Young David
Summary
Young David is a series of animated short films based around the life of King David as a youth. Loosely following the Biblical description of David’s childhood — as well as bringing in other Scriptural themes from both the Old and New Testaments — this beautifully animated series gives audiences a taste of what is to come from Angel Studio’s feature length animated movie David.
Assessment
Young David is a series of five short (6 minutes or less) films detailing an aspect of David’s childhood and personality from warrior, king, shepherd, poet, to worshiper. Each of these five elements is highlighted in a specific, Biblical way, either from the rudimentary description we have of David as a child from the Old Testament or infused with other Biblical ideas — such as that of the diligent shepherd and king. Additionally, there is strong symbolism and metaphor for the True King, i.e. Jesus, woven throughout the series, much like in David’s real life.
Despite being a precursor to the full-length David film, the Young David series stands on its own with breathtaking animation, loveable characters, and excellent Biblical messages. Each episode feels complete, infusing humor, action, and key theological concepts into a succinct plot. The episodes are incredibly clean and the action is suitable for very young children, with no blood, wounds, or even death.
Light-o-Meter
Writing: 5 out of 7 Little Lights
Animation: 7 out of 7 Little Lights
Acting: 6 out of 7 Little Lights
Age-Appropriateness: Appropriate for all ages (some action and slight peril, but no blood, visible injuries, or long periods of thematic tension)
Theological Message: 6 out of 7 Little Lights
Overall: 6 out of 7 Little Lights
Talk
Alright, you know what a 7 popping up in the Light-o-Meter means: this is really, really good.
The animation in this miniseries is mind-blowing. From the detailed textures to the amazing expressive characters to the breathtaking lighting, this show is one of the highest-quality 3D Christian animations on the market.
Adding to the stunning animation is a story filled with wholesome, clean fun, rich in symbolism and theology, and populated by relatable — but still true-to-Biblical-accounts — characters who are a delight to watch on screen. Each episode takes a look at David from a slightly different perspective and, in my opinion, they absolutely nailed it when compared to what we know of him from the books of Samuel, Kings, and through the Psalms.
Now, I do want to take a moment to touch on the fact that these videos do technically contain a lot of extrabiblical content; everything from the exact plot to the dialogue (except a few lines from the Psalms) is fictional. In my opinion, however, all of the extrabiblical content not only honors what we know about David and how he is described in the Bible but also points directly towards what David echoed as king: the kingship of Jesus Christ.
All in all, this is an amazing series and it has me incredibly pumped up for the release of David December 19th, 2025!
Where to Enjoy
Angel Studios: Watch Young DAVID Season 1 Episode 1: Warrior on Angel
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