In this episode of Up Next, host Tommy Lee sits down with Tony Bancroft, Director, Animator, Podcaster, and Lipscomb University Professor, to discuss his latest project, Light of the World, a groundbreaking 2D animated feature about Jesus.During his 12-year career with Disney Studios, Tony helped bring to life some of the most beloved characters in animation history: Pumbaa in The Lion King, Kronk in The Emperor’s New Groove, Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast, and Iago in Aladdin. His most notable achievements include co-directing Disney’s Mulan, earning the Annie Award for Director of the Year, and serving as Animation Supervisor for Sony’s Stuart Little 2, which won the Visual Effects Society’s top award for character animation. Tony also directed the English-language version of Hayao Miyazaki’s Porco Rosso for Disney.In this conversation, Tony shares how his personal faith and professional expertise intersect in the making of Light of the World, the creative challenges of animating the life of Jesus, and the deeper spiritual insights he has gained along the way.Tune in for an inspiring conversation on art, faith, and storytelling with one of animation’s most celebrated voices!