Tale of Acceptance and Identity (Nimona)

 

I feel a little late to the party with this review but I could not help but take it to myself to talk about this movie. Considering to be part of Netflix's roster of new releases, it is hard to wonder if anyone is taking a chance with this animated feature. Based on a graphic novel by ND Stevenson, Nimona is set in a hyper-futuristic imagining of a culture where knights roam and monsters loom with the inclusion of flying cars and touchphones. Nimona is more than just its creative world-building but also a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community in its subtle yet clearly understandable allegories towards prejudice and acceptance of others and within. 

Nimona centers around, well, Nimona, a shapeshifting teen that enjoys mischief and being a sidekick to a notorious criminal that is wanted by the kingdom. The criminal is Sir Ballister who has allegedly murdered the queen during his knighting ceremony but all is not what it seems. As the two work together to prove the truth of the Institute and deal with their demons of self-doubt and the approval of others, this animated film is more than just another babysitting flick to not pay attention to. 

Many people may consider the fact that it heavily features queer characters at its forefront as a reason for this film to be considered 'mature content' but there is more to be wary of (In a good way). Children are allowed to watch this film for its target audience but slightly older children might understand some of the messages coming across while the rest of us will appreciate what it is as a whole. Nimona does not force queer characters in the viewer's face but rather organically makes them a part of this plotline like Nimona's main arc itself being a tribute to the trans community. 

Her ability to shapeshift can be easily associated with her identity as non-binary. However, it is more potent for a character to refer to themselves by their namesake. There is a scene that involves the leads having a conversation, and Nimona slyly ignores Bal's demands for her to stay specifically in her 'girl' form but she chooses to be 'awesome' rather than be what everyone wants her to be. Bal struggles but eventually manages to understand and accept her for who she is. It is hard to doubt that he was a stranger to prejudice in his relationship with his love interest Ambrosius. 

What makes this film so special is its theme of acceptance. This is a prejudiced kingdom fearing what it hasn't understood and that does not only limit themselves to the antagonistic figures in this plot. Ballister wants to prove his innocence but must understand that his teachings as a knight are not something worth pursuing for it affects his acceptance towards having a friend like Nimona. Nimona, despite their confidence and thirst for adventure and violence, must face their past and rejection by society only for being different. With large world-building in its background but what keeps this tale grounded is the dynamic between these characters, main or supporting, that make this film memorable and probably one of Netflix's best, animated or not. 

Speaking of world-building a lot of what is introduced here reminded me of the Shrek franchise. Nimona doesn't spin classic fairy tales to have modern opinions and personalities in a fairy tale world but rather creates its' own world that is rich in Renaissance culture while mixing cyberpunk elements in a dystopian setting. 

The animation is also a little different than what most are used to be with full features, especially with these days and 3D animation. Nimona doesn’t take a book out of Sony’s success story but makes use of a distinct style that allows the colours of this world to pop well off the screen. From foreshadowing within title card to how you can tell that Nimona isn’t human from how the light reflects on her eyes, these visual cues are something unseen before. 

The biggest injustice is that not many people are watching Nimona. I think for a particular reason but it is possibly just also does not have the traction of marketing on its side for I barely heard about this movie either until someone on YouTube mentioned it. This world is something that should be appreciated by a wider audience. One can only hope for the universal acclaim it deserves and fortunately, exude the power its story can portray.