Home / Arts and Entertainment / Mexican Animation Duo Defies Odds with Fantasy Epic
Mexican Animation Duo Defies Odds with Fantasy Epic
3 Sep
Summary
- Mexican brothers are creating their country's first stop-motion animated feature.
- Their previous film, 'I Am Frankelda,' was a major box-office success.
- Guillermo del Toro serves as a mentor and friend to the animators.
Mexican animators Roy and Arturo Ambriz are preparing to release their highly anticipated stop-motion fantasy, "Ballad of the Phoenix," presented at the Venice Gap-Financing Market. This film marks a significant milestone as the country's first feature-length stop-motion animation, following the success of their gothic musical "I Am Frankelda."
The narrative centers on Virian, a princess who embarks on a quest after discovering her father's soul-stealing secret. The Ambriz brothers, founders of Cinema Fantasma, aim to forge a unique Mexican cinematic universe appealing to children and adults alike.
Their journey, supported by mentor Guillermo del Toro, has been challenging. They previously produced the animated series "Frankelda's Book of Spooks" and the feature "I Am Frankelda," which was a major success in Mexico in 2025 and released globally on Netflix.
Del Toro's advice to "go bigger" is guiding their current endeavor. The brothers hope their success will inspire other Mexican filmmakers and producers to invest in similar innovative stories and aesthetics.
