It came together during the final years of animation's hand-drawn golden era, before computer-generated imagery (CGI) became the industry standard. While the film did employ some digital technology — most notably in its spectacular parting of the Red Sea sequence — all of the characters were fully rendered by hand. It was also one of the last major animated features to use hand-painted backgrounds.
This reluctance makes The Prince of Egypt 's Moses incredibly relatable. He is not a fearless superhero; he is a deeply traumatized man being asked to confront the ghost of his past and the brother he still loves. When he returns to Egypt, he does so out of a profound sense of duty and faith, breaking through his own fear. The Tragedy of Two Brothers
In the 1998 DreamWorks classic The Prince of Egypt is portrayed not just as a religious icon, but as a deeply human character grappling with identity, privilege, and divine duty. This version of his story—voiced by (who also provided the voice of the Burning Bush )—emphasizes his emotional journey from a carefree royal to the humble "Deliverer" of the Hebrews. Character Profile & Transformation
[The Trajectory of Moses' Identity] Privileged Egyptian Prince ➔ Distressed Truth-Seeker ➔ Reluctant Desert Shepherd ➔ Liberator of Israel The Nightmare of the Truth
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The final plague—the Angel of Death—is the ultimate test of Moses’ resolve. As the breath of God passes through Egypt, taking the lives of the firstborn, Moses sits in a Hebrew home, visibly shaken by the horror occurring outside. When he visits Rameses to find him cradling his dead son, the heartbreak is absolute. Rameses coldly tells Moses to leave, granting the Hebrews their freedom not out of mercy, but out of absolute defeat. The Parting of the Red Sea
The film constantly contrasts the tiny, human silhouette of Moses against the monolithic, oppressive statues of Egypt and the terrifying, sublime scale of God’s miracles.
God commands Moses to return to Egypt and demand the release of the Hebrews. Moses responds not with heroic enthusiasm, but with intense fear and insecurity, famously crying out, "Who am I to go against Pharaoh?" This vulnerability makes his ultimate acceptance of the mission deeply inspiring. The Tragedy of the Plagues
One afternoon, while guiding his sheep, Moses noticed a bush aflame but not consumed. Drawn close, he heard a voice calling him by name and giving him a task: return to Egypt and demand the freedom of his people. Terrified yet steadied by purpose, Moses accepted. He returned with his brother Aaron and confronted Pharaoh, asking simply: “Let my people go.” It came together during the final years of
The animation and music elevate Moses’ internal journey into a visceral experience.
Upon discovering his Hebrew roots, Moses faces a crisis of conscience. He is torn between his loyalty to the family that loved him and a burgeoning sense of responsibility toward his biological heritage.
The defining moment of Moses' life is his encounter with God at the burning bush in Midian. Catechist's Journey The Reluctant Prophet:
Despite these changes, the film's core message remained so impactful that it was banned in Egypt upon release. The government prohibited the film due to its portrayal of a prophet, which is considered forbidden in Islam. Many Egyptians also felt the film misrepresented their ancient history. This reluctance makes The Prince of Egypt 's
This dedication to traditional craftsmanship is evident in every frame. The film's directors set out with a singular vision: They aimed for the animation to look as if it had been "drawn by French illustrator Gustave Doré, painted by famed impressionist Claude Monet, and directed by David Lean". That impossibly high bar resulted in a film whose visual grandeur is frequently cited as among the most beautiful in all of cinema.
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: The basket is discovered by the Queen (Pharaoh Seti's wife), who adopts him. Moses grows up as a prince of Egypt, unaware of his true heritage. Brotherly Bond
Compare this version of Moses to .