The Netflix Fantasy Adventure That Beat Disney At Its Own Game This Year
Though Disney had a shot at producing Nimona and Wish, only Wish made the cut, and now Collider is saying they missed the mark. In terms of quality, entertainment, and education, Nimona serves Wish a loss every day.
To understand the vast differences between the two movies, you’ll have to take a few moments to consider the various elements of the two films side-by-side. For instance, which feature offers a more meaningful “moral” of the story, does the story have staying power, or how entertaining are the characters?
Disney’s Wish
Wish is a movie about a king who mishandles his responsibility of managing his citizen’s wishes. King Magnifico is manipulative and oppressive while keeping his kingdom in a state of stagnancy and poverty. Asha is a teenage girl from the kingdom of Rosas who finds out about the evil actions of King Magnifico and then launches a mission to end his tyrannical rule over the people. She makes a wish on a special magical star. The star comes down to grant her wishes and also becomes her sidekick for the rest of the movie.
Netflix’s Nimona
Nimona is a movie where the main foe is The Director and all of the powers that run their corrupt societal construct. Nimona is the main character. She is a shapeshifter and has been seen as an outcast all of her life. Nimona teams up with knight Ballister Boldheart who is now a fugitive after being accused of a crime he didn’t commit. The two set their mission on taking down “the man” and restoring Boldheart’s honor, and the journey they take is much less predictable.
The Similarities
The two movies are similar in that they are both animated fantasy movies that could have even shared a studio and were released in the same year. Both movies feature female protagonists who deal with living in kingdoms that seem like they are perfect but are actually quite terrible. Conceptually, both of the movies aim to make the audience question their authority. The execution of the plan is where Nimona quickly takes the lead in quality over Disney’s tentpole movie, Wish.
Nimona Is Darker And Far More Progressive
One main difference to be noted between Nimona and Wish is that Nimona embraces the “darkness” and rougher realities of the world, while Wish does the typical Disney thing and irons out all of the rough edges to present a happier picture of society. For example, Nimona’s two main characters are themselves a part of communities that are often discriminated against and marginalized. Nimona is a symbol for the trans community, as the character “shapeshifts” and uses male and female pronouns when self-identifying throughout the movie. Boldheart is an unabashedly gay man who has a tumultuous love affair with Ambrosius Goldenloin throughout the progression of the film. It’s highly unlikely that Disney would have restrained themselves from flattening the dynamics of Nimona had their executives done the work to produce the movie.
While Wish does have Spanish culture and a strong female lead, the story is a bit shallow when you look for depth. The King is holding people’s wishes hostage, and the people must be awoken to revolt against the tyranny. It all sounds fairly standard. You have a clear-cut heroine, a villain, and the victims who need to be saved when you watch Wish.
Nimona Tells A More Gripping, Complex Story
Nimona is a story that poses a more complex moral challenge. The kingdom’s people do not automatically see or believe that their dictatorship and the politics that run their lives are a problem. The heroes of the story are forced to go to great lengths to save the very people who placed them in danger in the first place. If you have yet to see both films, Wish is still in theaters, but will soon be available on Disney+ for streaming. Netflix is where you’ll find Nimona available for streaming. Check them out, and draw your own opinions. Neither movie is a waste of time, so grab your popcorn, and enjoy the ride.
