The Nimona Movie
The Nimona Movie has all of the elements that make for a great animated film, and then some. The adaptation of ND Stevenson’s beloved graphic novel has touched the lives of countless readers. Whether deftly tackling themes of challenging authority and questioning prejudice or proving itself to be a joyous fantasy, the Nimona movie is a triumph.
Our protagonist is framed for the murder of the Queen and cast out from her life as a guardian of the kingdom, becoming an outlaw hunted down by the dystopian city that frames her existence outside of the norms of society.
There’s something about the Nimona movie that feels a little bit more relevant than ever. Blue Sky Studios, which handled films such as Rio 2, Ferdinand, and Ice Age 5: Glacial Genesis, was the production studio for Nimona but was closed down just a few months after Nimona’s release. Not only does Nimona’s story give us a perspective that we so often do not get, but it highlights the parallels between our world and the one of the film – being different often leads to shame and ridicule, while corporations and authority figures profit from people’s pain.
Nimona is a young shapeshifter who doesn’t really know who she is, but through association with Ballister Blackheart, she tries to bring change to a city drowning in its own toxicity. Being able to take on any form isn’t enough to change the world, and the film reminds us of the struggle for change and the need to destroy oppressive foundations to instigate progress.
ND Stevenson’s world of Nimona combines medieval and futuristic elements to great effect. Knights ride mechanical horses with crossbows equipped with laser beams. The world has clearly evolved with technology, but we can also see that humanity has remained the same – what makes a freak or a monster is different but it’s still the same old intolerance.
The Nimona movie reflects the world’s progress in technology but also highlights the lack of acceptance from individual people, their corporate masters, and from many facets of society as a whole. There are still too many people who consider difference as dangerous “other,” choosing to write people off as personal inconveniences to be brushed aside.
Indeed, Nimona has always been viewed as quite trans, and the movie reflects many trans experiences. Nimona knows she is not a cat, she knows she is nothing that society tries to label her as. She knows that she is more than society prepares her to be. And, thankfully, now we all do too.
The Nimona movie brings a great amount of humor to both the animation and the story, a delightful touch that makes me happy to have had a part in making it cheekier than the original. Nimona’s transformation into a shark, dancing on a table as Ballister watches from below, is so absolute and so perfect.
Whether or not you have read ND Stevenson’s beloved graphic novel, I encourage you to watch the Nimona movie. What’s truly incredible is that so many Nimona fans have been a part of this journey and have continued to support it – our support of ND and Nimona’s story has helped to revive these treasures in new and exciting ways.
Whether turning to page after page of sunshine and rainbows or riddled with darkness and anger, there is a weird sense of satisfaction in knowing that something you loved has been brought to life – it’s almost like it’s your own. Nimona teaches us to find our voice and to not be afraid to use it, to stand out, and also to find our allies. In the chaos of the world, finding a series of scales is important – find allies in difference and love.
