Nimona keeps giving me emotional whiplash. As a fan of ND Stevenson’s original webcomics and his other works like Shera and the Princess of Power, I was thrilled to hear such a loveable queer rebellion story being adapted into a feature length animated feature. It was full. That sentiment quickly turned to disappointment when Disney bought Fox and closed Blue Sky Studios, simply to reduce potential costs and odd competition.
The film was nearly complete when the order was given. This means that dozens of artists, animators, writers and others who have spent years working on Nimona have lost their jobs and faced the harsh reality that their efforts may never see the light. It will be. of that day. Fans accepted it, believing that Nimona was now a distant dream and would never see Stevenson’s vision come to life on the silver screen.
Just when all hope seemed lost, Netflix and Annapurna came along. While I have a problem with streaming services and the habit of canceling anime shows and worthy suffix stories, it’s also true that there is a lot of media out there that means a lot to me. Stevenson’s own Chez La is most obvious, considering I have two drama-inspired tattoos and still read too much Catradora fanfiction for myself. It warms my heart to see Stevenson and the streamer reunite for yet another project, and it deserves this opportunity.
For those unfamiliar with Nimona, it follows a titular shapeshifter who teams up with villain Barrister Blackheart to bring down the Regime. This is a compelling tale of questioning authority and rebelling against what the wider society expects of you, even if it means having to dismantle the very system you grew up in. is. Nimona’s character also represents a fluid quest for identity through her shape-shifting powers and her determination to challenge the power structures held above her. She is impossible to define or limit, and she refuses to be labeled as corrupt by unnecessary traditions. Themes like this can be found in most of Stevenson’s work, and this is where a lot of things started.
Yesterday, I was already heartbroken when I saw the first teaser trailer unveiled ahead of its June 30th launch date. Chloe Grace Moretz imbues this character with a surprisingly saucy aura of youthful rebellion as Nimona narrates a classic fairytale scene, but quickly subverts it, teasing outright clichés. increase. A few seconds later, the guards were called and a huge monster tore the entire castle apart, setting the whole castle ablaze. The tone is picture-perfect, extending the graphic novel in ways I wasn’t necessarily expecting, but now welcome.
Her fluorescent pinkish-red appearance as she transforms into an animal contrasts beautifully with the silly corporate society she seeks to overthrow. Nimona questions archaic definitions of good and evil, and the people on each side, who are more complicated than we think. In real life, we owe that level of consideration and nuance to ourselves. Nimona does just that while never being afraid to explore the value of fluid identities while having fun in fantastical landscapes.
If you’re looking for a new animated movie with strong characters and bizarre themes, don’t miss Nimona, coming to Netflix next month. Long time, no see.