Nimonacontinues to give me emotional whiplash. As a fan of ND Stevenson’s original webcomic and his other works likeShe-Ra and the Princesses of Power, to hear such a beloved story of queer rebellion was set to receive a feature animated adaptation filled me with excitement. A feeling that immediately morphed into disappointment as Disney acquired Fox and shut down Blue Sky Studios, merely to thin out any potential costs or weird competition.
The film was mostly complete when the order came down, meaning that artists, animators, writers, and dozens of other people who spent years working on Nimona were both out of work and were faced with the hard truth that their efforts may never see the light of day. It was something fans came to terms with as well, believing that Nimona was now a distant pipe dream, and we’d never see Stevenson’s vision brought to life on the silver screen.
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When all hope seemed lost, along came Netflix and Annapurna. I have my problems with the streaming service and its habit ofcancelling animated showsandworthwhile sapphic stories, however it’s also home to so much media that means so much to me. Stevenson’s own She-Ra being the most obvious, given I have two tattoos inspired by the show and still read way too much Catradora fanfiction for my own good. To see Stevenson and the streamer reunite for yet another project warms my heart, and it deserves this chance.
If you aren’t familiar with Nimona, it follows the titular shapeshifter who joins forces with the villainous Ballister Blackheart to bring down the controlling institute. It’s a compelling tale of questioning authority and going against what wider society expects of you, even if it means having to deconstruct the very systems in which you were raised. Nimona’s character also represents a fluid exploration of identity with her shapeshifting powers and determination to challenge the power structures maintained above her. She is impossible to define or confine, refusing to be labelled as something corrupted by needless tradition. Such themes can be seen in most of Stevenson’s work, and this is where so much of it started.
Yesterday saw the first teaser trailer revealed, ahead of the June 30 release date, and I am already sold. Chloe Grace Moretz imbues the character with a wonderfully cheeky aura of youthful rebellion as Nimona narrates a classic fairy tale scene, only to immediately tear it down and make fun of blatant cliches. Seconds later the guards have been called, and the entire castle is aflame as giant monsters tear it all asunder. The tone is picture-perfect and expands on the graphic novel in ways I didn’t necessarily expect, but now welcome.
Her fluorescent pinkish red form when shapeshifting into animals contrasts beautifully against the droll, corporate society she seeks to overthrow. Nimona questions how our archaic definitions of good versus evil and the people who exist on each side are more complicated than we give them credit for, and in real life we owe ourselves that level of consideration and nuance. Nimona does exactly that while also never afraid about having fun and exploring the value of fluid identities amidst a fantastical landscape.
If you’re after a new animated film with strong characters and queer themes, Nimona should be one to watch when it arrives on Netflix next month. It’s been a long time coming.
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