Viva La Difference
Directed by Nick Bruno and Tony Quane
Starring Chloë Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed, Eugene Lee Yang
Released June 23rd, 2023
Rated PG
One thousand years ago, a monster attack against a medieval kingdom was thwarted by a woman named Gloreth (Karen Ryan). In an attempt to keep the monsters at bay, the kingdom is walled off from the rest of the world. In modern day, a statue of Gloreth stands in the center of the kingdom, which still sports a system of royalty and knights, yet is technologically advanced, with televisions and flying cars. A street kid named Ballister (Riz Ahmed) dreams of becoming a knight, but he is not of royal blood. Queen Valerin (Lorraine Toussaint) decides to give him the opportunity, in what appears to be a goodwill publicity stunt. Years pass and Ballister, now a young man, is on the precipice of being accepted as a hero of the realm. He’s in a relationship with fellow knight Ambrosius Goldenloin (Eugene Lee Yang), direct descendant of Gloreth. Their love is presented in a matter-of-fact fashion, and nobody seems to have a problem with it, which is refreshing.
Ballister finds himself on the run after being blamed for the death of someone quite important, the killing blow broadcast to the public at large during a ceremony. Many are quick to turn on him, since he is a commoner, and they believe he never should have been given a chance to become a knight. In his exile, Ballister is ambushed by a young sprite named Nimona, who is excited to offer her services as a villain’s sidekick. Nimona has a thirst for vandalism and chaos, saying “Metal” in approval of wanton destruction. She’s disappointed when Ballister explains he’s innocent, but she agrees to help her new “boss” prove his innocence, sure that there will be heads to crack along the way.
Nimona reveals herself as a shapeshifter by coming out of a literal closet in the form of a giant pink rhinoceros, just one of the many animals she will shift into during the course of their adventure together. The locals are alarmed by these pink creatures causing mayhem, and the powers-that-be spotlight Nimona as proof that the monsters from outside the kingdom walls are finally attacking. Ballister’s reaction to Nimona being a shapeshifter is one of shock and fear. He freaks out when he realizes Nimona is not human, calling her a monster. Nimona tells Ballister that she feels worse when she doesn’t shapeshift, and when she does, she feels free. Ballister’s eventual acceptance of Nimona is a big part of the film.
What started as a school doodle that became a senior thesis and then a graphic novel is now a major motion picture, a testament to the strong characters and important storytelling of creator ND Stevenson. It’s evident that the story of Nimona is of personal significance to Stevenson, best known for his work on the critically acclaimed series Lumberjanes and She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. The screenplay, by Robert L. Baird and Lloyd Taylor, does a good job in capturing the spirit of the graphic novel but, being significantly less violent, isn’t a slavish adaptation.
It’s a minor miracle that the film exists at all, given its troubled path to completion. Originally a Fox Animation / Blue Sky Studios project, Nimona was thrown into limbo when Disney bought Fox and dissolved Blue Sky Studios. Much of the film had already been animated, and some of the voice actors (including Chloë Grace Moretz and Riz Ahmed) were already cast, but the new executives in charge had issues with the LGBTQIA+ content of the film and were leaning toward cancelling the whole thing. Both Riz Ahmed and Chloë Grace Moretz spoke about the film in interviews, hoping that a studio would come along to finish and release the film. Thanks to the perseverance of many people, including Annapurna Pictures founder Megan Ellison, who picked up the film for their new animation studio, the film was completed and released via Netflix. Eagle-eyed viewers will notice the animators have included a few nods here and there to the film’s Blue Sky Studios origins.
Nimona differs from other animated films in that it feels more like an independent movie instead of something from a large studio. The story doesn’t feel like it’s being told by a committee. This being a character-driven story, the jokes feel earned, as does Nimona’s tragic backstory, which I admit I was unprepared for. The voice cast includes Frances Conroy, Beck Bennett, Sarah Sherman, and RuPaul Charles, but we spend the most time with Riz Ahmed and Chloë Grace Moretz. Ahmed adds another winner to his impressive body of work, perfectly conveying Ballister’s increasing frustration with his circumstance. As our title character, Grace Moretz gives one of the best voice acting performances in recent years. She’s simply outstanding as Nimona, remarkably vacillating between manic destruction mode, perky silliness, and ultimately, shocking sadness. A few contemporary songs (that fit the movie’s punky tone) are used, but mostly we are treated to a rousing score by the great Christoph Beck.
The only element of Nimona that didn’t work for me is admittedly a pretty big one: the animation. Full of bright colors but feeling strangely flat, the techniques used don’t help the film visually and never offer a “wow” factor. Thankfully, the story and the voice actors make up for it. A special film about chosen identity that’s well worth your time, Nimona is engaging, funny, fast-paced, and full of memorable moments. I’m sure as the years go by, we will hear about the impact Nimona had on scores of young people who will find her story a comfort to their lives. And that is “Metal” indeed.