Information reaching Kossyderrickent has it that Nimona characters, Ambrosius Goldenloin and Ballister Blackheart, kissed after fighting each other.
It’s been a bumpy road for Nimona, the latest Netflix release, but it’s all been worth it: the adaptation of ND Stevenson’s award-winning graphic novel is a beautiful, delightful and trailblazing animated movie, and the streamer’s best release of the year so far.
Yes, Nimona on Netflix, which began streaming today, features an LGBTQ romance. Specifically, it features Riz Ahmed’s character, Ballister Blackheart, in a romantic relationship with another man. Their love is not an afterthought, no is it an attempt to earn queer representation brownie points. It’s a heart-wrenching, angst-inducing, epic love story that is integral to the story. And, yes—spoiler alert—they do kiss. Happy Last-Day-of-Pride-Month to all of us.
Beyond its striking animation and its hilarious sense of humour, one of the most impressive aspects of the movie is its rich and diverse representation of the LGBTQ+ community, both explicitly and allegorically.
Even in a medieval-science-fantasy world where sword-fighting collides with futuristic technology, the story is painfully relevant. Directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane (Spies in Disguise) made sure to maintain the disruptiveness and rebellious spirit of the original material, while making a testament against intolerance and the fear of otherness.
Directed by Nick Bruno and Troy Quane, Nimona is based on the popular 2015 graphic novel of the same name by She-Ra and the Princess of Power creator ND Stevenson. We meet Ballister Blackheart (voiced by Ahmed) on the day he’s meant to be knighted. It’s a controversial knighting ceremony, given Ballister does not come from a noble bloodline. Not everyone in this fictional kingdom agrees with the decision, but Ballister has at least one handsome face in his corner: his hunky boyfriend, Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin (voiced by Try Guy Eugene Lee Yang).
Right away, Nimona tells audiences this movie is going to be Gay with a capital “G” via a touching scene between Bal (as his boyfriend calls him) and Ambrosius. Ambrosius offers the nervous knight-to-be some words of comfort, assuring Bal that, “they are going to love you. Like I do.” And lest you think that was a no-homo, “I love you, man” type of love confession, Ambrosius also grabs Bal’s hand and stares lovingly into his eyes. Yes, these two men are 100 percent dating. We’re not even five minutes into this movie, and we’re already getting yes-homo declarations of love. Nimona is so real for that.
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