Nimona (2023)

Shapeshifting is a cool power, along with time travel - and possibly psychic powers - shape-shifting would be one I would like to have. If Nimona's shapeshifting ability was common then I think people would get away with lots of things, being able to turn into other people or animals to escape police and all. But this isn't about reality and some people's tendency toward crime - or about the systems in place that encourage crime or violent behaviour, this is about Nimona, her fear of intimacy and trauma from being bullied, villainized and ostracised by the people around her because of her abilities (Ok, also the failing system bit too) yay!

Nimona is a science fantasy graphic novel written by Noelle Stevenson as a webcomic, originally, it was published between 2012 and 2014 on Tumblur, and after an agent reached out to Noelle it was finally published in print through Harper Collins in 2015 and in June of the same year, 20th Century Fox acquired the rights and produced by their former subsidiary, Blue Sky Studios, with help from Vertigo Entertainment with a scheduled release date of February 14th 2020. However, it got delayed and delayed again, but there was word that Nimona would still be happening, so there was hope. Until Disney cancelled it by shutting Blue Sky Studios.

It seemed all was lost for Nimona getting its rightfully deserved adaptation.

Until one day - and specifically the day April 11th 2022 - Annapurna Pictures and Netflix did something about the disappointment that was Nimona's cancellation! Finally, Nimona came to streaming in 2023. So it all had a happy ending after all.

Don't worry, I am getting to the movie itself.

I don't think I fully understand Nimona's shapeshifting ability, everything she turns into is a shade of pink, until she turns into Ballaster Boldheart and she just looks like him - only a version of him that likes jazz - and a giant black creature. Can Nimona choose the colour of her skin, or does she have to be pink? Is it a stylistic choice on behalf of the filmmakers or does Nimona choose to do that to look cool? Who knows? My interpretation of her power is that it grants her eternal youth, she explicitly turns into a little kid after all, so why can't she decide for herself how old she is? This also brings with it the implication Nimona is immune to fatal illnesses. In all honesty I don't think this would really affect anybody's enjoyment of the film, it's more curious if anything, all we really need to know for the film is that Nimona's very old and can shapeshift.

Honestly, I don't think I would've done anything else if I had creative control over this film. However, I did feel that Nimona's relationship with Golorith should've been developed more, I don't mean to say that it is not done WELL, it's just I wish there should've been more time focusing on it, seeing what kind of relationship it is. And to a much lesser extent there was one joke where Sir. Ambrosius Goldenloin internally describes what he feels about the story so far to the Director and then it's revealed that what he just said was all in his head. I thought it was funny, especially when he says "arm cutting is NOT A LOVE LANGUAGE!" Referencing the line previously said by Nimona and foreshadowing the twist of Nimona becoming him shortly there after. But I felt it was jarring going from inside someone's head and back into reality, but I think they did it well nevertheless.

Now to describe how I feel about the films ending, I'm going to have to soil something big, so if you are upset by spoilers I recommend stopping reading this review now. If you want an "Ending", then: I loved it. The End, goodbye. But if you don't mind spoilers or just want to see what I think of the film you just watched right now - 5 years ago - then read away.

Good they're gone.

Nimona dies, but then gets brought back to life. As much as I loved the ending, I felt that the film was trying to much to have its cake - having a happy ending where she lives - and eating it too, the gut punch of having an impactful character death. But it is done kinda well, and it gives a vague promise of a Nimona 2, maybe even a sequel exploring Golorith's and Nimona's relationship.