Nimona (2023)
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2025-09 to 2026-08
A disgraced knight and a shapeshifting outcast must team up to clear his name in a kingdom divided by tradition and fear.
The story
In a medieval-futuristic kingdom protected by the Institute for Elite Knights, Ballister Boldheart is a commoner who becomes the first knight of his kind. However, during a ceremony, he is framed for the murder of Queen Valerin and becomes a fugitive. While crafting a prosthetic arm, he meets Nimona, a teenage outcast with shapeshifting abilities who seeks a sense of belonging. Seeing a kindred spirit in the outcast knight, Nimona declares herself his sidekick. Together, the unlikely duo embarks on a mission to uncover the truth behind the accusation and clear Ballister's name in a world governed by strict tradition and ancient legends.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Ballister Boldheart, a commoner knight, is framed for the murder of Queen Valerin and becomes a fugitive. He meets Nimona, a shapeshifting outcast who joins him as his sidekick. They discover that the Director of the Institute framed Ballister and murdered the Queen to maintain traditional control. They manage to record the Director's confession, but the Director later manipulates the public into believing Nimona is the 'Great Black Monster' from legend. This causes widespread paranoia. Ballister learns that Nimona was betrayed by her childhood friend, Gloreth, and the public. Nimona, feeling abandoned, transforms into the Great Black Monster and prepares to commit suicide. Ballister stops her and apologizes, leading to a moment of reconciliation. When the Director attempts to use a massive laser to destroy the city, Nimona takes a phoenix-like form and flies into the blast, sacrificing herself to save the kingdom. The explosion destroys the wall, revealing a beautiful valley. Later, the kingdom is opened to the outside world, and Nimona is revealed to have survived.
- First release year
- 2023
- Runtime (minutes)
- 99
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Nick Bruno; Troy Quane
- Writers
- Robert L. Baird · screenplay; Lloyd Taylor · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Chloë Grace Moretz · Nimona; Riz Ahmed · Ballister Boldheart; Eugene Lee Yang · Ambrosius Goldenloin; Frances Conroy · the Director; Lorraine Toussaint · Queen Valerin; RuPaul Charles · Nate Knight; Indya Moore · Alamzapam Davis; Julio Torres · Diego the Squire
- Genres
- animated; science fantasy; action-adventure
- Themes
- identity; prejudice; tradition vs. progress
- Tone and mood
- adventure; whimsical; subversive
- Premise and plot tags
- shapeshifting; knight; fantasy
- Source material / true-story basis
- 2015 graphic novel by ND Stevenson
- Content notes
- LGBTQ themes
- Reception
- The film received critical acclaim, with reviewers praising its animation, score, and performances, describing it as a 'subversive' and 'revisionist' fairytale.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 75 · scale: 100 · review count: 17
- Awards and nominations
- Best Animated Feature · Critics' Choice Awards · Nomination; Best Animated Feature · Annie Awards · Nomination; Best Animated Feature · Academy Awards · Nomination
- Production trivia
- Originally a production of Blue Sky Studios.; The film's design was influenced by Eyvind Earle and Charley Harper.; The film was set to be the first use of Blue Sky's Conduit.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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