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At first glance, The King of Kings appears to be a heartfelt animated movie about the life of Jesus Christ. But when you dig into The King of Kings animation production, you’ll find something even more interesting: a truly global project and a quiet but impressive contribution from a Vietnamese animation studio.
From strong box office numbers in North America to a star-studded voice cast and animation work done in Vietnam, this film showcases how international modern animation has evolved.
What Is The King of Kings?
The King of Kings is a 2025 animated Christian film written and directed by Seong-ho Jang. The story is loosely inspired by The Life of Our Lord by Charles Dickens and is designed mainly for children and family audiences.
The film was released in the U.S. by Angel Studios on April 11, 2025. While critics had mixed opinions, audiences clearly connected with it, especially faith-based viewers.
Here’s a quick snapshot of how the movie was made:
- Director: Seong-ho Jang
- Production origin: South Korea
- Animation & VFX: International team
- Budget: Around $25 million (before marketing)
- Worldwide box office: $77.6 million
The film even became the highest-grossing Korean movie in North America, beating Parasite. That’s a huge deal, especially for an animated, faith-driven film.
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Vietnam’s Role in The King of Kings Animation Production
Here’s the part many people don’t know: a big chunk of the visual work was done in Vietnam.
Animost Studio, a 3D animation studio based in Hanoi, took on several key parts of The King of Kings animation production, including:
- 3D animation
- Character motion
- Visual effects (VFX)
Even though the film is officially a South Korean production, Animost played an important role in shaping how the movie looks and feels on screen.
This also makes The King of Kings the first animated film about the life of Jesus to be widely released in Vietnamese theaters, with Vietnamese artists helping create it.
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Who Is Animost Studio?
Animost isn’t new to international projects. They’ve been building a strong name for themselves for years.
- 🏆 Gold Award at DIGICON6 Asia (2020)
- Worked on:
- Guild of Guardians (game trailer)
- Dark Gamer (Kakao Games)
- Family Ornaments
Right now, they’re also working on Nine Mountain, a 3D animated film co-produced with studios from South Korea.
Their involvement in The King of Kings animation production is another sign that Vietnamese studios are becoming trusted partners in global animation.
A Truly International Production
One thing that really stands out about The King of Kings animation production is how international it is.
- Animation & VFX: Vietnam
- Post-production: Australia (SunJive Studios, Adelaide)
- Voice cast: United States and United Kingdom
The film features voices from:
- Kenneth Branagh
- Uma Thurman
- Mark Hamill
- Pierce Brosnan
- Oscar Isaac
- Forest Whitaker
- Ben Kingsley
That mix of talent helped the film feel polished and professional, even with a modest budget compared to major Hollywood animation.
The Story, Told in a Kid-Friendly Way
Instead of telling the life of Jesus in a heavy or overly serious way, the film uses a smart framing device.
Charles Dickens tells the story to his son, Walter, calling Jesus a king greater than King Arthur. As the story unfolds, Walter imagines himself inside the biblical events:
- The Nativity
- Jesus’ miracles
- The Passion
- The Crucifixion and Resurrection
The emotional core of the film comes from Walter struggling to understand sacrifice, loss, and love, making the message easier for children to connect with.
Box Office and Audience Reaction
Critics were split, but audiences loved it.
- CinemaScore: A+
- PostTrak: 94% positive
- Strong performance during Easter weekend
The film didn’t drop much in its second weekend, which usually means good word-of-mouth, especially among families and churches.
Why The King of Kings Animation Production Matters
At the end of the day, The King of Kings animation production proves a few important things:
- Faith-based animation can succeed at the box office
- High-quality animation doesn’t have to come from just one country
- Vietnamese studios are ready for big international projects
- Stories about belief can still feel relevant and emotional today
Final Thoughts
The King of Kings isn’t just a religious animated movie; it’s a great example of how modern animation is made through global teamwork.
And for Vietnam, it’s a quiet but meaningful win. With studios like Animost contributing to projects like The King of Kings animation production, Vietnamese animation is clearly stepping onto the world stage and doing it well.
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Animost – Vietnam 3D Animation Studio
hello@animost.com