I Am Frankelda (Spanish: Soy Frankelda) is a 2025 Mexican stop motion animated musical dark fantasy film written and directed by Arturo and Roy Ambriz.[1] It is a prequel to the television series Frankelda's Book of Spooks,[2] becoming the first Mexican film made entirely in stop-motion technique,[3] and features the voices of Mireya Mendoza, Arturo Mercado Jr. and Luis Leonardo Suárez.[4] The plot follows Francisca Imelda, a young aspiring writer in the mid 19th century Mexico and her struggles to fullfil her dreams after being approached by a prince who needs her help to save his kingdom.[5]
I Am Frankelda had its world premiere as the opening film of the 40th Guadalajara International Film Festival on June 6, 2025, as well as competing in the Best International Animation Feature Film category.[6]
In 1866, in Monte de video, Mexico, Francisca Imelda—the youngest daughter of a wealthy family—dreams of becoming a horror writer. Following the death of her mother, María Concepción, Francisca is raised by her strict grandmother, who disapproves of her literary interests. Her grandmother seeks to mold her into a refined young lady of high society. Despite this, Francisca continues to write, crafting a tale about a prince named Herneval in a parallel kingdom called Topus Terrenus. Unbeknownst to Francisca, her story unfolds in real-time within an alternate dimension. Herneval is drawn to a gateway that allows him to cross a portal, leading him directly to the school where Francisca is composing her narrative.
After Herneval returns to his home he is reprimanded by both his parents, the kings of Topus Terrenus; suddenly the royal "nightmare-teller" Procustes arrives as he is concerned of the decline of humans fears which has led to Topus Terrenus and its resident "spooks" to slowly decay and dissapear, aware of the situation Herneval vows to find a solution. Ten years later, an eighteen-year-old Francisca prepares to visit Damastes, the father of a childhood friend and a prominent editor. She hopes to publish her work through him, but she is met with harsh rejection and skepticism. Devastated, Francisca flees to the cemetery and regrets on her grandmother's grave. After a moment of reflection, she resolves to try again, adopting the pseudonym "Frankelda." Meanwhile, in the alternate dimension, Herneval informs Procustes of his plan to recruit a human writer as the new Nightmare-teller, as he no longer trusts him or the quality of his stories.
Herneval appears before Francisca, revealing that her fictions are real and that he needs her help to save his kingdom. Since she can only travel through her consciousness, Herneval uses his powers to project her spirit into Topus Terrenus. Procustes, who has been watching them, convenes an assembly of the leaders of the seven clans to address the kingdom's declining well-being. When the leaders begin to question if the problem lies within Procustes' own nightmares, he desperately promises to deliver a new story to prove them wrong. Later, Procustes reads Francisca’s work and manipulativeley suggests she improve them, causing her to doubt her own talent.
As Frankelda spends more time in Topus Terrenus, Procustes’ attempts to create his own stories fail. Herneval asks Frankelda for permission to share her tales with his parents; however, Procustes intervenes, accusing Herneval of recruiting her merely to use her stories for his own gain. Believing Procustes' lies, a disillusioned Frankelda threatens to leave the following day. Procustes manipulates Herneval, convincing him that they can force Frankelda to stay longer by sending her a nightmare. Desperate, Herneval agrees and suggests a dream centered on her grandmother. That night, Herneval sends Frankelda a nightmare in which her grandmother and friends appear as Nahual witches, tormenting her with her deepest insecurities meanwhile Procustes invades her nightmare and copy it as he is in a trance. The following day, while speaking with the Kings, Frankelda discovers that their latest nightmare is identical to her own dream. Realizing Herneval was responsible, she leaves the castle, feeling deeply hurt and disillusioned.
Despite Herneval's attempts to find her in the human world, Frankelda is captured by Procustes. After presenting the stolen narrative to the Clan Leaders, Procustes convinces all of them, except for Lady Coyote and loyal Topus Terrenus protector Ceimuth (who is eventually killed), to launch a coup against the monarchs. Meanwhile, Herneval finds Frankelda’s physical body unconscious in the cemetery, where her friend Augusto is caring for her. Unable to reach her there, Herneval returns to Topus Terrenus and frees Frankelda from her imprisonment. Recognizing the deception, Frankelda decides to corner Procustes by writing a new nightmare before they head to the castle.
With the support of the Clan Leaders, Procustes successfully captures the Kings and seizes power. Utilizing Frankelda's story, one of the witches Totolina manages to cross over into the human world. However, the remaining leaders, consumed by jealousy, begin to fight over who should be the next to cross the portal. This chaos forces Procustes to frantically improvise a new story to maintain control over them.
Following Frankelda's plan, Herneval induces a nightmare to lure Procustes. When Procustes infiltrates the dream to "copy" it, Frankelda ambushes him, revealing that she knows his deepest fear: being replaced by her talent. She successfully transforms Procustes into a house, neutralizing his power. However, with his remaining strength, Procustes traps Frankelda within her own nightmare. As Herneval desperately tries to wake her, he is stabbed by Miletitas, a royal guard under a hypnosis. An injuried Ceimuth, suddenly intervenes, using his power to banish the traitorous leaders before succumbing to his wounds.
In a final effort, a dying Herneval projects his consciousness into Frankelda’s nightmare to help her free herself and defeat Procustes once and for all. As Herneval’s physical form expires, his consciousness merges with Frankelda’s book of stories. Although Procustes is defeated, Frankelda remains trapped within the dream realm, unable to find an escape. In her honor, the Monarchs of Topus Terrenus decide to share her stories as nightmares across the world. They entrust Miletitas with tracking down the remaining traitors in preparation for an impending war between the clans.
Sometime later, Frankelda and Herneval’s consciousness now as a living book reunite within the nightmare; despite being trapped, Frankelda vows to continue writing stories indefinitely. Back in the human world in Mexico, Francisca finally awakens. Both she and her spirit—now intertwined—begin to pen new tales in a volume titled I Am Frankelda. The book is eventually published, fulfilling Francisca’s lifelong dream of becoming a recognized author.
Voice cast
Mireya Mendoza as Frankelda, La Dama Coyote
Arturo Mercado Jr. as Herneval
Luis Leonardo Suárez as the singing voice of Herneval[7]
Additionally Mendoza, Castillo, Cárdenas, Zoe, Monterrubio and Suárez sing in the movie as their respective characters.[7] Arturo and Roy Ambriz the film directors also voice Tiamut and Dubium. Lourdez Ambriz a soprano singer and Roy and Arturo's aunt also provides the singing voice for the siren and the movie is dedicated to her memory as she died in 2025.[8]
Production
The film began production in January 2024 in Mexico City under the working title Frankelda and the Prince of Spooks.[9] Originally planned as a half-hour special for HBO Max, the script ballooned in scope into a two-hour film. With the special's budget as a base, the film was otherwise largely self-funded using savings for the brothers' other proposed film The Ballad of the Phoenix. Guillermo del Toro served as a mentor figure on the project and helped refine the film's theatrical cut.[10]
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