Picture Provided by Netflix
Netflix is continuing to bolster its already world-class animation slate. The streamer has officially announced the global acquisition of I Am Frankelda (Soy Frankelda), a groundbreaking new stop-motion animated film slated to hit our screens in 2026.
The acquisition marks a historic milestone for Latin American cinema, as I Am Frankelda is officially Mexico’s first-ever feature-length stop-motion production. The film had a theatrical release in Mexico last October.
The film is the brainchild of directors, writers, and producers Arturo and Roy Ambriz, who developed the movie at their Mexico City-based animation studio, Cinema Fantasma.
If you are a fan of dark, beautifully crafted stop-motion, this project has the ultimate seal of approval. The Ambriz brothers are protégés of Academy Award-winning visionary Guillermo del Toro (Pinocchio, Cabinet of Curiosities), who served as a creative guide to the filmmakers throughout production. Praising the upcoming feature, del Toro said in a statement released by Netflix today, “Frankelda is a landmark in Mexican Stop-Motion animation and a true triumph of vision, tenacity and love for the craft.”
The industry is already taking notice, too. The film heads into this weekend fresh off securing a prestigious nomination for Best Independent Feature Film at the 53rd Annie Awards, which will be held this Saturday, February 21st. That’s in addition to the handful of positive reviews already published by English-speaking outlets that have caught the film at various festivals. Kambole Campbell for IndieWire wrote back in November, “The magic of ‘I Am Frankelda’ lies in how its form speaks to its function, as the notion of art taking on a life of its own becomes more convincing when conveyed through puppetry this spectacular and lively.”
What is the plot of I Am Frankelda?
Here is the official synopsis for the upcoming feature:
“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.”
Who is behind I Am Frankelda?
Alongside the Ambriz brothers steering the ship, the film features a talented crew of artists and animators bringing Frankelda’s monsters to life:
- Directors / Writers / Producers: Arturo Ambriz & Roy Ambriz
- Production Design: Ana Coronilla & Bruce Zick
- Animation Director: Beto Petiches
- Directors of Photography: Irene Melis & Fernanda G. Manzur
- Original Score: Kevin Smithers
The confirmed voice cast for the feature includes Mireya Mendoza, Arturo Mercado Jr., and Luis Leonardo Suarez.
When will I Am Frankelda release on Netflix?
Netflix has not set an exact release date just yet, but the streamer has confirmed that the film will make its global debut sometime in 2026.
We’ll be keeping this page updated with all the latest news, trailers, and release dates for I Am Frankelda as we get them. Are you excited to check out Mexico’s first stop-motion feature on Netflix? Let us know in the comments down below!
