Ballad of the Phoenix

Ballad of the Phoenix is a stop-motion animated feature from Mexican filmmakers Roy and Arturo Ambriz, the brothers behind I Am Frankelda, Mexico's first stop-motion feature. Currently in pre-production, the film is being presented at the Venice Gap-Financing Market (September 4-6, 2026) to close international financing. The story centers on Virian, a goblin princess who must decide whether to use her powers to save her dying tyrant father or spare the kingdom from his brutal repression. Production companies include Cinema Fantasma, the Ambriz brothers' Mexico City-based stop-motion studio, and Woo Films. The project has been in development for over a decade and was originally planned before I Am Frankelda, but was shelved when the brothers were commissioned to produce their Cartoon Network series. With mentor Guillermo del Toro's guidance, the filmmakers aim to push the boundaries of Mexican animation aesthetics and create a distinctly Mexican cinematic universe.