Fotosintesis Media is a pretty unique studio in the world of animation. While some of the big hitters like the U. S.'s Pixar and Disney can often be considered to put story or merchandise before representation, others in Japan or Europe seem intent on pushing the medium as a visual artform. This Mexican studio on the other hand, tends to prioritize representation and social enterprising. This is clear in their previous movie ("The Angel in the Clock", whose protagonist is a young girl undergoing chemotherapy) as well as "A Costume for Nicolás", where the title character has Down Syndrome.
The term "Down Syndrome" is not mentioned at all in the movie, however, so it falls on cues such as the shape of Nicolás's eyes compared to other characters, or his distinctive speech, to make it clear that he has it. Not addressing this directly could be seen as not conducive to representation, although I think the argument could be made that it is in fact better for it.
In the movie's "real world", Nicolás is not singled out as "special", which mashes well with his approach to the magical elements of the narrative. By not treating the appearance of portals inside chests or humanoid orangutans as anything out of the ordinary, he follows the Latin American tradition of magical realism (other characters do react to this, placing the work more squarely within the category of Fantasy). Nicolás being treated "normally" means that the movie pushes forward the intention for this to be the ideal way of disability being treated in the real world. Erasure of the condition is also avoided during the end credits, where behind-the-scenes footage showcases Nicolás's original voice actor, who also has Down Syndrome.
The other distinctive characteristic of Fotosintesis, now specifically within Mexican animation, is how much importance they give to the craft of animating. In terms of visuals and fluidity, their works might be the single most consistently solid in the country's industry. Though not as imaginative as "The Angel in the Clock", the imagery here is still quite unique, with compelling character designs and beautiful backgrounds.
With such a focus on representation and artistry, narrative is often one of the studio's weaknesses. For all their good intentions, the stories fall short of creating emotional resonance, with the conflicts being resolved conveniently after a journey full of shortcuts. This is often not a problem for the younger ones, however, who are definitely a part of the audiences included in their whole-family approach.
Given the studio's priorities, it makes sense that the focus is on highlighting diversity to all their viewers. In this sense, "A Costume for Nicolás" succeeds while also looking quite impressive for its context, despite any narrative shortcomings.
The term "Down Syndrome" is not mentioned at all in the movie, however, so it falls on cues such as the shape of Nicolás's eyes compared to other characters, or his distinctive speech, to make it clear that he has it. Not addressing this directly could be seen as not conducive to representation, although I think the argument could be made that it is in fact better for it.
In the movie's "real world", Nicolás is not singled out as "special", which mashes well with his approach to the magical elements of the narrative. By not treating the appearance of portals inside chests or humanoid orangutans as anything out of the ordinary, he follows the Latin American tradition of magical realism (other characters do react to this, placing the work more squarely within the category of Fantasy). Nicolás being treated "normally" means that the movie pushes forward the intention for this to be the ideal way of disability being treated in the real world. Erasure of the condition is also avoided during the end credits, where behind-the-scenes footage showcases Nicolás's original voice actor, who also has Down Syndrome.
The other distinctive characteristic of Fotosintesis, now specifically within Mexican animation, is how much importance they give to the craft of animating. In terms of visuals and fluidity, their works might be the single most consistently solid in the country's industry. Though not as imaginative as "The Angel in the Clock", the imagery here is still quite unique, with compelling character designs and beautiful backgrounds.
With such a focus on representation and artistry, narrative is often one of the studio's weaknesses. For all their good intentions, the stories fall short of creating emotional resonance, with the conflicts being resolved conveniently after a journey full of shortcuts. This is often not a problem for the younger ones, however, who are definitely a part of the audiences included in their whole-family approach.
Given the studio's priorities, it makes sense that the focus is on highlighting diversity to all their viewers. In this sense, "A Costume for Nicolás" succeeds while also looking quite impressive for its context, despite any narrative shortcomings.