TL;DR – A delightful tale of two misfits that find each other when they need them the most.

Post-Credit Scene – There is no post-credit scene.

Disclosure – I paid for the Netflix service that viewed this film.

Nimona Review –

Very rarely does a cancelled film get a second chance at life, even less so with animation, but this is what we are getting today. Coming back from the dead with an interesting animation style and a story that takes no prisoners.   

So to set the scene, a long time ago, there was a kingdom at peace, but there was a monster waiting to attack, and attack it did. A glorious hero Gloreth defeated the monster and put in place champions to make sure this never happened again. One thousand years later and the new knights are about to be knighted, where generations of tradition are being put aside as a commoner Ballister Blackheart (Riz Ahmed) might become the champion over other nobles, including Gloreth’s own descendant Ambrosius Goldenloin (Eugene Lee Yang). But when Ballister’s blade was bobby trapped, and the Queen (Lorraine Toussaint) is killed, he has to go on the run when he comes across his biggest ally or trap in the shapeshifting Nimona (Chloë Grace Moretz).  

The first thing you see in this film is the animation style, which is a style I don’t think I have seen presented in such a way before. It is a 3D style that is not cell-shaded but invokes that style while still being their own voice. It was a little odd at first, but then you get caught up in it and get carried away with just how far they can stretch the design. You see this the most in the action setpieces where different animals and laser swords flow across the screen. This is supported by the art design that smashes medieval themes with future technology. I am always fascinated when people combine fantasy and science fiction elements together, and here we sort of get what if Camelot became Blade Runner?

From a narrative perspective, this is a film you can see coming a mile away, but that does not take away from the moment-to-moment action. The real villain is not a surprise, nor is the big surprise reveal, but it does not matter. The narrative is more about the relationships and their meaning to each other. At the core of this is Ballister and Nimona, and they make a perfect chaotic team, as they both have strengths and weaknesses that complement each other. It also helps that the voice acting is superb, which brings some of those action scenes with whales to life.

Nimona is entirely unsubtle about the messages that it wants to explore. The main drama comes because there is no way a lowly commoner could have a position of power even though they worked harder than anyone else to be there. Nimona is asked why don’t they go out of their way to pass in normal society if they can. Indeed the core premise from the film’s start is what happens to a community built upon an ever-present external threat and should you be questioning the power structures of society. Generally speaking, I think they do a good job of exploring these different themes. Bar one plot point that shifts the film into its third act that feels disingenuous given the information the character had at the time.    

In the end, do we recommend Nimona? Yes, we would. On the surface level, it is a fun little film about who are the real monsters in the realm of Monsters Inc. But when you dig a bit deeper, it takes wild swings on several topics, and I do like it when films take risks like this. If you liked Nimona, I would recommend to you Luca.

By Brian MacNamara: You can follow Brian on Twitter Here, when he’s not chatting about Movies and TV, he’ll be talking about International Relations, or the Solar System.

Have you watched Nimona?, let us know what you thought in the comments below, feel free to share this review on any of the social medias and you can follow us Here. Check out all our past reviews and articles Here, and have a happy day. 

Credits – All images were created by the cast, crew, and production companies of Nimona
Directed by – Nick Bruno & Troy Quane
Screenplay by – Robert L. Baird & Lloyd Taylor
Story by – Robert L. Baird, Lloyd Taylor, Pamela Ribon, Marc Haimes, Nick Bruno, Troy Quane & Keith Bunin
Based on – Nimona by ND Stevenson
Music by – Christophe Beck
Edited by – Randy Trager & Erin Crackel
Production/Distribution Companies – Blue Sky, DNEG Animation, Annapurna Pictures & Netflix
Starring – Chloë Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed, Eugene Lee Yang, Frances Conroy, Lorraine Toussaint, Beck Bennett, RuPaul Charles , Sarah Sherman, Indya Moore & Julio Torres with ND Stevenson, Mia Collins, Zayaan Kunwar, Charlotte Aldrich, Karen Ryan, Nick Bruno, Troy Quane, Julie Zackary, Randy Trager, Christopher Campbell, Cindy Slattery & Matthew Munn
Rating – Australia: PG;