Something spooky and special is coming to Netflix next month: the first stop-motion animated film from Mexico, a dark fantasy musical called I Am Frankelda. Written and directed by Arturo and Roy Ambriz, who are proteges of Guillermo del Toro, I Am Frankelda tells the story of a gifted young writer in 19th-century Mexico who journeys into her subconscious and comes face to face with characters from her own spooky stories.
I Am Frankelda had its world premiere on June 6, 2025, as the opening film of the 40th Guadalajara International Film Festival. As a stunning achievement of animation, the film tells a powerful story about rising above those who attempt to stifle your creativity.
The Ambritz brothers on their upcoming film
“As brothers, we grew up inventing worlds together, drawing, playing, imagining,” the Ambriz brothers said in a statement. “Over time we understood that fictional characters were not only companions but guides. Sometimes they felt closer than the people around us. They provided us courage, wisdom, and solace. We believe fiction is not an escape from reality but a way of understanding it. A way of converting truth into palatable chunks. I Am Frankelda comes from a lifelong love of storytelling.”
“At the heart of the film is the relationship between Frankelda and Herneval: creator and creation, voice and echo,” they continued. “We are drawn to the mystery of ideas. We do not know if we invent them or if they find us. We only know that when they arrive, they ask to be brought into the world.”
“This film is a dream for us,” the brothers concluded. “It holds everything we have loved since childhood: monsters, drama, music, color, intensity, culture, and worldbuilding. We are moved by characters who feel deeply, who struggle, who transform. Frankelda is about a creator who insists on being heard, even when everything around her says no.”
Our review drops tomorrow evening
We’ll have our review for I Am Frankelda ready to go live tomorrow evening, so be sure to check back to see what we thought. Meanwhile, I Am Frankelda premieres on Netflix on June 12, 2026. Let us know what you think of the trailer in the comments section below.
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