Review: Nimona (2023)

By Alex Wiggan

Set in a timeline where knights exist in a futuristic world, Nimona is a computer-animated fantasy film, which is new to Netflix. Directed by Nick Bruno and Troy Quane, the film is based on the graphic novel of the same name by ND Stevenson, and features the vocal talents of Chloë Grace Moretz and Riz Ahmed.

In the film, Ahmed voices former knight Ballister Blackheart who has wrongfully been accused of murdering Queen Valerin. Although Blackheart is innocent, the Queen’s death was witnessed by hundreds of people, and for all intents and purposes it appears the knight committed the crime.

But believing things might not be quite what they seem, shapeshifting teen, Nimona (voiced by Moretz), decides to help the knight. Nimona has unique abilities that could prove useful to Blackheart, and the teen is keen to do what’s needed to help prove his innocence.

However, with the city on high alert, ‘wanted’ notifications everywhere, and a heck of a lot of knights looking for Blackheart, uncovering the truth will not be easy. But being true to one self is key to this story and could prove to be the solution to Blackheart’s salvation.

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For those who are unaware, prior to its arrival on streaming, Nimona started out as a project for Blue Sky Studios, under 20th Century Fox. The film then fell under Disney’s watchful eye after the Mouse House bought Fox back in 2019, before Disney promptly pulled the plug on Blue Sky.

For a while it was unclear what would happen to Nimona, until the project was picked up by Annapurna Pictures, who worked with DNEG Animation to get it into shape for Netflix. From here things began to move forward again, and I feel it’s fair to say that at Netflix this film has found its rightful home.

Incorporating themes of identity and truth, as well as LGBTQ+ related issues, Nimona is an excellent animated picture and a great acquisition for Netflix. The streaming service is a more liberal home than Disney, and this is very important when it comes to ensuring some of Nimona‘s metaphors have remained front-and-centre of the story, particularly those which delve into the trans experience.

Speaking of which, Nimona has some very important, very insightful things to say about trans identity, which are expertly weaved into a story that mixes together fantasy, fun, and friendship. The movie has a powerful message to get across about acceptance and understanding, and all times it is well executed without being heavy handed.

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In terms of its status as an animated movie, it is clear Nimona has been put together with a great deal of love and care. It is a detailed film, with plenty of action and humour, and some nice visuals too.

There are shades of Pixar in here, as well as Cartoon Saloon – the animation studio behind the excellent Wolfwalkers – and it stands head-and-shoulders alongside many of its peers. The film also features some really enjoyable transformation sequences, which make full use of Nimona’s shapeshifting skills, and this helps to keep things interesting during the more energetic sequences.

There is a lot of fun to be had in here, and the directing duo of Bruno and Quane, along with all of the animators, ensure this comes across in every frame. I imagine young audiences will love what’s on offer visually, while slightly older audiences will appreciate how well the animation matches the story beats and central themes.

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Boasting strong central characters, a playful tone, and an excellent voice cast, Nimona is a treat of a film. It is a picture which works for the whole family, features a rockin’ soundtrack, and is thoroughly entertaining. This year has already served up two great animated movies, in the shape of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, and Nimona can now be added to this list to make three.

Should you wish to check out the film, get on over to Netflix now. The movie is streaming from today!