The animated feature Mina follows Princess Mina, abducted by the notorious dark sorcerer Kezabor, who has made a career of kidnapping unmarried princesses. The king vows that whoever rescues her will marry Mina and inherit the kingdom. Soon, a lineup of wildly different suitors embarks on a fantastical rescue adventure.

Although fairy-tale romances are hardly new, Mina distinguishes itself as a contemporary fairy tale infused with modern energy. Ronan, a bright and well-educated commoner, shares a longstanding bond with Mina; The princess, for her part, longs to choose her own path in love, rather than have a husband assigned to her. Her other suitors include the muscular warrior Rogdai, the overly self-assured Arabian prince Kabir, and Pha Chan, a mama’s boy reluctantly pulled into the competition. Their contrasting personalities generate natural conflict and steady comedic momentum. Through its blend of fantasy battles and a dual-protagonist narrative, Mina manages to carve out a unique identity.

Dual Leads, Thoughtful Foreshadowing, and Satisfying Payoffs

Mina unfolds across two main storylines: Mina’s efforts to escape and Ronan’s quest to reach her. These threads progress in parallel until meeting at the film’s emotional peak. Meanwhile, the three rival suitors’ adventures serve as side stories that run adjacent to or intersect with the main plot. Rogdai’s subplot is notably developed and frequently collides with Ronan’s path, creating bursts of tension.

Nahina, Kezabor’s henchwoman, remains a key presence from the opening abduction onward. Beyond Ronan and Mina’s central romance, the film introduces an unexpected emotional thread between Nahina and Finn, the kindly wizard. Finn’s unconventional method of breaking a curse delivers an effective narrative twist. Their eventual reconciliation is tender and subtly melancholic, adding emotional depth to an ending that otherwise lands firmly in happily-ever-after territory.

The film excels at planting and paying off narrative seeds. Its opening sequence—various cultures recounting the legend of Kezabor’s princess kidnappings—smoothly sets up the diverse suitors and Mina’s later rescue of princesses from across those backgrounds. The king, as the final storyteller, not only completes the exposition but also quietly plants the key to Mina’s eventual confrontation with Kezabor, a moment later realized at the climax. Clever setups like Ronan’s improvised catapult or Pha Chan’s forgotten memory of the dam enhance cohesion and generate occasional knowing smiles.

The film’s opening transitions flow like water, seamlessly bridging large leaps in time and space. Later, as the dual main storylines and multiple side plots intersect, the connections remain smooth, showcasing the director’s strong narrative craftsmanship.

Brains Over Brawn, Kindness Over Dark Magic

Ronan—kind, clever, and academically trained—hardly matches the king’s ideal son-in-law, despite Mina’s unwavering affection. Although tradition and parental expectation soften under Mina’s resolve and the king’s love for his daughter, Ronan’s lack of physical prowess makes his rescue mission seem impossible at first glance.

Yet Ronan’s defining trait is his instinctive compassion. He intervenes to save a bear family from Kezabor’s minions without hesitation. During a deadly struggle, he still reaches out to rescue an enemy slipping off a cliff. Starving, he offers his remaining food to his companions rather than keep it for himself. These acts earn him loyalty from Bear Bjorn and Pha Chan—unexpected allies who prove indispensable.

Ronan’s worldview is captured in his standout line: “The strongest muscle in the body is the brain—if you know how to flex it.” At the deadly battleground before the Phantom Castle—where countless warriors have perished trying to reach Kezabor—Ronan's group faces impossible odds. Ronan and his companions seem destined for the same fate: he cannot outfight the guardian, and persuasion proves futile. Yet through sharp observation, architectural knowledge, and hands-on creativity, he navigates the challenge—unlocking not only the path forward but also the secret tool capable of breaking Kezabor’s magic.

He must also contend with Rogdai, who sees Ronan as an obstacle to eliminate. Though Ronan is no physical match for him, he ultimately wins the true contest: freeing Mina, stripping Kezabor of his power, and proving that intellect and integrity can triumph over brute force.

The film also explores mind-bending magic that manipulates one’s will. Yet they are not foolproof. When Mina thinks of Ronan, the spell weakens; when Pha Chan recalls Ronan treating him as a genuine friend, the enchantment commanding him to kill dissolves instantly. Loyalty, righteousness, and compassion emerge as antidotes to corruption.

 A Contemporary Fairy Tale Blending Fantasy, Adventure, and Comedy

Unlike classic fairy tales rooted in “once upon a time,” Mina unfolds in a present-day setting. Ronan is a college-trained architecture graduate; Pha Chan embodies modern mama-boy tendencies; Kabir radiates an almost comedic level of confidence. These contemporary details ground the story and make it relatable.

The supporting cast is equally vivid. Viewers may find themselves associating character traits with people they know. Pha Chan’s nunchaku feels like a playful nod to Bruce Lee; Kabir’s swagger recalls the charismatic confidence of Barack Obama; Kezabor bears an amusing resemblance to the cross-eyed general from Silver Screen Dreams. These parallels make the characters immediately memorable.

Even the villains are designed with humor in mind. The giant snake—grotesque yet goofy—reacts with hilarious confusion when stepped on or shot with arrows. Kezabor himself, despite his formidable power, carries an almost comical visual eccentricity. This approach lowers emotional distance and makes the viewing experience light and enjoyable.

Humor also permeates the heroes’ sequences. Ronan’s expressive exchanges with Bear Bjorn after saving his family are especially charming. The montage of kidnapped princesses playfully nods to The Little Mermaid, Snow White, and Tangled. Nahina’s spell-casting musical number evokes the flamboyant style of Tamatoa’s “Shiny” from Moana.

And the fantasy elements are plentiful: a powerful sorcerer, a fire-breathing giant, a shapeshifting witch, a magic ring, invisibility tricks, remote viewing, and Finn’s quirky assistants. The film embraces fantasy wholeheartedly.

Fantasy elements—powerful sorcery, a giant that breathe fire and wind, a shape-shifting witch, a magic ring, invisibility, far-sight, and Finn’s quirky assistants—give the film a generous helping of whimsical charm.

Conclusion

IMDb lists Mina’s estimated budget at only $1 million, a fraction of the roughly $150 million budgets of Disney’s Frozen and Moana, and minuscule compared with Tangled’s $260 million. For such a modest production to achieve this level of narrative completeness is genuinely impressive.

While Mina cannot match the visual precision of Disney, Pixar, or Studio Ghibli, it thrives on lively character work, coherent storytelling, brisk pacing, and an easygoing sense of fun. It plays beautifully as a family film, but adults may find themselves grinning with nostalgic warmth—as if transported back to a carefree childhood afternoon spent watching cartoons on a small TV.

Watch it here (via Gan Jing World)

Director: Alex Tsitsilin
Rating: Not Rated
Runtime: 1h 34m
Release Date: August 30, 2025
Score: 6.5/10

(Translated by Chat GPT. Chinese Version: 《美娜傳奇》影評：智慧勝武力 善良克魔法）