Production issues nearly sidelined this film. Thank goodness it was revived and released on Netflix.
“Nimona” is set in a kingdom where the past meets the future. While the kingdom has all the makings of a medieval state in function, the movie is set in a high-tech world, with knights using hovercraft and advance technology.
The movie centers on one such knight, Ballister (Riz Ahmed), who finds himself framed for killing the queen of the kingdom. He meets an unlikely ally, though, in an unruly shapeshifter named Nimona (Chloe Grace Moretz) who has been shunned by the society at large for her abilities.
“Nimona” is a phenomenal blast of adventure cinema. The film is wonderfully energetic, with a plethora of exciting moments created with amazing animation that captures the chaotic action perfectly. While the film succeeds as a fantasy romp, though, there’s even more offered that makes the flick worth watching.
The character journeys of the main protagonists are just as key to making “Nimona” work as the moments of mayhem. Ballister learning to trust someone he’s been taught to fear and fight, as well as his questioning of the kingdom’s system and his conflicted feelings regarding his relationship with fellow knight Ambrosius (Eugene Lee Yang) is all compelling.
Where the film really shines, though, is with its titular character. Nimona is a dynamic fireball of a character, full of wit and an anarchic attitude. The character is like a bolt of lightning for the film, powering scenes and taking them to the next level every time they’re on screen.
In addition to her boundless and infectious energy, Nimona also has a great deal of depth. She’s ostracized in the kingdom, with the society seeing her as a monster, and underneath her spirited personality is someone who’s suffering. It’s a classic outcast arc pulled off exceptionally well.
The film is also effective as a thoughtful trans allegory. Nimona’s experiences include being shunned in society and questions about her identity, as well as not identifying as a specific gender and finding acceptance. Through the use of great dialogue and clever animation, the movie shines as a good beacon for the trans community.
The voice acting from Moretz is on point in the film, too. She channels some of her energy from her role as Hit Girl in 2010’s “Kick-Ass” to make Nimona into a shape-shifting bad-ass. Just as important, she nails the more heartfelt aspects of the character as well.
Ahmed is also quite good as the conflicted knight, nicely portraying both the character’s bravery and commitment to doing what’s right, as well as his anxiety over his current predicament. While the protagonists work quite well, though, the same can’t be said for the villains.
There’s a knight who acts like a bully to Ballister and becomes a primary antagonist, who comes across too much like a mean jock from a teen movie. It never fits, and Beck Bennett’s voice performance makes it sound like he’s doing a parody of such a character. The film’s main villain, which is revealed later, is also rather dull, with little personality.
The pacing around the second and third act is a bit off, too. The film has a wonderful build-up but the storytelling could have been handled a bit better in the second half. What’s taking place on screen always keeps a viewer engaged, but the way things unfold felt somewhat rushed.
Even with some issues, though, “Nimona” succeeds for the most part with wonderfully creative animation, an entertaining soundtrack, endearing characters and a compelling story. As far as animated films in 2023 go, it’s at the top. 4.2 out of 5.
Matthew Liedke on Film 
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