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Nimona (film)

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Nimona
Promotional release poster
Directed byNick Bruno
Troy Quane
Screenplay by
  • Robert L. Baird
  • Lloyd Taylor
Story by
Based onNimona
by ND Stevenson
Produced by
Starring
Edited by
  • Randy Trager
  • Erin Crackel
Music byChristophe Beck
Production
companies
Distributed byNetflix
Release dates
  • June 14, 2023 (2023-06-14) (Annecy)
  • June 23, 2023 (2023-06-23) (United States)
  • June 30, 2023 (2023-06-30) (Netflix)
Running time
99 minutes[3]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Nimona is a 2023 American animated science fantasy film directed by Nick Bruno and Troy Quane from a screenplay by Robert L. Baird and Lloyd Taylor. It is based on the 2015 graphic novel of the same name by ND Stevenson. Set in a science fantasy world influenced by the Middle Ages, the film features the voices of Chloë Grace Moretz as the eponymous shapeshifting character and Riz Ahmed as her boss and former knight Ballister, with Eugene Lee Yang and Frances Conroy voicing supporting roles.

Originally a production of Blue Sky Studios, it was 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, 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. Christophe Beck was hired to compose the film's rock-inspired score.

Nimona had its world premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 14, 2023, was released in select cinemas on June 23, and made its streaming debut on June 30. The film received critical acclaim and was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Critics' Choice, Annie Awards and Academy Awards.

Plot

[edit]

The citizens of a medieval-futuristic kingdom are protected by the Institute for Elite Knights, established by the legendary heroine Gloreth, who vanquished a "Great Black Monster" and enclosed the kingdom with a high wall one thousand years ago.

Ballister Boldheart is the first commoner to become a knight, as Queen Valerin is trying to change tradition so that "anyone can be a hero". During the ceremony, a laser shot from Ballister's sword kills Valerin. Ballister's boyfriend and fellow knight, Ambrosius Goldenloin, becomes distraught and disarms Ballister, dismembering Ballister's right arm in the process. Ballister becomes a fugitive.

As Ballister crafts a prosthetic replacement arm, he is visited by Nimona, a teenage outcast who has faced persecution for her shapeshifting abilities. Seeing a "villainous spirit" in Ballister, as he is facing similar treatment for his commoner origin and the murder of the Queen, Nimona declares herself to be his sidekick.

To clear Ballister's name, the duo kidnaps Diego, the squire who gave Ballister the sword. Diego gives them video evidence of the Director of the Institute swapping out Ballister's sword, revealing her to be the murderer. The duo confronts Ambrosius and the Director with the evidence, but the Director manipulates her knights into destroying it. Later, Ambrosius confronts the Director. She admits that she framed Ballister and murdered Valerin, as she objected to Valerin revising tradition by allowing commoners to become knights, fearing that doing so would lead to the kingdom's downfall. However, Ballister reveals that he has recorded the Director's confession, and "Ambrosius" turns out to be Nimona in disguise. When celebrating this in the hideout, Ballister posts it online, leading to public outcry.

The Director discovers that Nimona is the Great Black Monster defeated by Gloreth. She uses this information to convince the kingdom's citizens that Ballister used Nimona's powers to fake her confession. The real Ambrosius meets with Ballister and reveals Nimona's past, insisting that Nimona deliberately deceived Ballister. Shocked by the revelation, Ballister argues with Nimona and questions their friendship. Feeling betrayed, Nimona flees into the woods.

Stopping at an abandoned well, Nimona reminisces about her past: a thousand years ago, she wandered the world and transformed into other animals to try and fit in with the wildlife, but none of the creatures she encountered accepted her. After encountering Gloreth, who was a child at the time, Nimona transformed into a human. Gloreth and Nimona became friends, and Gloreth was accepting of Nimona's powers. However, the other citizens of Gloreth's village, including her parents, believed Nimona was a monster after discovering her abilities. The villagers attacked Nimona with torches, which accidentally set the village on fire. Gloreth, confused, turned hostile towards Nimona and drove her away.

With Ballister's abandonment and Gloreth's betrayal echoing in her head, Nimona transforms into the Great Black Monster. She enters the city and decides to commit suicide by killing herself on the sword of Gloreth's statue. However, before she can do so, Ballister stops her and apologizes. Nimona changes back to human form and embraces Ballister. The kingdom's citizens see this and are moved by it, but the Director orders a laser cannon to be fired from the wall to kill Nimona. Ambrosius protests, knowing that firing the laser into the city would kill everyone. The Director then turns on them using the same laser she used to kill the Queen and prepares to fire the cannon herself. To save the kingdom, Nimona assumes a giant, red phoenix-like form and flies into the cannon, resulting in her apparent death, as well as the death of the Director. The resulting explosion destroys part of the wall, revealing a beautiful, mountainous valley behind it.

Sometime later, the kingdom undergoes several changes: the breach in the wall has become a passageway through which citizens travel freely, Nimona and Ballister are honored as heroes, and Ballister's relationship with Ambrosius has been restored. Ballister visits his old hideout when he hears Nimona's voice, and joyfully realizes that she has survived.

Voice cast

[edit]
Chloë Grace Moretz and Riz Ahmed voiced Nimona and Ballister Boldheart respectively.
  • Chloë Grace Moretz as Nimona, a shapeshifter who takes the appearance of a 15-year-old girl. She insists on being the sidekick to Ballister Boldheart.[4]
    • Mia Collins voices Nimona's Demon Baby disguise.
  • Riz Ahmed as Ballister Boldheart, a former knight for the Institution who was kicked out when he was accused of murdering Queen Valerin.[4]
    • Zayaan Kunwar as young Ballister
  • Eugene Lee Yang as Ambrosius Goldenloin, the champion knight of the Institution, direct descendant of Gloreth, and Ballister's boyfriend.[4]
  • Frances Conroy as the Director[5][6]
  • Lorraine Toussaint as Queen Valerin[5][6]
  • Beck Bennett as Sir Thoddeus "Todd" Sureblade[5][6]
  • RuPaul Charles as Nate Knight[5][6]
  • Indya Moore as Alamzapam Davis[5][6]
  • Julio Torres as Diego the Squire[5][6]
  • Sarah Sherman as Coriander Cavaverish[5][6]
  • Karen Ryan [de] as Gloreth. Ryan also voices a knight version of herself, as well as providing additional voices.
    • Charlotte Aldrich as young Gloreth. Aldrich also provides additional voices.
  • Cindy Slattery as Syntheya - voice of the Kingdom. Slattery also provides additional voices.
  • Sommersill Tarabek as an Institute Analyst. Tarabek also provides additional voices.
  • Lylianna Eugene as Patience. Eugene also provides additional voices.

Other members of the production crew who voice knight versions of themselves include directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane, Julie Zackary, Christopher Campbell, and Randy Trager; Bruno, Quane, Zackary, and Trager also provide additional voices, alongside Wesley Turner. Bruno's sons, Jarrett (who voiced young Walter Beckett from Bruno and Quane's Spies in Disguise) and Jake, voice the kids who play a board game in a commercial as well as provide additional voices, and Taryn Bruno voices a concerned citizen; Trager's relative Sadie also voices a concerned citizen, while Sebastian Trager voices the Danks Kid. Maurissa Horwitz—who also provides additional voices—and former Blue Sky editor Tim Nordquist voice the zombies in a movie Nimona and Ballister watch.

Nimona creator ND Stevenson, who also served as a co-producer and additional screenplay material for the film, has a voice cameo as Kwispy Dragon, a cartoon cereal mascot.

Production

[edit]

Development

[edit]

Blue Sky Studios

[edit]

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.[7][8]

The film was to be produced by Fox's former subsidiary, Blue Sky Studios, alongside Vertigo Entertainment.[9][10] In June 2017, 20th Century Fox scheduled Nimona to be released on February 14, 2020.[11][12]

In March 2019, The Walt Disney Company completed its acquisition of Fox, then in May 2019, the film was delayed to March 5, 2021.[13] In November 2019, the film was delayed again to January 14, 2022.[14][15][16][17][18] Through 2020 there was word that the film would be released in 2022,[19][20][21][22] Stevenson stated in June 2020 that the film was still happening,[23] and said the same in an August 2020 podcast.[24] 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.[25][26]

Osborne would depart the film by March 2020, and after his departure, Nick Bruno and Troy Quane were brought on in to work on the story after directing Blue Sky's previous film Spies in Disguise (2019).[27] Production would be done remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.[28]

Cancellation and aftermath

[edit]

On February 9, 2021, Disney announced it was closing down Blue Sky Studios, and that production of the film was cancelled.[29] Following the announcement, Stevenson said it was a "sad day" and that he wished the best for everyone who worked at Blue Sky Studios,[30] while Osborne said he was "truly heartbroken" that the studio was closing its doors.[31] 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".[32] 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."[33] 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."[34] Had it been made, it would have been Blue Sky's first film with LGBTQ representation, as a few staffers confirmed to BuzzFeed News that the film had an "I love you" scene between Ballister Blackheart and Ambrosius Goldenloin.[35]

One staffer stated that before being canceled, the film was "on track" to being finished by October 2021. A former animator at Blue Sky, Rich Fournier, stated that the studio was "very very close" to getting the film finished, but that they "found out it simply was not doable".[36]

In March 2021, it was reported that Chloë Grace Moretz and Riz Ahmed were to have voiced Nimona and Ballister Blackheart, respectively,[37] and that the film was being shopped around to other studios to be completed.[37] 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."[38]

In March 2022, amid the controversy of Disney's involvement in Florida's Parental Rights in Education 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.[39]

Revival by Annapurna and Netflix

[edit]

On April 11, 2022, it was announced that Annapurna Pictures and Netflix had picked up Nimona earlier in the year, and would be releasing on its streaming service in 2023. DNEG Animation was announced as the project's animation partner.[40] The voice cast was also retained, with the addition of Eugene Lee Yang as Ambrosius Goldenloin announced at this point. Bruno and Quane were officially announced as replacements for Osborne as the new directors of the film; Bruno and Quane were heavily involved in the film prior to Blue Sky's shutdown, acting as directors, according to a Blue Sky staffer.[41] Roy Lee, Karen Ryan [de], and Julie Zackary were reported as producers on the feature.[4][40][42][43] Annapurna CEO Megan Ellison said that one aspect that she particularly liked were the LGBTQ+ elements, stating that as a lesbian "I needed this movie when I was a kid, and quite frankly, I needed it right then and there", and encouraged the filmmakers to embrace them, in contrast to Disney wanting to tone down the queer characters.[44]

In December 2022, it emerged that the film would serve as the first release of Annapurna's new division, Annapurna Animation.[45] On April 24, 2023, Frances Conroy, Lorraine Toussaint, Beck Bennett, RuPaul, Indya Moore, Julio Torres, and Sarah Sherman were announced as part of the cast.[5]

Animation and design

[edit]

Nimona was Blue Sky's most complex film produced. The studio had previous experience with 2D-stylization with The Peanuts Movie (2015). The film's design was influenced by Eyvind Earle and Charley Harper, using both of their styles to combine medieval and the modern world so that it "mirrored the world we live in." The team chose their styles as Earle used more fluidity and Harper used a more geometric and simple shape base, and they had to convey "both sides of the spectrum and both sides of the character ideologies." They also had to incorporate the novel's style as well, including circles for the free-form Nimona, squares for the traditionalist Ballister, and diamonds for the rigid Institute. "In the case of the pink-colored Nimona, her shape-shifting (rhino, whale, cat, gorilla) translated into an explosion of emotions."[28] Aidan Sugano serves as production designer on the film, and described it as having elements of "sci-fi, medieval fantasy, knights, lasers, monsters, dragons, dramatic lighting, [and]... style".[46] Additionally, Goldenloin's ethnicity was changed to be Asian and Ballister's last name was changed from Blackheart to Boldheart, and they were both modeled after Lee Yang and Ahmed respectively.[47]

At the time of its initial cancellation, sources told Comic Book Resources that the film was "75% complete".[48] Quane later clarified that the film was approximately "70% through layout": they had completed five fully animated sequences, along with character models, story reels, and locations at the time of Blue Sky's shutdown.[49] The finished footage was shown to various people in the animation business, and convinced Megan Ellison at Annapurna Pictures to complete the project.[50] Much of what Blue Sky did remains intact, as Netflix and Annapurna did not start from scratch.[41] However, when DNEG's facilities in Montreal took over animation, different pipelines had to be built from scratch, but fortunately, the team had a blueprint from Blue Sky, and they were able to translate it and apply it with DNEG's technology.[28] Storywise, about 90% of Blue Sky's version remained intact.[51] As a tribute to the previous team's work on the film, a section of the end credits is dedicated to listing the entire staff of Blue Sky Studios, and several Easter eggs pay homage to Blue Sky throughout the film.[52] Animation wrapped on October 1, 2022.[53]

Music

[edit]

In May 2023, it was confirmed that Christophe Beck had composed the film's score.[54] American singer and rapper K.Flay performed the original song "T-Rex" as part of the single music in the film's soundtrack and released on June 23, the same day as the film's limited release date.[55] The film's score album was released on June 30 by Netflix Music.[56]

Release

[edit]
Nimona creator ND Stevenson at the 2023 Annecy International Animation Film Festival

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,[11][12] but it was delayed multiple times to March 5, 2021, and then for January 14, 2022.[13][14][15][16][17][57] The film was pulled from Disney's release schedule and canceled after the closure of Blue Sky Studios on April 10, 2021.[29] It was revived by Annapurna Pictures with Netflix handling the distribution and was scheduled for a summer 2023 release. The movie premiered at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 14, 2023.[58] The film received early screenings at select theatres on June 23 and 24,[59] and released digitally on Netflix on June 30.[60][61]

On February 19, 2024, Netflix released the entire film onto YouTube,[62] and the video was privated after a week.[63]

Reception

[edit]

Critical response

[edit]

The film received critical acclaim.[a] On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 92% of 103 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.9/10. The website's consensus reads: "Tapping a rich emotional vein with its splendid animation and thoughtful allegory, Nimona is a deeply lovable animated adventure."[70] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 75 out of 100, based on 17 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[71]

Reviewing the film following its premiere at Annecy for Variety, Peter Debruge called Nimona "such subversive fun", praising the "hip and impulsive" character of Nimona, "outside-the-box" animation, LGBTQ+ themes and vocal performances—particularly that of Moretz, which he remarked as a "delicious sense of anarchy".[72] Ben Travis of Empire compared the film to Shrek (2001) in their "satirical subversions of the fairytale formula" and wrote: "Both enthusiastically irreverent and deeply sincere, Nimona is a revisionist fairytale that forges its own path visually and narratively to beautiful effect".[73] In The Hollywood Reporter, Frank Scheck called it "a consistent delight" and commended the screenplay, direction, animation, score, and lead performances.[2]

In Screen International, Wendy Ide called it a "slick, enjoyable package" with "a couple of distinctive selling points that should set it apart" and opined: "Whether or not they understand the film's subtext, younger audiences will no doubt relish the exuberant mischief and humour that Moretz brings to her voice performance—as well as Nimona's gleeful disregard for authority and her appetite for destruction".[74] Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian gave the film a score of 3 out of 5 stars and concluded: "Nimona is likable and engaging entertainment that finds its way through self-created chaos to some humane life-lessons".[75] Associated Press critic Lindsay Bahr called it a "fantasy adventure with riot grrrl energy" and praised the animation, soundtrack and lead performances.[76]

Accolades

[edit]
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards December 10, 2023 Best Animated Film Nimona Nominated [77]
Indiana Film Journalists Association December 17, 2023 Best Animated Film Nominated [78]
[79]
Best Vocal/Motion-Capture Performance Chloë Grace Moretz Nominated
Women Film Critics Circle Awards December 18, 2023 Best Animated Female 2nd Runner-up[b] [80]
San Diego Film Critics Society December 19, 2023 Best Animated Film Nimona Nominated [81]
Alliance of Women Film Journalists January 3, 2024 Best Animated Film Nominated [82]
Best Animated Female Chloë Grace Moretz Nominated
Columbus Film Critics Association January 4, 2024 Best Animated Film Nimona Won [83]
Astra Film Awards January 6, 2024 Best Animated Feature Nominated [84][85]
Seattle Film Critics Society Awards January 8, 2024 Best Animated Feature Nominated [86]
San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Awards January 9, 2024 Best Animated Feature Nominated [87]
Austin Film Critics Association Awards January 10, 2024 Best Voice Acting/Animated/Digital Performance Chloë Grace Moretz Nominated [88][89]
Critics' Choice Movie Awards January 14, 2024 Best Animated Feature Nimona Nominated [90]
Houston Film Critics Society January 22, 2024 Best Animated Feature Nominated [91]
Online Film Critics Society Awards January 22, 2024 Best Animated Feature Nominated [92]
Annie Awards February 17, 2024 Best Animated Feature Nominated [93]
Outstanding Achievement for Directing in a Feature Production Nick Bruno, Troy Quane Nominated
Outstanding Achievement for Storyboarding in a Feature Production Esteban Bravo Nominated
Outstanding Achievement for Writing in a Feature Production Robert L. Baird, Lloyd Taylor Won
Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in a Feature Production Toby Seale Nominated
Outstanding Achievement for Character Design in a Feature Production Aidan Sugano Nominated
Outstanding Achievement for Production Design in an Animated Feature Production Aidan Sugano, Jeff Turley Nominated
Outstanding Achievement for Editorial in a Feature Production Randy Trager, Erin Crackel, Stephen Schwartz, Ashley Calle Nominated
Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in a Feature Production Chloë Grace Moretz Won
Visual Effects Society Awards February 21, 2024 Outstanding Visual Effects in an Animated Feature Archie Donato, Yancy Lindquist, Theodore Ty, Anthony Kemp Nominated [94]
American Cinema Editors March 3, 2024 Best Edited Animated Feature Film (Theatrical or Non-Theatrical) Randy Trager and Erin Crackel Nominated [95]
Academy Awards March 10, 2024 Best Animated Feature Nick Bruno, Troy Quane, Karen Ryan and Julie Zackary Nominated [96][97]
GLAAD Media Awards March 14, 2024 Outstanding Kids and Family Programming - Animated Nimona Nominated [98]
Critics' Choice Super Awards April 4, 2024 Best Superhero Movie Nominated [99]
Best Actress in a Superhero Movie Chloë Grace Moretz Nominated
Ursa Major Awards April 7, 2024 Best Anthropomorphic Motion Picture Nimona Won [100]
Hugo Awards August 11, 2024 Best Dramatic Presentation (Long Form) Robert L. Baird, Lloyd Taylor, Nick Bruno, and Troy Quane Nominated [101]

Future

[edit]

In February 2024, Quane expressed interest in making sequels and spin offs.[102]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Multiple references:[64][65][66][67][68][69]
  2. ^ Shared with Leah Lewis for Elemental (2023)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Nimona (2023)". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Scheck, Frank (June 14, 2023). "'Nimona' Review: Chloe Grace Moretz and Riz Ahmed Voice a Delightfully Subversive Netflix Animated Film". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  3. ^ "Nimona (PG)". BBFC. June 13, 2023. Archived from the original on June 14, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d Lang, Jamie (April 11, 2022). "'Nimona' Gets New Release Date As Netflix Acquires The Long-Awaited Sci-Fi Epic". Cartoon Brew. Archived from the original on April 11, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Giardina, Carolyn (April 25, 2023). "Netflix Animation Reveals 'In Your Dreams,' a New SpongeBob Adventure and Additional 'Nimona' Voice Casting". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 3, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Milligan, Mercedes (May 18, 2023). "'Nimona' Trailer Shapeshifts the Fairy Tale World with a Punk-Rock Antihero". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on May 22, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  7. ^ Kit, Borys (June 11, 2015). "Fox Animation Nabs 'Nimona' Adaptation With 'Feast' Director (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 19, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  8. ^ Haasch, Palmer (August 22, 2018). "Paramount Pictures is making a Monument Valley film". Polygon. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  9. ^ Riley, Jennel (February 9, 2017). "Oscar Winner Patrick Osborne Returns With First-Ever VR Nominee 'Pearl'". Variety. Archived from the original on December 1, 2019. Retrieved February 16, 2022. I'm working with Blue Sky Animation and Fox on "Nimona,...
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  12. ^ a b Couch, Aaron (June 30, 2017). "Fox Carves Out Dates for 6 Mystery Marvel Movies". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 30, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
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  17. ^ a b Libbey, Dirk (2016). "Upcoming Disney Animated Movies: List Of Titles And Release Dates". Cinema Bland. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  18. ^ Davis, Lauren (December 22, 2012). "The Best New and Short Webcomics of 2012". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on December 11, 2019. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
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  20. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (July 23, 2020). "Disney Takes 'Mulan' Off Release Calendar, Pushes 'Avatar' & 'Star Wars' Titles Back One Year". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  21. ^ Schaefer, Sandy (May 5, 2020). "Every Movie Releasing In 2022". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on May 16, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  22. ^ Perry, Spencer (November 5, 2020). "Disney's Updated Movie Release Calendar for 2021 and Beyond". ComicBook. Archived from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  23. ^ Ostertag, Molly; Stevenson, ND (June 9, 2020). "We're doing a charity stream for BLM on 6/9 at 5pm PST - send donations and requests here!". Twitch (service). Amazon. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2022. From 3:15:57 to 3:16:46 in the video, ND says, "I can't say much about it, but I can tell you, its still happening, its exciting, and its gonna blow your mind, um yeah, hang in there, its coming. Its really cool. There was a lot of unrest in Fox getting merged with Disney for a while. Its so cool that...I remember when Disney released their slate for that year and it was like Untitled Star Wars project, Untitled Disney like animated film, Untitled Pixar film, and then there's like Nimona in the middle of it. It was so cool. So, yeah, its still happening and you're gonna love it."
  24. ^ Wecht, Brian; Gray, Leighton; Stevenson, ND (August 14, 2020). "Episode 26: The Pudding Cup of My Brain (feat. Noelle Stevenson)". YouTube channel for Leighton Night with Brian Wecht podcast. Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2022. See 52:19-55:36 in this video for her words about the movie.
  25. ^ Baxter, Joseph (August 31, 2020). "Scream 5 Release Date Set for January 2022". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on September 12, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  26. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 6, 2020). "'Lumberjanes' Animated TV Series Based On Boom! Comics From Noelle Stevenson Eyed By HBO Max". Deadline. Archived from the original on October 7, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  27. ^ Quane, Troy [@quanetroy] (April 11, 2022). "Been directing this since March 2020!! So thrilled to finally share the news. Global pandemics and studio closures cant stop NIMONA!!!" (Tweet). Retrieved April 11, 2022 – via Twitter.
  28. ^ a b c Desowitz, Bill (June 14, 2023). "Saved by Annapurna and Netflix, 'Nimona' Is a Breakthrough Queer Mainstream Animated Film". IndieWire. Archived from the original on June 27, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
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  30. ^ Stevenson, ND (February 10, 2021). "Sad day. Thanks for the well wishes, and sending so much love to everyone at Blue Sky. Forever grateful for all the care and joy you poured into Nimona [Red heart]". Twitter. Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  31. ^ Osborne, Patrick [@PatrickTOsborne] (February 9, 2021). "Truly heartbroken for Blue Sky - There is an incredible amount of talent in the studio. They were working on some wonderful things" (Tweet). Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2022 – via Twitter.
  32. ^ Tyrrell, Gary (February 10, 2021). "We All Knew It Was Coming". Fleen. Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  33. ^ Clark, Travis (February 18, 2021). "Staffers at the animation studio Blue Sky say it's 'heartbreaking' that Disney canceled its final movie, 'Nimona'". Yahoo! News. Business Insider. Archived from the original on February 18, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
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