FANTASIA 2025: ‘I Am Frankelda’ Wears Its Passion On Its Sleeve

Stop-motion animation is an art form that I hope never dies out, and I Am Frankelda (Soy Frankelda) proves why. Touted as the first Mexican stop-motion animated feature from Cinema Fantasma, the ambition, passion, and soul radiate from the screen. The world of Frankelda is mesmerizing, albeit occasionally overwhelming in its scope and story. Yet, above all else, this is a step into something new and exciting, with a much-beloved animated style still having its moment in the sun through this studio’s capable hands.

I Am Frankelda expands the world first developed by writer/directors Arturo and Roy Ambriz in Frankelda’s Book of Spooks. After becoming an orphan, young Francisca Imelda relies on her imagination to cope with her now lonely reality, conjuring up a whole fantastical world of monsters and gremlins to soothe her aching heart. While her penchant for the macabre marks her as someone strange and unusual in the human world, in another world, her gift of ghoulish wordplay is something desperately needed. 

In this other world resides the young owl-prince Herneval, who is lured in by Francisca’s voice. The veil between their worlds is thin, and Herneval wants desperately to pierce it to see the other side. As Francisca and Herneval come of age, the fascination between them grows (though, more so on Herneval’s side initially).  The two might never have had a chance to meet, except his parents’ rapidly declining health, along with the impending collapse of his world, prompts Herneval to make drastic decisions. It is here that we witness the birth of Frankelda.

Maximalist in scale and execution, I Am Frankelda spares nothing in the level of visual detail put into bringing these worlds to life. The colors are rich and vibrant in the monstrous realm, serving as a stark contrast to the oppressively bland nature of the human world Francisca occupies. Her world is muted, featuring more neutral, earthier tones. It’s no wonder then that Francisca is drawn to this seemingly fictional other world, with its colors visually reflecting excitement through vivid hues.

The world of I Am Frankelda is captivating, from its sets to its creature designs.

It is only when Francisca finally enters this other world that she begins to come alive – ironic considering the circumstances. While the more monstrous aspects of her personality may not be to everyone’s liking, there is no denying that Francisca, who dubs herself Frankelda after her transformation, is where she belongs. And no longer tied to the limitations of the human world, she can finally grow.

One of the questions that does manifest, though, is whether she belongs with Herneval, as their relationship constantly evolves. Her youth and inexperience make her incredibly vulnerable in this new environment, and with Herneval juggling between his responsibilities and secrecy, a lot is going on.  For a film titled I Am Frankelda, Herneval is as much a focus as Frankelda, if not more so. 

As the prince of this other world with an impending crisis, Herneval has a stronger role and purpose. Villains are around every corner, waiting for the right moment to take over and menace humanity. As Herneval grows up, his design changes from an adorable little owl-like creature to almost a romantic Byronic hero, flowy shirt and all. The childlike innocence melts away, replaced by someone on guard, who has the world on their shoulders. It’s no wonder then that Herneval captures focus, but in turn, he steals the spotlight away from Frankelda.

The version of I Am Frankelda that played out of Fantasia was the extended version, with the stated intent from the directors to make adjustments to the final cut in the future. With the extended version, the pacing is unbalanced and ambitious worldbuilding and exposition contribute to part of this lag.

Herneval is as much the main character as Frankelda, if not more so.

Additionally, as previously mentioned, Herneval does have stronger main character energy, which takes some of the spotlight away from Frankelda, due to the imbalance in their storylines’ focus.  However, if there is to be a more streamlined, tighter cut, these issues can be addressed during the final edit.

A major element that should not be cut is the musical sequences. Yes, I Am Frankelda is also a musical, and the songs are delightful. The lyricism is incredibly poetic, with some songs leaning into the Gothic Romanticism elements that the titular character pursues and happily embraces.

One particular musical sequence, with its multiple choral beats evoking a sense of traditional Greek theatre, features a blend of artistic disciplines, transitioning from stop-motion animation to oil paintings and dancing figures. This approach was surprising to witness and really emphasized the creativity and exploration that Cinema Fantasma put into their film process.

I Am Frankelda is many things. It is a coming-of-age tale where betrayal, romance, heartbreak, and self-expression culminate in a world beyond the human realm. The passion the Cinema Fantasma team had for the project screams from the screen, giving us a glimpse into what the studio can do. With the infectious, colorful world they’ve created alongside Frankelda’s final destination, the sky’s the limit for where this universe can go next.

I Am Frankelda played as part of the 2025 Fantasia International Film Festival.