A stunning, spooky stop-motion masterpiece. I Am Frankelda is a deeply moving tribute to the unstoppable power of an artist’s voice.
As a lifelong admirer of animation, I have always held a special place in my heart for stop-motion. I Am Frankelda boasts a gothic, beautifully twisted world. From the opening sequence to the final frame, I found myself completely immersed.
I should note that I watched the film with subtitles rather than dubbed. The original voice acting is phenomenal – expressive, haunting, and deeply emotional – but it did create a bit of a delightful dilemma for me. The film is so absolutely stunning visually, so densely packed with intricate details, that I found myself in a constant battle between reading the dialogue and absorbing the artistry.
I frequently ended up pausing and backing up the movie by ten or fifteen seconds just to catch the subtle things happening in the background or to marvel at the texture of a set. It is the kind of movie that practically demands a second viewing just so you can appreciate the craftsmanship without distractions.
The puppet designs are absolutely gorgeous. They perfectly channel the film’s 19th-century Mexican gothic aesthetic. The film is just spooky enough to give you a chill down your spine without crossing the line into being absolutely terrifying. It captures that whimsical, eerie sweet spot that is so difficult to nail.
Here’s the thing, though. I absolutely hate spiders. So, when the primary antagonist, Procustes, made his grand appearance, my instinct was to squirm. Visually, he was definitely not my favorite entity to look at purely based on my own phobias.
Yet, even through my shuddering, I couldn’t help but admire him. He looks incredibly cool, imposing, and structurally impressive. Constantly reminding myself that these characters are physical puppets, built by hand and manipulated by dedicated artists, made the entire experience insanely impressive.
Beyond the jaw-dropping visuals, what truly resonated with me was the narrative itself. At its core, I Am Frankelda is a deeply touching and profound love letter to the creative spirit. Frankelda’s journey through her own subconscious, fighting to restore balance alongside the tormented prince Herneval, serves as a brilliant metaphor for the internal struggles of a creator.
The story is a fierce encouragement to never give up on your art. It screams at the audience to keep making things, to keep telling stories, and to keep putting your soul out into the world, even when people mock you, dismiss you, or try to silence your voice. It beautifully showcases the unbreakable, almost symbiotic bond between artists and their art. Our creations are a part of us, and Frankelda’s fight to reclaim her power as a storyteller felt intensely personal.
Clocking in at under two hours, the film boasts immaculate pacing. It moves incredibly quickly, never lingering too long in one place but giving the emotional beats exactly enough room to breathe. I Am Frankelda is a must-watch.
About I Am Frankelda
In 19th-century Mexico, Frankelda is a gifted writer whose dark tales are ignored and dismissed. Forced to suppress her voice, she refuses to give up, even as many try to silence her. But when she is thrust into her subconscious, the very monsters she created come to life.
Guided by Herneval, a tormented prince trapped between dreams and nightmares, she must restore balance between fiction and reality before both realms collapse. Meanwhile, the sinister writer Procustes and his conspirators plot to seize control. As Frankelda and Herneval grow closer, their bond becomes both a strength and a curse.
To rewrite their fate, she must confront a love that defies existence and reclaim her power as a storyteller–before dark forces consume her imagination and reveal horrors beyond her creation.
I Am Frankelda comes to Netflix on June 12th.
