over Prestige
Disney still dominates animation, but Bancroft’s journey reflects a different kind of success. For him, prestige was never the problem—it was the compromise. Leaving Disney wasn’t about rejecting the past but choosing a future aligned with his values.
In his words, Light of the World may be his proudest achievement yet. For an animator who helped shape the Disney Renaissance, that says everything about where his heart truly is.
