Valentina is a 2021 Galician animated movie, created by Chelo Loureiro, and produced by Abano Producioness and Sparkle Animation.
The story focuses on Valentina, a little girl with Down Syndrome. Because of her disability, Valentina thinks she will never be able to achieve her dream of becoming a trapeze artist, despite the encouragement of her grandmother. When her grandmother disappears, Valentina decides to find her with the help of her imaginary friends.
Unrelated to the 1950 Argentine film, the 1965 Italian comics, the 1993 Mexican telenovela, the Italian children's book series, and the 2008 Argentine film, which are all titled Valentina.
Tropes:
- Animated Musical: The movie has several songs and musical numbers involving Valentina in a fantasy world.
- Be Yourself: The main theme of the story is Valentina learning to accept herself the way she is.
- Bittersweet Ending: Valentina understands by herself the she will never see her grandmother again, but has the opportunity to say one last goodbye to her in a happy dream. In this dream, she also sees her grandmother finally realizing her dream: to become an orchestra director.
- Doting Grandparent: While her parents are also nice, Valentina's grandmother has always been her biggest supporter and playmate.
- Girlish Pigtails: The title character is an innocent little girl with her hair tied into pigtails.
- High Hopes, Zero Talent: Valentina lacks the skills to become a trapeze artist, her dream job.
- Human Chess: At least in her imagination, Valentina can communicate with the pieces of her chessboard.
- I Just Want to Be Normal: In the first scenes, Valentina admits that she would like to be like all the other kids, since she is tired of being treated as "different" because of her disability. At least, until she learns that it's better to Be Yourself.
- Inspirationally Disadvantaged: Valentina, a girl with Down Syndrome, will probably never become a trapeze artist, but she doesn't give up and still has many dreams for the future.
- Ms. Imagination: In most of the movie, Valentina travels around an imaginary world and interacts with her imaginary friends.
- Never Got to Say Goodbye: Valentina's grandmother died before having a chance to say goodbye to her. Their final goodbye eventually happens in Valentina's imagination.
- Never Say "Die": It's never explicitly stated that Valentina's grandmother passed away. When her parents are about to tell her, Valentina says that she already knows that her grandmother has gone to a happier place.
- Nice Mice: Valentina's best friend is an anthropomorphic mouse in her room. She is usually accompanied by him.
