"David" could be the Goliath Angle Studios needs!

What a an amazing weekend for visual excellence! Check out "David" in theatres now.

It’s Utah Film Critics Association nomination season, and I’ve been catching up on this year’s animated contenders—Elio, Zootopia 2, KPOP Demon Hunters, Arco, Little Amélie, and Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle. There’s no shortage of ambition or technical craft in the animation space right now, which is why it made David—Angel Studios’ newest animated feature—all the more surprising.

I watched David twice in one day and didn’t regret it for a second. Faith-based films can often struggle with tone, leaning too heavily into didactic storytelling or visual flatness, but David avoids those pitfalls almost entirely. Angel Studios has been steadily elevating their output in recent years (Cabrini, Escape from Germany, Truth & Treason), and this film feels like a genuine leap forward rather than another incremental step.

Partnering with SUNRISE ANIMATION – Animazione Turistica & Spettacolo in South Africa, David delivers something that feels truly cinematic. The scale is impressive, but it’s the confidence of the filmmaking that stands out most. The animation evokes The Prince of Egypt in its sense of grandeur and reverence, while also carrying the warmth, color, and expressive character work reminiscent of Encanto. Importantly, it never feels like a knockoff of either. The film establishes its own visual language—one that balances spectacle with intimacy and allows quieter emotional moments to breathe.

The performances are heartfelt without tipping into sentimentality, grounding the story in genuine human emotion. The musical numbers are particularly effective, not just as narrative punctuation but as fully realized set pieces that enhance character and theme. This is one of those soundtracks you can easily imagine revisiting outside the theater, which is no small achievement. I literally watch a 5 year old boy walking up the theatre stairs after the film singing one of the songs form the film. Win!

What impressed me most is how accessible David feels. You don’t need to come from an religious background to appreciate the artistry, craftsmanship, or emotional pull of the story. While the film is rooted in faith, it’s ultimately about courage, doubt, identity, and choosing conviction in the face of overwhelming odds—universal themes that resonate regardless of belief.

David hits theaters December 19th, going head-to-head with its own cinematic Goliath, Avatar: Fire and Ash. For me, it’s a surprising and confident A—one of the most unexpectedly rewarding animated experiences of the year. If you catch it opening weekend, I’d love to hear what you think.

And stay tuned—I’ll be sharing red carpet interviews with the cast and production team soon.

Grade A-