If you thought Mexican animation had already reached its creative peak, think again. "Soy Frankelda" is creeping in from the shadows to rewrite everything we thought we knew about storytelling, horror, and art made by hand. This is the country’s first fully stop-motion animated film, and it’s hauntingly beautiful.
Frankelda isn’t your average ghost. She’s a passionate, poetic writer who refuses to stay silent, even from beyond the grave. Her stories aren’t just spooky, they’re emotional, imaginative, and deeply human. After winning hearts (and sending chills) through the hit series "Los sustos ocultos de Frankelda," the character returns with a feature film that dives into her mysterious past and her journey through the underworld.
The Brothers Who Built a Nightmare You’ll Want to Visit
Behind this gothic dream are Roy and Arturo Ambriz, two visionary brothers and co-founders of Cinema Fantasma, a proudly independent Mexican animation studio. Their name says it all: they make cinematic ghosts come alive.
Instead of taking shortcuts or outsourcing to international studios, the Ambriz brothers built every set, puppet, and eerie frame on Mexican soil. The result is a handmade masterpiece that took two years to complete, crafted by dozens of artists who poured their souls (and sleepless nights) into it.
A Tale Between Dreams and Nightmares
The plot of "Soy Frankelda" reads like the fever dream of a poet trapped between two worlds. Frankelda, a gifted writer whose dark stories are dismissed, gets pushed deep into her own subconscious, where the monsters she created begin to wake. Guided by Herneval, the tormented Prince of Frights, she must restore balance between imagination and reality before both realms crumble.
But, of course, what’s a gothic fairytale without a villain? Enter Procustes, a sinister writer plotting to control both worlds. And as Frankelda’s bond with Herneval deepens, their connection becomes both a saving grace and a curse.
Stop-Motion, Full Motion Emotion
Every second of "Soy Frankelda" is pure stop-motion magic. Each blink, shadow, and flicker of candlelight is physically animated with no digital tricks, no shortcuts. It’s an art form that demands patience and obsession, and Cinema Fantasma delivers it in spades.
The film’s surreal atmosphere draws inspiration from "The Divine Comedy," blending that epic journey through the afterlife with the wonder of Harry Potter and the emotional depth of "The Lord of the Rings." The result feels like a gothic odyssey, equal parts enchanting and terrifying.
The Voices Behind the Frights
The voice cast reunites fan favorites from the original series: Mireya Mendoza as Frankelda, Arturo Mercado Jr. as Herneval, and Luis Leonardo Suárez as the menacing Procustes. Joining them are new talents Habana Zoé and Juan Pablo Monterrubio, breathing life (and a little un-life) into fresh characters that expand Frankelda’s haunted universe.
What makes "Soy Frankelda" historic isn’t just its artistry, it’s its soul. This isn’t a film made for export; it’s made in Mexico, for the world. It’s a love letter to Mexican folklore, independent creation, and the kind of storytelling that refuses to die.
The Ambriz brothers could’ve played it safe with another season of their hit series. Instead, they took the bold route of turning Frankelda’s eerie tales into a cinematic experience that pushes Mexican animation onto the global map.