Nimona - Hyper but Heartfelt

 

Streaming on Netflix 

    I will never tire of saying this so long as it bares repeating; animation is not strictly for children! Despite what famous conjecture has caused you to believe, animation is an artistic medium that conveys various genres, themes, and narratives. It is a platform of limitless possibilities, and it frustrates me how seemingly everyone (especially those high up in the artistic community), even to this day, still dismisses animation as something for children to enjoy and adults to endure. It is a toxic, arrogant, and unfair perception that needs to stop for everyone's sake! 

    This argument, I admit, is challenging to maintain when we're still getting animated films like Nimona: a hyperactive, overtly comedic film with mature narrative texture and relevant themes that are needlessly overshadowed by formulaic tropes and excessive (albeit hilarious) comedic reliance. Yet, despite all that, the film still succeeds in carrying the weight of its narrative choices with conviction and pride. While I might have preferred that it dialed back the comedy a bit more and allowed the title character to be the stand-alone wild card of the story (more on that in a moment), I have to give the film credit where it is due. Nimona does enough things right to forgive its shortcomings (mostly). 

    Set in a rather fascinating world that combines traditional fantasy elements with futuristic & modern technology, the story follows Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed), a street youth given a chance to become the first person not hailing from a noble bloodline a knighthood. Despite public outcry and internal debates, the Queen insists that he be granted the same opportunity as anyone else who may wish to earn the title of knight. However, on the day of the knighting ceremony, Ballister is seen deliberately (apparently) assassinating the Queen. Now on the run from the authorities, Ballister must prove his innocence. A task made all the more challenging (and occasionally easier) with the help of a mysterious shape-shifting young girl named Nimona (Chloë Grace Moretz), who offers her services as his "evil sidekick," thinking Ballister has turned into a villain due to his unfortunate situation. With no one else to turn to for help, Ballister reluctantly accepts Nimona's assistance on his quest for justice while making some harsh and much-needed discoveries on the nature of good and evil. 

    The film tackles heavy topics that ring true and relevant in the modern age, such as identity politics, media perception, and the need to always question authority. Nimona, in particular, is a beautiful allegory for, among other things, transgender youth. Her ability to become anything she wishes on a whim terrifies most of the kingdom. Her allegorical status is best exemplified in a scene with her and Ballister on the subway, which I won't spoil here, though it's likely already visible on YouTube. It hits the note nicely. 

    The film also gets bonus points for creating an incredibly fascinating world that combines classical fantasy elements with modern & futuristic aspects. It's a creative and clever way to make the story feel old-fashioned yet still ring familiar to modern audiences. It's like Cyberpunk 2077 had a Renaissance Fair. It's incredibly cool, and I wish more movies would do more clever fusions like this more often. 

    The MVP Award goes to Nimona for being an incredibly sympathetic and fun character who carries the story on her shoulders. While Ballister's character arc is important, and his relationship with another knight is more relevant than you might have thought, Nimona is the ultimate heart of the story, delivered brilliantly by Chloë Grace Moretz's beautiful performance. 

    Which, sadly, also brings me to one of the movie's problems. 

    Most (if not all) of the other characters exhibit the same manic silliness as Nimona. While she succeeds in fitting in as the stories live wire goofball, when nearly every other character has too many moments practically mimicking Nimona's personality type, it renders the other characters indistinctive. Granted, the film has a silly tone overall (another problem with the modern Western animation formula). While I don't have a problem with silly tones, there should be a better balance between that and the more mature thematic elements, which, sadly, is lacking in this film. Not to the point of non-existence, just needlessly overshadowed to the point of uncertainty in its earning. 

    Despite falling victim to modern Western animation formula tropes, Nimona still delivers a worthy narrative with at least one excellent character who deserves to become the mascot of giving voice to the silenced and repressed. While the comedic tone can sometimes unintentionally diminish the intended message, it still comes through like a shining light on a starless night. Give this one a shot for a fun, entertaining, and relevant romp. 

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.