Set in a futuristic, medieval fortress kingdom, computer-animated entry “Nimona” is the story of a mysterious shape-shifting teenage girl (voiced by Chloe Grace Moretz) with strangely sharp teeth, who becomes the sidekick of fugitive Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed). A former “knight of the realm,” Ballister appears to have assassinated the Queen (Lorraine Toussaint) just as she touched his shoulder with his sword on kingdom-wide television during his knighthood ceremony. He escapes, but not before Knight Ambrosius (I take no responsibility for these names) Goldenloin (Eugene Lee Yang), Ballister’s love interest, cuts off one of Ballister’s arms. Thanks, dear bro. When we and Nimona first meet fugitive Ballister, he is in his “secret lair,” attaching an artificial, robotic arm to his shoulder.

A legend in the kingdom speaks of a hero who rose to destroy a great evil a long time ago. The hero was a young woman named Gloreth. In addition to being gay, Ballister is a person of color and was not expected to become a knight since all the others are of “noble birth” (and white), including Ambrosius. After seemingly killing the Queen, Ballister is labeled a “Queen killer,” a dubious choice of words in an animated fantasy with LGBTQ issues. Ballister is labeled a “murderer,” “monster” and “commoner.” In the real world, several even more unpleasant epithets might be hurled.

Directed by Nick Bruno and Troy Quane (both “Spies in Disguise”) and attributed to seven writers, “Nimona” is based on a graphic novel by ND Stevenson (“She-Ra and the Princesses of Power”). Originally, a project at Blue Sky Studios (“Ice Age”), “Nimona” was reportedly shut down after the studio was acquired by Disney. The film was completed after being picked up by Annapurna Pictures (“She Said”).

I’m not sure it was worth the effort. Nimona can sprout wings and transform into a variety of creatures, big, small, friendly fierce. They all have one thing in common. They all are some shade of pink, even a rhinoceros. Also among her other powers is the ability to make “breakfast tacos.” Under her clothes, Nimona wears a shirt of mail like Frodo. In the kingdom’s transit system, the motto is, “See something, slay something.” This is what passes for clever here. Nimona changes into a pink rat and drags a slice of pizza aboard a train. Ha-ha, viral rat. The plot will further involve a cereal commercial for Dragon Crisps. Hilarious, no?

The Knights of the Institution – headed by the shifty Director (Frances Conroy) – all search for Ballister, who is in pretty plain sight most of the time. The knights, led by a red-headed creep voiced by former SNL cast member Beck Bennett, fly about in some sort of armchair-like thing armed with giant lances. In a product-placement, break in the action, Ballister and Nimona play Monopoly. In a flashback, we lean that Nimona was rejected as a child in all of her different forms because all of them were pink. Do I detect the furtive approach of the dread Lord Allegory? In a finale straight out of “Stranger Things,” a giant black – I know, sudden big color shift – thing approaches from outside the kingdom walls. It’s the beast known as Dumbzilla. Dragon Crisps, anyone?

(“Nimona” contains violence and mature themes)

Rated PG. On Netflix

Grade: C