Netflix’s I Am Frankelda wouldn’t exist without Guillermo Del Toro
Netflix is bringing the cult classic dark fantasy series “Frankelda” to global audiences through a new feature film arriving in June. The original stop-motion animated series, created by brothers Roy and Arturo Ambriz, debuted on HBO Latam in 2001 and has become a household name throughout Mexico, spawning an extensive fan community that regularly creates fan art, merchandise, and fiction.
I Am Frankelda marks the Ambriz brothers’ feature film debut, expanding beyond the horror-tinged anthology format to tell the origin story of Frankelda herself—the ghostly author whose fantastical tales form the backbone of the original series. Set in 19th-century Mexico, the film explores the character’s mythology in greater depth than the episodic television format allowed.
A key figure in the project’s success is filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, who has served as mentor to the Ambriz brothers for fifteen years, beginning with their first short film. Del Toro is credited as a champion of the brothers’ work and has been instrumental in bringing I Am Frankelda to Netflix, helping to introduce the beloved Mexican property to international audiences. The partnership represents a significant opportunity for the Ambriz brothers to reach viewers worldwide with their distinctive dark fantasy vision.