Ninjababy
2021 · Directed by Yngvild Sve Flikke
Original language: Norwegian
- drama
- comedy
The story
When Rakel finds out she's six months pregnant after a one-night stand, her world changes. She is absolutely not ready to be a mother, but since abortion is no longer an option, adoption is the only answer. That's when Ninjababy, an animated character who makes Rakel's life a living hell, turns up.
What it’s like
Flat, saturated colour and loose hand-drawn animation sit alongside live-action scenes of a deliberately ordinary Oslo: grey stairwells, cramped apartments, cheap cafés, and washed daylight through dirty windows. The cartoon interludes, drawn in a crude, wobbling line, give the whole thing a scrappy, zine-like texture. The sound is mostly chatter, traffic and small domestic noise, with pop-leaning music punctuating the bleak comic beats. The vibe is wry, deadpan and prickly, with a clear undercurrent of dread under the jokes. The pacing is brisk and talky, with abrupt tonal swings from sharp humour to raw emotional honesty. Intensity is low: there is no violence or gore, some frank talk and brief sexual references, and a fair amount of profanity and bodily discomfort around pregnancy. Its emotional arc follows a reluctant, self-sabotaging young woman slowly, painfully reckoning with responsibility and the friendships around her. It suits a rainy weekend, a late-night watch with a friend, or anyone who wants a funny, sharp-edged coming-of-age story about messy choices. It is for viewers who enjoy awkward, unsentimental comedy with real heart.
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