NIMONA | THE LITTLE MOVIE THAT COULD

On the 30th June 2023, "Nimona" a film left to die after Blue Sky Studios shut down, was released on Netflix. And a year on from its release, I decided to take a look back and discuss the themes and my interpretations on a surprise hit in arguably the most stacked year ever for animation!
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#nimona #videoessay #themovieapprentice #moviecritic #chloëgracemoretz

[@Princess_-gp3ep]

Nimona is a modern classic masterpiece.

[@GeraldEatsSoup]

I can't believe its been a year now since that masterpiece

[@jaidaarain795]

nimona i think is one of those movies that will always resonate with me and make me cry and make me proud, just like it does with so many others

[@Rudnaz_127]

The ending line in Nimona has to be one of the best in film history. "...Hey boss." *le gasp* "HOLY SHI-" *end credits* Also, the way I cheered when I found out she survived.

[@Catwithcap]

The collective cheer of all humanity happened at that second

[@Rudnaz_127]

@@Catwithcap fr

[@Princess_-gp3ep]

@@CatwithcapFacts

[@thenameisalie6]

it's rare that one can say this about a movie, but this one was SO important!

[@cipherfresh]

I also wanted to compliment the movie’s art style. It’s distinct enough from other modern animated movies and gives the story so much personality

[@tjzambonischwartz]

When I first saw this movie earlier this year, I was at a crucial point of figuring shit out about myself. Having grown up undiagnosed autistic, always feeling like an alien. I always ASSUMED I was straight and then realized at the age of 40 (after processing a lot of trauma) that I'm not. This movie had me ugly crying because there was so much, about multiple characters in the film, that I related to. Hit me like a ton of bricks.

[@AFT3RDAY5]

Thanks to every person who made this masterpiece possible. This movie has it all. It put me on an emotional rollercoaster and I loved every second of it. This is how a story should be told. A phenomenal piece of art that gets full scores and will forever be in my heart. One of the best animated films ever.

[@Vxrtu]

I just watched it and holy shi- It was beautiful.

[@MechadonPrime]

I was still emotional about this movie the morning after I watched it.

[@garmadonthesensei59]

Such a good movie!!

[@mettatonex7221]

Important lessons to learn from this movie: 1. Our ancestors did not have all the answers. Do not fear change on the basis that it goes against tradition. 2. Some people are different. Some people do things different. That should be celebrated, not cast aside in favor of what's familiar to you. 3. Arm chopping is not a love language.

[@NinaFelwitch]

I want Nimona on Bluray!

[@Thomas_-bg8hi]

When i decided to watch Nimona i didn’t expect much but after watching it i can definitely agree it was a banger

[@ericaadelis586]

Disney dropped the ball, on a marketing pov, you know how easy it would’ve been to make a collection of plushies of all her shape shifters, so many quotable moments, I would see so many boys dressing up as the knights, the keychains, quotability alone could make for a whole line of regular clothing for both children and adults, in the parks, an experience of becoming a knight and obtaining a sword, like wand shopping at universals’ Ollivander’s, or the lightsaber building experience, a ride where you follow Nimona’s shapeshifting through the kingdom would be sick, anyway they really lost when they decided to loose this project

[@thefouranimationproduction]

I love this movie

[@notlookme]

You convinced me to watch it and wow, the ending made me cry (and laugh). Didn't know they can use half of a swear for a PG rating

[@TheMovieApprentice]

Cut to black censoring is honestly one of my favorite tropes in recent years, glad you enjoyed the movie

[@nathantew946]

It mad that this was being made by blue sky. If this film had been made earlier things could be so different for that company. I wish I'd seen it on the big screen.

[@TheMovieApprentice]

Legit wish this movie could have saved the studio but I'm happy their spirit got to live on through this movie

[@Weirdo_Kai.]

I freakin' love Nimona. A literal masterpiece.

[@MrEggz16]

Underrated channel alert

[@TheMovieApprentice]

I appreciate comments like these, thank you

[@Paul-D-Hoff]

One of my favorite moments is when Ballister pulled out the arrow out of Nimona's leg and was bandaging it, the look on Nimona's face that someone cared about her.

[@ParaFox404]

I fuckin adore this movie

[@raikaschieck1634]

Thanks for giving some love to Blue Sky

[@lynnboartsdye1943]

Spoilers/ content warning for suicide: On my first watch my jaw dropped when I realized she was trying to kill herself, it’s the last thing I’d expect from a PG movie but I think it’s just important that it’s there. (Even though I was screaming for her not to do it before Ballister came in) I feel like Disney and other companies who try to please the Queer audience and keep their bigoted audience don’t understand or care about actually discussing the realities of being queer. Not that every queer movie needs to be about the hard stuff they should be varied as any other movie. My point is, it hammers in why we need to be accepted, why we should be heard and to be learned from. Before this point Nimona is just existing as herself and anytime it’s questioned she cracks a joke, she sticks up for herself, she gets angry and years of that takes a mental toll on a person. Sometimes that toll is so heavy that suicide seems like the only way to stop hurting. I do wonder if Disney was just not ready to have a PG movie that deals with such a topic as suicide so masterfully have their name on it and that’s just another reason why they rejected it.

[@jackieroberts2625]

This comment made me cry and it's everything I was thinking during that scene. I doubt there's any queer person who can't relate to that kind of mentality

[@ericepperson8409]

Not a masterpiece? In a year with Spiderverse and The Boy and the Heron (and since the video mentions it too) and Puss in Boots The Last Wish - Nimona is the one with the biggest feels and most memorable individual moments. It has it's own excellent animation style and great characters."I don't know what's scarier, the fact everyone in this kingdom wants to drive a sword thru my heart, or that sometimes I just wanna let them". This line breaks me every time. The Blue Sky logo may not be on this film, but I'm pretty sure everyone involved would rather this be it's great Magnus Opus and a better final project than Spies in Disguise.

[@duoquendo]

great video

[@MrOtistetrax]

I loved this so much when I watched it, that I immediately watched it again. I’m a 45 year old dude.

[@SomeCertainMycorian]

i loved this movie

[@SongbirdTheAI]

I fucking loved this movie

[@badecantdraw]

Never will get over this masterpiece

[@MrGabeanator]

should've won best animated feature

[@Princess_-gp3ep]

I agree, but on the bright side, at least Nimona won 2 Annies. I just hope this underrated movie doesn’t become forgotten by the public like the book of life.

[@kyleoates6367]

This is one of the movies I wish I could buy but can't because of streaming greed culture.

[@salazarvonspooks]

i was so happy when i learned about the movie

[@FoxishZe]

Im upset no one mentions rhat it originated as a book

[@IgnoranTaco]

Suzume is still recognized 🥹🥹

[@TheMovieApprentice]

Of course! Suzume was fantastic

[@Very_Confused_Idk]

1:09 they're not a girl, she's Nimona

[@salazarvonspooks]

i havnt met a single person read the nimona comics

[@gred_and_feorge0554]

Nimona is not a subtle film. But sometimes you don't need subtle

[@Dankdemon-r5y]

1:08 not girl she is a shark :P

[@TheMovieApprentice]

*snap snap* 🦈

[@hybridvenom9]

Not going to lie this movie is like near my top seconds favorite movie (first is obviously spider-verse what did you not expect?)

[@nebulousnoah3913]

Really good vid, main complaint: Nimona themself isn't a girl, as stated within the movie. They're nonbinary but iirc, the movie does make use of She/Her pronouns so it's an understandable scripting error

[@TheMovieApprentice]

Yeah I assumed they were when watching it but i do recall ambrosias referring to them as a she, so I assumed the shape shifting was allegory enough for them being non binary in a subtle way. I did wrestle with what pronouns to use when scripting, and came to the conclusion it didn't matter as they are simply Nimona and that's all that should matter was what the film was saying. Tried my best to address it as such in the video but I appreciate why it's a complaint, thanks for the feedback 🙂

[@xxbalt9429]

wait has this got spoilers?

[@dh599]

I put off watching it for months, didn't like the art style all that much and thought it was going to be another adorkable snore fest like what Disney is intent on pumping out... oh boy was I wrong, this was such a good watch and I was deeply invested in our MC's to the very end... don't like the fake out at the end though.

[@Xornys6138]

Isn’t this the movie who got rejected by Disney or a big company bc there’s some zesty stuff in it

[@_kaleido]

Disney considers a single, chaste peck on the lips 'zesty' if it involves two characters of the same gender so yes

[@321Mrremco]

yes; disney doesnt like gay. the only zesty stuff was 1 kiss between 2 male lovers and disney was like NAH we cant show this to our asian fellas

[@Catwithcap]

@@321Mrremco Disney honestly sees something that is considered weird to anyone and goes "NAHH MAN WE CANT DO THIS WHAT IF THIS SPECIFIC TYPE OF PERSON DISLIKES IT THEN LEAVES A BAD CAREER THEN SHUTS DOWN THE ENTIRE COMPANY?" "But imagine the amount of people it will appeal to and someones bad review cant shut dow-" "Never can be too safe" *Cancels the movie*

[@Rudest2]

I thought this was going to be a homophobic rant I’m glad that isn’t the case

[@TheMovieApprentice]

What would be the point in making a video, committing several days to scripting, clip finding and editing, just to rant about something so stupid. 🤣

[@Rudest2]

@@TheMovieApprentice bro trust me they are homophobic movie critic who don't admire the movie plots etc but rather spread Thier homophobia I'm glad this isn't the case

[@EternalDensity]

Nimona, a "young" "girl"

[@davegity8796]

Man I miss OG Nimona who could swear and kill people wtf is this shit.