Story
Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed) has risen from obscurity to become one the most brilliant knights the kingdom has ever known. But not everyone is pleased. The Director (Frances Conroy) doesn’t like the way the Queen (Lorraine Toussaint) favours Ballister or the Queen and Ballister’s shared liberal beliefs.
When Ballister is framed for a crime he didn’t commit, he is forced to live in the shadows while he attempts to evade capture and figure out where it all went wrong. \
Nimona (Chloe Grace Moretz), a teenage girl with unique shape shifting powers, begs to be his sidekick and help him get revenge on all those who have harmed him. Ballister wants nothing to do with her. But Nimona’s help and abilities soon prove indispensable, and the pair begin to unravel a twisted plot of deception and betrayal with the help of former fellow knight and love interest Ambrosius Goldenloin (Eugene Lee Yang).
As Nimona and Ballister work together, an unlikely friendship begins to form and slowly Nimona’s facades begin to slip, revealing who she truly is. Will Ballister be able to see past the indoctrinated prejudice of countless generations, or will he, like everyone else, view Nimona as a monster that must be feared and destroyed?
Themes
Prejudice and assumptions; blindly following the beliefs and ways of previous generations; self-sacrifice; homosexual relationships; deceitfulness and intrigue; social paranoia; searching for your true identity
Violence
Nimona has some violence. For example:
- Ballister’s sword goes rogue. A laser beam comes out of its hilt which directly hits and kills the Queen.
- Ambrosius cuts off Ballister’s arm with his sword.
- Nimona talks about murdering people.
- Guards repeatedly shoot at, attack, and attempt to restrain Ballister and Nimona.
- Nimona repeatedly wants to engage in dangerous, vengeful, and murderous behaviours.
- Nimona slaps or hits Ballister on a number of occasions.
- Nimona transforms into a rhinoceros and smashes guards out of the way. She shapeshifts into numerous different creatures, attacking the guards in a variety of ways, as she and Ballister attempt to evade capture.
- Nimona bashes over trash bins, attempts to eat a rat, and sabotages a video game.
- Nimona throws rubbish and objects at guards and then lures them away from a train station.
- A man shoots at a woman.
- Nimona jumps on a car trunk, squashing the abducted man inside.
- The guards shoot at Ballister and Nimona who have just stolen a car. Numerous arrows hit the back of the vehicle and Nimona later discovers that she has an arrow lodged in her leg.
- A phone is shot out of Ballister’s hand and destroyed.
- Ambrosius holds Nimona and Ballister at knife point.
- Nimona transforms into numerous animals to attack the guards who are threatening them. There is lots of kicking, knocking, biting, hitting etc.
- Guards grab Ballister, smash him in the face and beat him on the head with a stick. He then watches the guards capture and electrocute Nimona, in rhinoceros form, as they attempt to subdue her.
- Nimona transforms into a large dragon and blasts her attackers with what appear to be either large balls of cereal or rocks.
- A small child points a sword at Nimona and calls her a monster. This has a more devastating effect on Nimona than any weapon the guards used.
- The Director confesses to framing Ballister and killing the Queen.
- Nimona recalls how, as a small child in human form, she had a village turn on her, poking her with fiery torches and pitch forks as they drove her away.
- People scream as Nimona, in monster form, approaches the city. Drones shoot at her, her back looks like it is on fire at one point, a woman is nearly crushed and a guard screams in terror, ‘It is going to kill us all’.
- Guards crash into each other. There is an airborne collision, and a flying vehicle is knocked into a sign which crashes to the ground.
- Nimona, in monster form, is shot at and she screams as she takes hit after hit. People throw things at her as she slowly and painfully makes her way forward.
- Nimona is about to impale herself on a giant sword when Ballister stops her.
- The Director orders that a cannon be fired at the monster to kill it. She does not care that countless civilian lives will be lost in the blast as well.
- The order is given and Nimona races off towards the cannon, flying into it so that the people are saved, and she alone is killed.
Sexual references
Nimona has some sexual references. For example, in response to a comment about how cold it is, a character looks very embarrassed and quickly brings his legs together and covers his crotch with his hands.
Alcohol, drugs and other substances
There’s no substance use in Nimona.
Nudity and sexual activity
Nimona has some nudity and sexual activity. For example, Ambrosius and Ballister are openly gay and occasionally share longing looks and quiet, tender moments. The couple kiss passionately at the end.
Product placement
There’s no product placement in Nimona.
Coarse language
Nimona has some coarse language and name-calling.
Ideas to discuss with your children
Nimona is an animated adventure based on the best-selling graphic novel by ND Stevenson. Featuring a distinctive animation style and a fast-paced plot, the movie is best suited to older tween and teen audiences.
These are the main messages from Nimona:
- Treat other people with kindness, no matter where they come from, what they look like or how different they might be.
- Face the things you are afraid of.
- Always be true to yourself.
Values in Nimona that you could reinforce with your children include empathy, truth, honour, acceptance of those who are different, compassion and love.
Nimona could also give you the chance to talk with your children about the real-life consequences for things like these:
- Framing someone for something that they didn’t do.
- Treating others badly because they are different.
- Living in fear of the unknown instead of attempting to understand the ever-changing world we live in.
- Turning into what people believe you to be instead of staying true to yourself.