Presenting the story of the Nativity from the perspective of the animals allowed the producers and director to see the well-known narrative from fresh eyes. In an interview for the “Catholic Baltimore” radio show, director Timothy Reckart discusses the goals of those who produced the movie, which opens Nov. 17.

Disney film crews were on site at St. Michael from April 27 to May 2 filming the baptism and funeral scenes and a Christmas Midnight Mass scene.