Angel Studios’ “David” is an animated musical that follows the biblical story of David (voiced by Brandon Engman & Phil Wickham), as he goes from a lowly shepherd to King of Israel. The film, which was produced by Sunrise Animation Studios before being distributed by Angel Studios, serves as a feature-length follow-up to the studio’s miniseries “Young David,” which follows the young shepherd shortly before his anointing and his fight with Goliath. The writer and director’s decision to make the film a musical also brings a deeper layer of connection between the story and the audience. The production team used a combination of dramatic instrumentals and powerful lyrics, to evoke specific emotions and sense of belonging in the audience, while also showing the characters in a light in which they’ve never been seen before. The film is a family-family adventure-based movie, though it is rated PG for scenes of mild violence and graphics that may appear scary to younger children.
David’s story starts with the title character’s early beginnings as a shepherd watching over his father’s flock. David returns home from the fields, only to find his life eminently changed as he is secretly anointed to be Israel’s new King by the Prophet Samuel (Brian Stivale), much to the protests of David’s jealous eldest brother, Eliab (Jonathan Shaboo), who declares the act as treason against King Saul. As David struggles to understand his anointing, and the role that comes with it, he is brought to the palace of King Saul (Adam Michael Gold) with the other musicians of the village. The musicians are there to help calm the King, who is troubled by Samuel’s words that he will lose his throne to another. With his musical gift, David is able to soothe the King’s troubled mind, only for Saul to immediately send him back to Bethlehem. Uncertain and confused, David talks with his mother (Miri Mesika), who encourages David to believe that God is weaving his story, even if the threads he sees are messy at the moment. His mother’s words follow David to the battlefield, where, after hearing Goliath (Kamran Nikhad) mock God, David insists that with God on his side, he can beat Goliath.
The story does not end with the victory of David and the Israelites, instead seamlessly transitioning into David’s adult years, as Saul realizes that David was the one Samuel anointed to take his throne. Saul’s fear and pride give way to his anger and jealousy, forcing David, and those loyal to him, to flee his village after being branded as an enemy by the rage-consumed King. This leads to the film’s most emotionally charged and impactful moments, as David is shown battling with his fear, self-doubt, loss, and his now wavering faith in God, as the film slowly moves towards its ending.
Overall, “David” is a meticulous animated retelling of the biblical story of David, that goes deeper than the story’s most well-known events. Through the film’s use of music and distinctive character journeys, the film highlights David’s growth from a young shepherd boy to a king, and the challenges he faces along the way. The film maintains a family-friendly approach, though some scenes and imagery may not be suited for young children
Maebre Peal is a student in the spring semester’s Storytelling for Today’s Media and Media Writing classes.
