Mexicans familiar with HBO’s mini-series Frankelda’s Book of Spooks must be excited about the movie I Am Frankelda. This prequel shows the world the young girl created is very much alive—and its inhabitants want more than to be confined to a pocket dimension. It’s an engrossing narrative where fantasy and reality exist side by side in unexpected ways. When her sister learns what Frankelda has created, jealousy sets in. She conspires to invent her own world!
This work by Arturo and Rodolfo Ambriz is a stop-motion marvel! To bring it to life, they partnered with Mireya Mendoza to direct. I’m already checking online to see what else the brothers have produced. So far, all I’m finding is that this film leads directly into Frankelda’s Book of Spooks. This “baby” of theirs is just as good as Las Leyendas (Legend Quest), of which I’ve seen both series and films. Thankfully, Spooks is available on HBO Max and Amazon Prime Video (USA). As for how well-known they are outside Mexico, it seems they’re still under the radar.
When the design and animation are as wonderful as in many of Studio Laika’s movies, I’m hooked. The character designs have a soft, surreal touch. Much like the monsters in Kubo and the Two Strings, the fantasy creatures are a marvel. They come alive because they’re what Frankelda dreams up—her heroes in the book she’s writing. Herneval (Arturo Mercado Jr.), the owl-boy, is her prince. Though she’s not shown penning every frame, these creations have lives of their own. They eagerly await their next adventure because she holds the power. Her sister even tries to contribute—but that only causes trouble.
Unlike narratives like The Writer’s Odyssey or Harold and the Purple Crayon, this film offers a different take on how fantasy worlds come alive. The meta aspect lies in how self-aware the Spook world is about the human realm.
What I find interesting is how mortals can enter their stories—appearing as ghosts. Their transparent look uses simple, effective technology, and these moments play out longer than in Paranorman. Unlike this Laika film, the monsters in I Am Frankelda know they must coexist peacefully with the real world. When Herneval becomes aware of a parallel world, he must broker peace.
Although the middle act meanders a bit with dazzling visuals, I’m waiting for the rebellion! These beings long to escape the book’s pages, but doing so means learning how Frankelda moves freely between worlds. I love how this place feels like a fever dream come alive! Thankfully, none have haunted my nightmares—but the fact that some are multi-eyed and non-bipedal says it all.
I Am Frankelda can easily rival Tim Burton’s best artistic work, and I want to own a home video release now rather than wait. Each frame has a rich colour palette, and I’m sure the bonus features will reveal more of what the brothers want for this IP. When the credits often showcase the work put in behind-the-scenes, I definitely like to know more! And just how this film sets up the TV series is uncertain since I haven’t seen it yet. Their ideas are well-thought-out, and I’m sure they have more stories to tell. Their work dives deep into the pathos of imminent invasion.
Although Frankelda is aware of everything happening, I still wonder—can she change the ending? I won’t spoil that, but this two-hour film could use some editing. The middle act hits familiar beats (like Tales of Arcadia: 3Below, Harry Potter, and others), which might work better in a serialized format. To tighten the story, some fine-tuning is needed.
When the home video release arrives, I hope it comes bundled with everything made to date—I want more of this lore! I don’t know if the creators based these ghosts on local folklore than Aztec legends, but they are nightmarish enough to make me want to say hi. If they’re born from Frankelda’s dreams, I like to sleep over at her place and crawl in there too!
4 Stars out of 5
I Am Frankelda Movie Trailer
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