Overview
- I Am Frankelda, a Cinema Fantasma feature that serves as a prequel to the Ambriz brothers’ 2021 series Frankelda’s Book of Spooks, is streaming exclusively on Netflix following a June theatrical run and festival screenings in mid‑June.
- The directors, Arturo and Roy Ambriz, say Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas shaped their interest in stop‑motion from early childhood and they met Burton at his Labyrinth exhibition, where he expressed interest in their film.
- Guillermo del Toro has mentored the Ambriz brothers for roughly 17 years and provided long‑term support that the filmmakers credit with helping advance their careers and this production.
- The film deliberately favors tactile, largely non‑CGI puppetry and includes musical numbers, and early coverage praises its handcrafted visuals and design while also noting some critics’ pacing and narrative reservations.
- Producers and reviewers say the film’s Netflix launch and festival visibility could broaden international attention for Mexican artisanal animation and give many first‑time feature crew members a high‑profile platform.