An adaptation of a popular graphic novel based on a webcomic released from 2012 to 2014, Nimona has had a tumultuous journey to the screen. Originally a project at Blue Sky before the company was canned after Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox, the project was canned before being revived by Annapurna and Netflix. Fans and families should be delighted by that decision, because Nimona is one of the best family films of the year so far.
The movie follows a knight who, after being framed for an assassination he didn’t commit, partners with a mischievous shapeshifter in an attempt to claim back his reputation and honor. Although the idea of the knight learning to accept the “dragon” is nothing new to the fantasy genre, Nimona uses this trope for a unique purpose.
As is the case with many children’s films, the pacing does feel a bit rushed, as is often necessary to keep hold of younger audiences’ decreasing attention spans. However, the action and jokes keep coming throughout, and the great character development will keep viewers emotionally invested in the story.
The protagonist, a knight who quickly falls from grace, is an extremely compelling protagonist. Early on in the movie, it is established that he is an underdog, coming from a “common” bloodline rather than the noble ones from which knights are usually chosen, so audiences will immediately be sympathetic to him.
One of the main strengths of Nimona is its extraordinary LGBTQIA+ representation. Not only is the protagonist a gay man and his sexuality a central plot point — a rarity in films aimed at younger audiences — but the story as a whole can be seen as an allegory for the stigmatization the LGBTQIA+ community has faced in recent years.
The voice cast of Nimona is led by excellent performances by Riz Ahmed and Chloë Grace Moretz. Even though they are using their natural accents, Ahmed and Moretz nonetheless disappear into their roles and infuse the characters with an unexpected level of emotion. The rest of the cast doesn’t fare as well — Eugene Lee Yang is a clear weak link, and Beck Bennett feels out of place — but since most of our time is spent with Ahmed and Moretz, it works.
Because the film is based on a popular graphic novel, there is a rich visual inspiration from which the filmmakers could pull, and they do so brilliantly. The movie wonderfully combines the low fantasy aspects with futurism and a punk rock aesthetic to create a kinetic, consistently fun visual style.
The world-building in the film is impressive because it largely throws the audience into the deep end without the need for a ton of exposition. After a brief bit of background set in medieval times, we are transported thousands of years into an alternate future where medieval culture — such as knights and monarchs — still dominates despite modern technology. It’s a fascinating concept that viewers will be eager to see developed even further.
As for the action in the movie, it’s obviously somewhat sanitized given the family friendly PG rating of the film, but there are plenty of visually inventive moments that will keep it fun even for older children and adult audiences. Some of the most impressive action sequences are those which lean into the shapeshifting capabilities of Nimona’s character.
Nimona stands out as one of the best animated movies of the year so far thanks to great representation, compelling characters, and an inspired visual style. It’s more important than ever for stories like this to get a large platform, so kudos to Netflix for saving this project and sharing it with audiences who need to hear this story.
Nimona streams on Netflix beginning June 30.
Rating: 8/10
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