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The story of David, the shepherd boy who defeats Goliath and rises to become king, has been told for thousands of years. But DAVID, the new animated musical now streaming on the Angel Studios platform, approaches the legend from a refreshingly human angle. This isn’t a flawless hero’s tale. It’s a deeply emotional, visually rich film about fear, faith, leadership, and what it really means to be human.
Directed by Phil Cunningham and Brent Dawes, and produced by Rita Mbanga, DAVID has already made history as the highest-grossing faith-based animated theatrical musical of all time. And it’s easy to see why.
Why David Still Resonates Today
David isn’t just a Biblical figure; he’s one of the most complex characters in the Old Testament. That complexity is exactly what drew Cunningham to the project.
David questions God. He speaks openly about fear. He celebrates, doubts, fails, and gets back up again. According to Cunningham, honesty is what makes David relatable, whether you’re religious or not.
The idea for the film was so powerful that it became the reason Cunningham and his wife, Jacqui, founded Sunrise Animation Studios. They moved from Zimbabwe to Cape Town with one goal in mind: to bring David’s story to life. Work on the film officially began in 2015, making DAVID a passion project more than a decade in the making.
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A 3D Animated Musical That Makes Sense
At first glance, turning a Biblical epic into a musical might sound like a bold move. But producer Rita Mbanga points out that it’s actually the most natural choice possible.
David is credited with writing 75 Psalms and is frequently described in scripture as a singer and musician. Music wasn’t added to modernize the story; it was already there.
The film opens with David as a young shepherd and follows his journey through friendship, war, loyalty, and betrayal. We see his early bond with King Saul, his legendary victory over Goliath, and his rise within Saul’s army; all while tensions quietly build toward conflict.
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A Powerful Voice Cast Brings the Story to Life
The emotional weight of DAVID is amplified by an impressive voice cast, including:
- Phil Wickham as David
- Brandon Engman as young David
- Adam Michael Gold as King Saul
- Miri Mesika as David’s mother, Nitzevet
- Mark Jacobson as Jonathan
- Brian Stivale as Samuel
The film is directed by Cunningham and Dawes, with a screenplay written by Dawes, Kyle Portbury, and Sam Wilson.
David vs. Saul: The Heart of the Film
While most adaptations focus heavily on David and Goliath, DAVID intentionally digs deeper into what happens after that moment. The emotional core of the film is the evolving relationship between David and King Saul.
Saul begins as a charismatic and idealistic leader. Over time, power and fear twist his judgment. David, on the other hand, leads with humility, trust, and service. Instead of painting Saul as a simple villain, the filmmakers portray him as a tragic, deeply human character; someone undone by paranoia and ego.
The directors even took inspiration from The Lord of the Rings, drawing parallels between Saul’s descent and how power corrupts figures like Boromir.
Visual Storytelling Through Character Design
That internal decay isn’t just shown through dialogue; it’s baked directly into Saul’s design.
Early in the film, Saul appears tall, regal, and commanding. As his mental state deteriorates, his posture changes. He avoids light. His physical presence becomes heavier and more guarded. Even his hair subtly evolves to reflect his inner turmoil.
Hair animation was a major creative challenge for the team. They wanted something tactile and expressive, not photorealistic, but far from plastic. The result feels grounded, emotional, and intentionally human.
An Authentic World Built From Real Places
The level of detail in DAVID goes far beyond the characters. The environments are packed with cultural and historical accuracy.
The team made multiple research trips to Israel, studying landscapes, plants, architecture, and archaeology. One standout moment came when they visited the Valley of Elah, where David fought Goliath.
Instead of a barren desert, they discovered a valley filled with blooming red anemones, exactly what scripture suggests for the season of the battle. That discovery reshaped the film’s color palette and visual identity.
From caves and deserts to lush poppy fields, the world of DAVID feels alive and surprisingly vibrant.
A Global Production Effort
Bringing this world to life required a massive collaborative effort. Around 500 artists from 32 countries worked on the film, including veterans from Pixar, DreamWorks, and other major studios.
The team’s collective experience includes projects like Finding Nemo, Moana, Tarzan, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, The Lord of the Rings, and Pirates of the Caribbean.
To ensure authenticity and respect for the source material, the production also worked with religious consultants, including a Jewish rabbi and a Christian pastor.
More Than a Faith Film
While DAVID is rooted in Biblical history, the filmmakers were clear about one thing: this movie isn’t just for people of faith.
At its core, the film is about showing up imperfectly. It challenges the idea that you need to be “fixed” before approaching God or before stepping into your purpose.
David doesn’t clean himself up first. He brings fear, doubt, joy, and anger with him. That raw honesty is what makes his journey resonate across cultures, beliefs, and generations.
Final Thoughts
DAVID isn’t trying to reinvent scripture. It’s trying to reveal the humanity already inside it.
Through expressive animation, powerful music, and deeply flawed characters, the film delivers a story that feels ancient and modern at the same time. Whether you’re watching for faith, storytelling, animation craft, or music, DAVID offers something rare: sincerity without perfection.
Now streaming on Angel Studios, DAVID is a reminder that the most powerful heroes are often the most human ones.
Source: awn
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