Jun 29, 2023

-Nemona Review Summary: Critics adore adaptations that have adopted Netflix-S.

Netflix's Nimona will be released on platforms around the world tomorrow, so we decided to take a look at what critics say about the feature adaptation of a graphic novel that fans of nd Stevenson like.

Nemona's production story is as dramatic as any of the plot points of the film itself. We documented it over the years and recently talked with the director of the film about its dramatic history. To summarize briefly, when Disney acquired the studio's parent company, Fox Entertainment, closed down Blue Sky and canceled the production of the film, Nemona was well into production at Blue Sky Studios. Eventually, Nimona's upper echelons, including director nick Bruno and director Troy Quane, picked up the film's work, partnered with Netflix to revive the project and contacted Annapurna Pictures, which recruited DNEG to animate it.

It is worth pointing out here that Nimona's final credits will be clocked in a massive 14 minutes to ensure that all Blue Sky employees who worked in the original version but did not appear in the finished film will get credits for their contributions.

Based on ND Stevenson's eponymous graphic novel, the film tells the story of a knight named Barrister who is surrounded for a tragic crime and teaming up with a shape-changing teenage Nemona to prove his innocence, but his new sidekick is more comfortable playing the role of a villain.

Nemona was a hit when it was world premiere at Annecy last month, and the initial reaction from the press and audience who captured the film there was overwhelmingly positive. Critics delve into the film's medieval/sci-fi aesthetics and adventurous 2d/3d animation style, and reviews usually feature Nimona's humor and action-packed pace

What critics say about Nimona is available on Netflix from 6.30 AM.

After summarizing the troubled production history of the film, Linda Codega of I09 concluded:

[H]oly fuck was all bullshit worth it. Nimona is hilariously funny, tightly scripted, well-animated, beautifully voiced, vulnerable, loving what makes us outsiders, despite hearty jokes, fast-paced plots, and whip-fast dialogues, Nimona does not shy away from heavier moments.

Peter Debruzzi of Variety counted Nimona's unique animation style as the greatest of its many virtues:

Briefly The most attractive of Nimona is the animation style outside the box. How often do you flip the "art" book for some big budget animation features and wonder why the film did not match the brilliant concept art that went into its production- well, Nimona is not so good at bending computer animation to make it look more like a human drawing. It will not leave you feeling that way, as it belongs to a new trend. The characters will be computer-rendered in 3d, but instead of the lines rendered like dynamic cartoon panels and photorealistic surfaces will be gone "camera" work and editing will be combined with a score of Christophe Beck's slash metal to bring an apparently teen-friendly toon. It's loosening, too.

In a Slashfilm review, Rafael Motamayor compared the visual styling of the film to other groundbreaking cg movies of the past few years:

Nimona stylized 3d animation with 2d effect works, just as blue sky was experimenting with Peanuts movies even before Spider-Verse came out, and depth of field and lighting are key factors that give the film a unique look. Directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane and their team create a world that looks simple, approachable and completely fresh. That said, character animations can look overly polished and pretty, and the marriage of 2d and 3d isn't always seamlessly merged. Still, the pure punk-rock attitude of the story and visuals is more than just making up for it.

Next Best Picture's Lauren LeMagna put Nemona among the top animated films of the year:

This year seems to be the result of stellar animation, and Nemona is no exception. The world is full of bright colors and designs that represent the jagged and rebellious nature of the titular character. Every frame has elements of chaos, rock and roll and madness. Everything is a bit out of the line, and it works, especially given that Nimona and Baristas are exposing the corruption of their world. Nimona thought of herself as a villain, but she is a villain who has fun and feels joy and joy in causing havoc. So it's nice to see the animation reflect it, and the action pieces are getting to jump off the screen. From art design alone, audiences of all ages will be entertained by this film. It is very fun and beautiful to look at. Disobedience has a fun element that is visually appealing.

Samantha Puc of Marie Sue praised the film's message and technical execution equally.

Nimona is a major achievement for family-oriented animation media. Debuting on the final day of Pride Month of the year, when US-based LGBTQIA+ people are watching lawmakers work increasingly hard to take away their rights, Nimona offers hours and 42 minutes of odd power and joy in the face of extreme adversity. It's escapism in the best way, and its dynamic animation style and energetic soundtrack- the original by Christophe Beck