Nimona

This was a huge surprise. Nimona won my heart with its spirited story and well thought out characters. I loved how it sneakily introduced so much humour into the story while maintaining a heartfelt plot that asked its characters questions regarding trust, belief and justice.

One might argue that the story is predictable. But honestly, why even predict this storyline? The entire movie is so well executed - the characters are great, the chemistry between them is great, the direction is great, the soundtrack is great, the animation is artful, I honestly don't have the time to predict what's going to happen. All of it was easily enough for me to stay in the moment. If the execution was mediocre or bad, then yes, my mind would've started predicting and nitpicking the movie. This is the exact reason why a movie like Avatar works perfectly for me. That's the importance of executing a story perfectly.

In fact, I actually didn't think the movie would take the direction that it did. And the emotionally-heavy final act of this movie, just tugged at my heartstrings.

Nimona's character is actually brilliantly written. Her body language, mannerisms, touchy opinions about specific topics are the little things that are always really important to make a great character. This script did that very well. And some humour, I thought, was actually very innovative and that made it more hilarious. The fast pace, and the gutsy plot just elevated the thrill and entertainment. The chemistry between the 2 main characters is brilliantly done.

This movie was a very surprising, entertaining and heartfelt experience and I'd highly recommend watching it. It's a Netflix original so it's available there.

Nimona is a heavier movie than expected, but for the most part in a good way. One character is severely wounded early in the film, which sets the tone for an animated film that isn't quite aimed at young-young kids but is more aimed at a "ready for the Lion King" age range. That was surprising given the trailer, but not bad.

The character of Nimona is fascinating; she's a shape-shifter character who doesn't clearly have a "base form" but takes advantage of that characteristic in the full range. Whale, Gorilla, Ostrich--it's all fair game, and she enjoys the transformations and causing chaos generally. If you enjoyed the shapeshifting in the Dungeons and Dragons movie, this will be right up your alley.

It's based on a comic by Nate Stephenson, who is the same creator that made She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. So, think the energy and vibe of She-Ra if you happened to see that, but with a much better animation budget. (And if you end up liking this film, and haven't seen She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, that might be a good follow-up).

Directed by the makers of Spies In Disguise, Nimona is a film that had to face a lot of roadbumps before it saw the day of light.

To say that the fact this movie got released is a miracle, would be an understatement.

But I am glad to say that even after all those hiccups, they delivered with the end product. It's funny, heartfelt and everything you want from a movie about a shapeshifting-sadistic-sarcastic teen. Though the plot is somewhat predictable, the way it is directed and executed does leave you wanting more. The "2 and a half D" animation style that this movie features, might be my new fav artstyle.

Rare Netflix W.

Nimona has become a somewhat unique and troubled production, partly because it was based on a web comic that got its film rights picked up by Blue Sky Studios (sometime after Disney bought Fox I think) only to be cancelled after 75% of the film was completed; then Netflix and Annapurna Pictures came into the rescue and saved the film from oblivion. And it's become a success too: people are already making fan-art, remixes, and reviews are glowing for this unlikely underdog of a film.

Now the film itself is like a cyberpunk Legend of Zelda mixed with trace elements of Blade Runner, Zootopia, Monster's Inc, Kick Ass, and the subversive fantasy tropes of Shrek (with additional satire for society and government institutions). It's also a good, briskly paced time in this medieval cyberpunk land of flying horse carriages, glowing swords and doe-eyed children evoking anime kids and Disney heart melters too. The vibe of this film... it's unlike anything from PIXAR, DreamWorks or even Blue Sky; and maybe that was part of the reason the project suddenly ceased to be. It's good that Netflix picked the film up RIGHT from where Blue Sky left off.

Nimona has a world in it that's just begging to be explored even further, because the film itself is like the tip of an iceberg in a self-aware way with its in-universe life of dragon-themed cereals, toys and of course the soldiers being the Gate Keepers of a world dictated by myth. So what other myths exist in the world of Nimona? Who knows?

As a film Nimona is un-pretentious entertainment that knows it's audience likes multilayered worlds that live beyond the screen, that animation is best when it's a remix of long-standing tropes and styles making for an experience that's unconventional yet it becomes a foundation in itself.

Nimona gets 4/5 stars. 8/10 IMDb points.

I had to travel a very long way to catch this in the cinemas as it will only be a week and it's gone, but really worth the long journey for his super fun, super fantastic animated film from Annapurna and Netflix. Animation by Blue Sky Studios who were shut down, but finished by DNEG Animation.

Ballister Boldheart voiced by the brilliant Riz Ahmed, is framed for murder, he goes on he run, and a girl, called Nimona, played with such comic energy by Chloë Grace Moretz, wants to help, total chaos rains.

Like Spiderverse, it comes out firing, with such great fun, a simple great story along with some stunning great visuals, all thanks to the production design, which a mix of classic Disney of 'Sleeping Beauty" done in a French pastel like animation style, and it is just brilliant.

Chloë Grace Moretz, really went mad fun doing, the nutty but loveable Nimona, Riz Ahmed plays it cool and quirky, Frances Conroy is very stern, Lorraine Toussaint, is royal like.

The hour and 41 minutes runtime goes quick, it's very lean and does not, like a great deal of films need any editing. I just wish this was showing in IMAX as this would look and sound epic, some great action sets and great soundtrack.. Worth the hunt at the cinema. Based on a Graphic novel which I have to check out.