After what felt like ages of uncertainty and heartbreak, those who remained steadfast in their support for Nimona finally feel triumphant. Harsh circumstances made it so that a revelatory animated feature about a shape-shifting hero and two gay knights became a causality of intolerance and moral policing, but against all odds, Nimona has found new life. Disney never saw the value of Nimona and promptly forced production to close after acquiring Blue Sky Studios through the acquisition of 20th Century Fox. Instead of having a film under their banner that affirmed queer identities, had a heartfelt and fulfilling gay romance, and a genderfluid hero, they scrapped it in favor of half-assed attempts at representation and participation trophies. Annapurna and Netflix saw the value, heard the passionate cries from fans of ND Stevenson’s graphic novel, and sprung into action.

Nimona follows the adventures of Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed), a knight disgraced by a tragic incident, and Nimona (Chloë Grace Moretz), a mysterious shape-shifting teenager who wants to be his sidekick. The tragic incident that turned Ballister from a shining hero to a treacherous villain has threatened a thousand years of law and order. Now, it is up to this unlikely duo to uncover the truth and save the day.

After a limited theatrical run, the animated film is now available worldwide after years of gestation. And how is it? It’s pretty darn great. It’s goofy, endearing, darkly funny, and incredibly relevant. The film is perfect for younger audiences, especially those who need a positive presentation of queer and genderfluid identities. However, the film is not some after-school special or PSA on how to treat people who are different than you with dignity and respect. Narratively, the film does not stray into unknown territories and is akin to a story like Frozen, which emphasizes celebrating people’s differences and not being afraid of change or things you don’t understand. However, unlike Disney’s usual animated fare, Nimona leans into creating a story that centers on themes and messaging that uplift queer identities without regulating them to supporting or inconsequential characters.

Nimona is a charming, nuanced, sophisticated, and creative animated feature. The narrative is quite apparent in its themes about morality, identity, and tradition, but it’s not overly eager to announce its intentions. The story always remembers that it’s creating an experience for us to enjoy and learn from. It is easy to follow for younger kids, but still significant and touching for the older crowd enjoying the ride. Nimona also has fun with its tone. There are numerous laugh-out-loud moments, with jokes ranging from slapstick to sarcastic to dark (but never inappropriate). The screenplay by Robert L. Baird and Lloyd Taylor moves smoothly without hiccups. They weave a story that effectively utilizes comedy to make the emotional core more effective. The dialogue is dynamic and filled with personality and is made that much more impactful with the immaculate cast. Overall, Nimona is incredibly feel-good, nuanced, and hilarious. Every level of this production is in top form, creating an experience you’ll want to revisit.

The animation style is enchanting, modern, and nostalgic. The original animation team aimed to develop a style that blended the 2D, hand-drawn style with 3D technology, to emphasize the medieval origins of the story and the modern setting. Additionally, the ambitious color choices, dynamic action sequences, and charming character designs help solidify the unique tone of the graphic novel it is inspired by without making a very literal animated adaptation. Christophe Beck perfectly supports the animation style with a boisterous score that compliments the exciting set pieces and the emotional sequences, constantly adapting to the ebbs and flow of the story while carrying the audience through stimulating action sequences and the more in-depth moving moments.

The cast is excellent, led by the always delightful Riz Ahmed, Chloë Grace Moretz and Eugene Lee Yang. They, alongside the ensemble cast, offer lively and endearing voice work perfect for their respective characters. The character designs for Ballister and Ambrosius Goldenloin were inspired by Ahmed and Lee Yang, a choice that makes the animated film feel more effortlessly diverse. The design for Nimona is quite exquisite, not overly complicated but tons of fun.

As more and more animated studios veer into the realism camp to show off their technical prowess, this production zeroes in on the whimsy and joy that animation is capable of to create a world and characters that are recognizable, but remain distinct and fantastical. Annapurna Animation has done us all a solid by saving Nimona because as the exhilarating tale of unlikely heroes arrives at its rousing conclusion, the urge to rewind and start it all over again is too strong to ignore. After all the uncertainty and hard work almost lost, Nimona is finally here for us to enjoy and cherish.

Nimona is now streaming on Netflix. The film is 99 minutes long and rated PG for violence and action, thematic elements, some language and rude humor.