Nimona is a brand-new movie that came out on June 30th, 2023. This movie is based on the New York Times bestselling graphic novel by ND Stevenson. Initially, this movie was being produced by Blue Sky Studios and was scheduled to release in 2020, but it was eventually dropped when they were shut down. Later, Netflix picked up the movie and continued its production before releasing it this year.
Nimona has touched the hearts of many members of the LGBTQ+ community, and for good reason. The movie conveys the experiences that those who are a part of the community go through perfectly. Many fans were touched by Nimona’s message, and they can relate to how she feels. One of these lines is when she says, “I feel worse when I don’t do it. Like my insides are itchy. You know that second right before you sneeze? That’s close to it. Then I shape-shift, and I’m free.” This scene became popular in the fandom, especially among the LGBTQ+ fans. Many had explained that they’ve never been fully able to explain how it felt when they weren’t transitioned or were defined as a gender they didn’t want to be, but Nimona worded it perfectly.
We asked two different people what they thought of the movie, and they had differing opinions. Sofia Gomez, our first interviewee, responded, “I loved the animation, and I thought it was very thorough and well done. I like how it kept you intrigued, there was never a time for you to be bored.” Kalea responded, “What made me choose it was the art style, and I don’t regret it. Overall, I think it was a sweet movie, though the plot was okay. It was predictable and mildly exciting at best.”
There has been a lot of speculation as to why Disney stopped production of Nimona when it was 75% done. According to Collider, “these queer elements, primarily a kiss and love declaration between Ballister and Ambrosius, reportedly attracted pushback from Disney executives before Blue Sky’s shuttering.” This is likely why it was shut down, though nothing can be confirmed unless a Disney official confirms this. According to Benzinga.com, another source, “Walt Disney Co. DIS is receiving a new round of bad publicity over its response to LGBTQ content and issues via a report that the company abruptly canceled work on the animated feature “Nimona” while it was in production due to corporate agitation over LGBTQ themes and a same-sex kiss.”
Nimona has risen in popularity and gained many fans throughout the months it has been out. It is a breakthrough for the LGBTQ+ community and has helped many of the trans youth and older members feel accepted and included.
