Dark fairy tale Donkey Princess mixes live action and animation to tell the story of Diana (Antonia Giesen), a beautiful princess in a surreal Chilean kingdom. Instead of the wrath of a wicked stepmother, it is Diana’s father, the King (Francisco Melo), who locks her away and outlaws love in the entire kingdom, intent on shielding his daughter from the heartbreak of love lost after his queen dies. When Diana meets Lalo (Andrew Bargsted), they become immediately enamored, leading her to defy the King and follow Lalo through space and time using a magical bracelet that grants her heart’s desire. But, with any monkey’s paw tale, wishes come at a cost.
Animation Station
Making its North American premiere at Fantastic Fest, Donkey Princess is the newest film collaboration from experimental artist duo Cristóbal Leó and Joaquín Cociña, the team behind The Hyperboreans and The Wolf House. Donkey Princess showcases Leó and Cociña’s handmade animation style, featuring stop motion and 2D illustration elements. Paper raindrops, cartoon critters, and set pieces that look like a dollhouse are artfully combined with live action performances; a first for the duo’s film works. The use of all the techniques at their disposal creates the surreal backdrop, while the live-action performance grounds the story in place and time with each quantum leap.
As Diana meets Lalo and her father in each reality, her heart remains pulled in two directions as she struggles to balance her affection for both men. The final, disturbing act defies the typical “happily ever after” conclusion, but satisfies in a way our current Disney-obsessed culture lacks. Think Brothers Grimm meets daddy issues.
As a selection at a genre film festival, Donkey Princess doesn’t lean hard into horror, but fits in the margins as an adult fairy tale with time travel, magical realism, and a sharp, dark turn in its conclusion. Although your eyes will be busy taking in the many textures on screen, the storytelling doesn’t feel groundbreaking. Still, it’s worth a watch, but it left me wanting to rewatch The Wolf House for a darker mood and a good, cleansing cry.
