At the heart of the graphic novel Nimona is a shape-shifting character: Nimona herself, an enigmatic being who oscillates between being a girl and an animal, persistently embodying an agent of chaos. With an unflagging spirit of mischief, she infiltrates the life of Ballister Blackheart, a knight who had embraced villainy, and adopts the role of his sidekick.
Creator ND Stevenson recalls a review from a five-year-old that stood out, “I like Nimona because she’s mean.” This brutally honest comment captured the essence of Nimona, who dared to embody the darker emotions that we as humans often suppress, making her a source of cathartic release for readers.
The narrative of Nimona, full of richness and complexity, finally found its home on Netflix, but not without enduring a roller coaster of challenges. The animated feature, directed by Nick Bruno and Troy Quane, weathered the storms of a media merger, a pandemic, creative leadership shifts, and even a studio shutdown. Stevenson, who also wore the hat of a co-producer, held onto faith in the unique spirit of Nimona and the commitment of the team backing it.
Nimona defies the traditional notions of heroism, inviting readers to grapple with complex questions about identity, labels, and our potential for transformation. Its thought-provoking themes started garnering attention during Stevenson’s university days. HarperCollins eventually published it in 2015, leading to Nimona’s recognition as a finalist for the US National Book Award.
Bruno and Quane, in the midst of producing their animated feature “Spies in Disguise,” were pulled into Nimona’s orbit when it went into development at Blue Sky Studios. They helped fine-tune the storyline, aiding in defining the central narrative arc of the film.
However, the project faced another setback when Disney, after acquiring Blue Sky, decided to shut it down. This drastic change slimmed the Nimona team down from 300 to a mere 10 core creatives. Despite this, they pushed forward with the project, using story reels and character models, and the voice of Chloë Grace Moretz for Nimona.
Producer Megan Ellison of Annapurna, alongside DNEG Animation, helped breathe new life into the project. While the final film is a departure from the original graphic novel, it retains its soul, challenging audience expectations and embracing Nimona’s core themes.
Stevenson eagerly awaits the reaction of young viewers to the film, hopeful that Nimona’s tale will inspire future storytellers to push boundaries and explore new narrative dimensions.