Netflix has officially acquired I Am Frankelda (Soy Frankelda), setting the film for a 2026 release. Developed by directors Arturo and Roy Ambriz and their studio, Cinema Fantasma, the film marks the first-ever feature-length stop-motion production from Mexico. Guillermo del Toro served as a creative guide to the Ambriz brothers, who are his protégés.
“Frankelda is a landmark in Mexican stop-motion animation and a true triumph of vision, tenacity and love for the craft,” del Toro said in a statement.
The official synopsis reads, “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.”
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The Netflix acquisition of the film comes just ahead of the 53rd Annie Awards, where I Am Frankelda has been nominated for Best Independent Feature Film. The awards will be held on Saturday, Feb. 21.
I Am Frankelda will be released globally on Netflix in 2026 with an exact date yet to be announced.
