DAVID

South Africa/US, 2025, 108 minutes, Colour.

Voices of: Phil Wickham, Brandon Engman, Mark Jacobson, Adam Michael Gold, Kamran Nikhad.

Directed by Brent Dawes, Phil Cunningham.

There have not been many animated films with characters from the Jewish Scriptures. Which means that this film, from South African Sunrise Studios, in collaboration with Angel Studios in the US, distributors of so many religious films and with their over a million membership, has received wide circulation.

This David offers an opportunity for younger audiences to learn quickly and easily something of the initial history of King David. It is the kind of film, like the Jesus animated film of 2000, The Miracle Maker, that would be a very effective for primary school religion classes, for Sunday School meetings. While adults may enjoy David, the film has not been geared for this adult audience.

The animation style is very familiar, characters are drawn clearly, brightly, colourfully. David is very cheerful, Saul and the Philistines and Goliath, menacing.

The film opens very sunnily, a quite young-looking David out in the hills with the sheep, the sheep rather Disney-looking and sounding, David singing, and then a menacing lion as one sheep is about to give birth, the confrontation with the lion, saving the sheep – and David exerting his strength and freeing the lion who has been trapped. And then he goes home to quite a surprise.

And there is the prophet Samuel, large, full bearded, examining prospective kings, the sons of Jesse, and asking if there is another son, David and the sheep barging through the house and back again and David announced to be the choice, his being quite reluctant about the idea. But his mother nods her assent.

And, so, the David stories continue, audiences familiar will be anticipating the episodes. Younger audiences may follow with delight and some astonishment.

Saul is a brooding character, failing in his role as king, wary of a successor, confident in his son Jonathan. David then sings and consoles Saul, enabling him to go out to battle against the Philistines – and quite an amount of the film, as would be expected, the confrontation between Little David and a hyper- gigantic Goliath.

The drama becomes more serious as time goes on, Saul responding well to David but then becoming more suspicious, attacking him, David fleeing with his family hidden in the cave, and the whole question of will David ever be King…

Those who do not know their Scriptures will have to see the film to find out…

On reflection, we might realise that so many of the biblical films are made by Christians. And, this is the case here. However, the writers-directors have a sensitivity towards the Jewish community and their reading of the Scriptures, the language of shalom, a song of shalom, a background of rituals, anointings and prayer. Which means that this animation film would be a fine interfaith meeting place for Jewish and Christians.

1. The target audience? Younger audiences? Religious audiences? Jewish? Christian? Wider audiences?
2. The style of the animation, the human characters, animals, the layouts and scenery, action? Popular and familiar?
3. The musical score, the number of songs, David and his work as a shepherd, the shalom and peace song, his mother’s weaving song, the battle songs…?
4. Audience familiarity with David’s story, his early story, the film ending before his adult story and subsequent history?
5. The opening, David and his age, very young, the shepherd, interaction with the sheep, the cartoon style of the sheep, the sheep giving birth, the dangers, the lion, David confronting the lion, saving the sheep, and freeing the lion? Going home, his place in the family, the brothers, the little sister, his assertive father, his mother observing and giving her assent?
6. Samuel, his look, beard, accent, with the family, assessing the sons, their not being successful, the assertion of the military son, the fat son, the dopey-dwarf comic son? David arrival, Samuel’s approval?
7. Saul, morose, anointed king, his battles, faith and lack of faith, love for Jonathan? David going to the court, the line of musicians to soothe Saul, their stepping back, his confrontation with Saul, going back to get the instrument, singing, Saul’s response, opening the windows, coming alive, the bond with David? David and his friendship with Jonathan?
8. The attack of the Philistines, the vast numbers, the visuals of the king, wheedling, his voice? The challenge, Saul and his decision to go to war? The two warriors, Goliath, the giant standardbearer, Goliath more gigantic, the challenge?
9. David, at home, wanting to be with the sheep, the sequence with his mother, her song? Going back to the battlefield, assertive, his language about God’s help, decision to confront Goliath, stepping out of the armour, just himself, the waters, finding the stone, the confrontation with Goliath, the stone, Goliath’s fall, the defeat?
10. David, growing up, with Saul, the friendship with Jonathan, clashes with his military brother, visits home?
11. Saul, his suspicions about a successor, his realisation that David was anointed king, throwing the javelin, David bewildered, escaping? The episode with Saul asleep, taking the piece of his cloak, confronting Saul, not the enemy? Saul and his military and their attitudes?
12. David, the family, hidden in the caves, wanting liberation, eventually going out?
13. David, Samuel, taking on his mission, with Jonathan, Jonathan defying his father about the inheritance and not killing David, the huge statue of Saul, hitting it, its collapsing?
14. David, going into battle, the victories, popular support, his dependence on God, the beginning of his reign?
15. A sequel would have to be more adult-oriented with David and his issues of sex and violence, the revolt of his son, establishing his rule, 40 years?