Nimona (film)

Nimona is a 2023 American computer-animated science fantasy adventure comedy film directed by Nick Bruno and Troy Quane from a screenplay by Robert L. Baird and Lloyd Taylor, based on the graphic novel of the same name by ND Stevenson. The film features the voice of Chloë Grace Moretz as the titular character and co-stars Riz Ahmed.

Originally a production of Blue Sky Studios, it was originally set to be directed by Patrick Osborne, with an initial release date of 2020. Following The Walt Disney Company's acquisition of 21st Century Fox, the parent company of Blue Sky, the production received pushback from Disney's leadership due to the film's LGBTQ themes, after which it was delayed multiple times before being canceled due to Blue Sky's closure in April 2021. However, Annapurna Pictures revived the project the following year, with Bruno and Quane announced as directors, DNEG Animation providing animation, and Netflix acquiring worldwide distribution.

Nimona had its world premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 14, 2023, and is scheduled to be released on June 30, by Netflix. The film received acclaim from critics.

Premise
Nimona, a teenager with the power to shapeshift, is targeted by a knight for assassination. The knight's mission to kill Nimona becomes complicated when he is accused of a crime, and learns that Nimona may be able to exonerate him.

Voice cast

 * Chloë Grace Moretz as Nimona, a shapeshifter who insists on being the sidekick to Ballister Blackheart.
 * Riz Ahmed as Ballister Blackheart, a former knight for the Institution who was kicked out when he was accused of murdering Queen Valerin.
 * Eugene Lee Yang as Ambrosius Goldenloin, the champion knight of the Institution.
 * Frances Conroy as The Director
 * Lorraine Toussaint as Queen Valerin
 * Beck Bennett as Sir Thoddeus Sureblade
 * RuPaul as Nate Knight
 * Indya Moore as Alamzapam Davis
 * Julio Torres as Diego the Squire
 * Sarah Sherman as Coriander Cadaverish

Blue Sky Studios (2015–2021)
In June 2015, 20th Century Fox Animation acquired the rights for an animated feature film adaptation of Nimona, a webcomic by ND Stevenson. Patrick Osborne was set to direct, from a screenplay by Marc Haimes.

The film was to be produced by Fox's former subsidiary, Blue Sky Studios, alongside Vertigo Entertainment. In June 2017, 20th Century Fox scheduled Nimona to be released on February 14, 2020.

In March 2019, The Walt Disney Company completed its acquisition of Fox, then in May 2019, the film was delayed to March 5, 2021. In November 2019, the film was delayed again to January 14, 2022. Through 2020 there was word that the film would be released in 2022,  Stevenson stated in June 2020 that the film was still happening, and said the same in an August 2020 podcast. In August of that same year, Den of Geek reported that the animated film was still scheduled to be released in 2022, but gave no further details, with Deadline reporting the same in October.

Cancellation and aftermath
On February 9, 2021, Disney announced it was shutting down Blue Sky Studios, and that production of the film was canceled.

Following the announcement, Stevenson said it was a "sad day" and that he wished the best for everyone who worked at Blue Sky Studios, while Osborne said he was "truly heartbroken" that the studio was closing its doors. Webcomics commenter Gary Tyrrell criticized the decision, saying, "Disney could have allowed a very different kind of young heroine... I mourn for those who would have found a vision of themselves in an animated version". Anonymous staffers at Blue Sky interviewed by Business Insider bemoaned the cancellation of the film, calling it "heartbreaking," arguing that the film "didn't look like anything else in the animated world," and saying that they believe it will never "be completed and released." The film was set to be the first use of Blue Sky's Conduit, a system that allowed artists to "find, track, version and quality control their work." Had it been made, it would have been Blue Sky's first film with LGBT representation, as a few staffers confirmed to BuzzFeed News that the film had an "I love you" scene between Ballister Blackheart and Ambrosius Goldenloin.

Sources told CBR that the film was "75% complete". One staffer stated that before being canceled, the film was "on track" to being finished by October 2021. A former animator at Blue Sky, Rick Fournier, stated that the studio was "very very close" to getting the film finished, but that they "found out it simply was not doable."

In March 2021, it was reported that Chloë Grace Moretz and Riz Ahmed were to have voiced Nimona and Ballister Blackheart, respectively, and that the film was being shopped around to other studios to be completed. In June 2021, Mey Rude, a writer for Out, said she still held out "hope that this film … will find its way back to life somehow."

In March 2022, amid the controversy of Disney's involvement in Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill and lack of criticism from CEO Bob Chapek until after the bill had passed, three former Blue Sky staff members stated the film received pushback from Disney leadership, centered around the film's LGBT themes and a same-sex kiss.

Revival by Annapurna and Netflix
On April 11, 2022, it was announced that Annapurna Pictures had picked up Nimona earlier in the year, and would be releasing it on Netflix in 2023. DNEG Animation was announced as the project's animation partner. The voice cast was also retained, with the addition of Eugene Lee Yang as Ambrosius Goldenloin announced at this point. Nick Bruno and Troy Quane were announced as the new directors of the film, having previously directed Blue Sky's last film Spies in Disguise (2019). Roy Lee, Karen Ryan, and Julie Zackary were reported as producers on the feature. Quane started working on the film in March 2020. Bruno and Quane were heavily involved in the film, acting as directors, according to a Blue Sky staffer. Much of what Blue Sky did remains intact, as Netflix and Annapurna did not start from scratch. Additionally, Goldenloin was changed to be Asian. Animation wrapped on October 1, 2022.

In December 2022, it emerged that the film would serve as the first release of Annapurna's new division, Annapurna Animation.

In March 2023, Aidan Sugano, a production designer on the film, told Animation Magazine that he was "thankful" to be part of the project, and described it as having elements of "sci-fi, medieval fantasy, knights, lasers, monsters, dragons, dramatic lighting, [and]... style". On April 24, 2023, Frances Conroy, Lorraine Toussaint, Beck Bennett, RuPaul Charles, Indya Moore, Julio Torres, and Sarah Sherman were announced as part of the cast.

Music
In May 2023, it was confirmed that Christophe Beck had composed the film's score.

Release
Nimona was originally scheduled to be released in theaters on February 14, 2020 by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures through their 20th Century Studios banner, but it was delayed mutiple times to March 5, 2021 and then for January 14, 2022. The movie was pulled from Walt Disney Studios' release schedule and cancelled after the closure of Blue Sky Studios on April 10, 2021. It was revived by Microsoft and Annapurna Pictures with Netflix handling the distribution and was scheduled for the summer 2023 release. The movie premiered at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 14, 2023, and will release digitally on Netflix on June 30.