Picture Courtesy of Netflix
It’s time to step into a beautifully dark, monster-filled world. Following the news that Netflix had acquired the rights to the breathtaking stop-motion animated feature I Am Frankelda, we’ve been eagerly awaiting our first proper look. Today, Netflix has finally delivered, dropping a brand new trailer, gorgeous stills, and striking key art ahead of the film’s global release on June 12th, 2026.
Created by the talented Ambriz brothers, I Am Frankelda promises to be a visually stunning journey through 19th-century Mexico and the deepest, darkest corners of a writer’s subconscious.
While the film doesn’t have a RottenTomatoes score, thanks to it premiering at numerous festivals throughout 2025, including Fantasia, Tokyo IFF, and the Guadalajara International Film Festival, numerous positive reviews can be found online. Kambole Campbell wrote in his IndieWire review, “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.”
Here is the brand-new trailer for I Am Frankelda:
What is I Am Frankelda about?
If you are a fan of dark fantasy, rich world-building, and the tactile magic of stop-motion animation, this film is going to be right up your alley. Here is the newly updated 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.”
I Am Frankelda. Cr. Netflix © 2026.
Picture Courtesy of Netflix
Picture Courtesy of Netflix
A Passion Project for the Ambriz Brothers
The film is a deeply personal project for its directors, writers, and producers, Arturo and Roy Ambriz. Speaking about the new trailer and upcoming release, the brothers shared a heartfelt statement (via Netflix press release) about what the film means to them:
“As brothers, we grew up inventing worlds together, drawing, playing, imagining. 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. 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. 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.”
Who is behind I Am Frankelda?
The film boasts an incredible lineup of talent both behind the camera and in the voice booth:
- 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
- Cast: Mireya Mendoza, Arturo Mercado Jr., Luis Leonardo Suarez
I Am Frankelda will be available to stream globally on Netflix on Friday, June 12th, 2026.
Are you excited to check out I Am Frankelda on Netflix? Let us know in the comments down below and keep an eye on our page for more coverage in the run-up to release.
