WOLFWALKERS REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Many animated features are aimed at younger viewers and are filled with immature jokes and have a predictable narrative, making it a dull watch for older viewers, especially parents who are watching the film with their children. Fortunately, that’s not the case with the latest feature from Cartoon Saloon, Wolfwalkers, which tells an enchanting story through breathtaking animation.

In a time of superstition and magic, a young apprentice hunter, Robyn Goodfellowe (voiced by Honor Kneafsey), journeys to Ireland with her father, Bill (Sean Bean), to wipe out the last wolf pack. While exploring the forbidden lands outside the city walls, Robyn befriends a free-spirited girl, Mebh MacTire (Eva Whittaker), who is a member of a mysterious tribe rumoured to transform into wolves by night. As they search for Mebh’s missing mother, Robyn uncovers a secret that draws her further into the enchanted world of the Wolfwalkers and risks turning her into the very thing her father is tasked to destroy.

When it comes to animated films, many people think of those created by Disney and Pixar, as they’ve been successful both with critics and at the box office. Although their animated features have impressed critics, the previous features made by Cartoon Saloon have struggled to make much money. Hopefully, this will change soon with the release of their latest feature, Wolfwalkers, as it tells an enchanting story through beautiful animation. Prior to watching Wolfwalkers, I hadn’t seen any of Cartoon Saloon’s previous features, including Song of the Sea, The Breadwinner and The Secret of Kells, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from their latest feature. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised and I’m interested in seeing more of their works. 

Wolfwalkers is directed by Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart based on Will Collins’ screenplay. Together, the trio have created an enchanting and heartfelt film with stunning animation. I found Wolfwalkers to be similar to Studio Ghibli’s 1997 animated feature, Princess Mononoke, as the story for both films effectively capture the conflict between humans and nature. In Wolfwalkers, wolves are perceived as dangerous, with the Lord Protector (Simon McBurney) sending Bill to kill the last wolf pack. However, his daughter, Robyn, meets Mebh and discovers that wolves aren’t dangerous. This leads to her trying to end the conflict between humans and wolves. Unfortunately, that is easier said than done, with both her father and the Lord Protector determined to kill wolves. For most of its 103 minute runtime, Wolfwalkers is lighthearted and fun, however, the film takes a darker turn during its intense climax, which sees the Lord Protector travelling to the forbidden lands to destroy the wolf pack. Although the final twenty minutes may be too frightening for young viewers, I think that Wolfwalkers can be enjoyed by viewers of any age. Children will like the friendship between Robyn and Mebh, however, older viewers will, most likely, appreciate the meaningful and thematic story. 

Wolfwalkers’ story features themes of friendship and conflict, both of which are effectively explored. In the beginning, Robyn is determined to impress her father and become a wolf hunter, however, after meeting Mebh, she soon realises that their perceptions of wolves was wrong. The friendship between Robyn and Mebh is where Wolfwalkers was at its most heartwarming and touching. After befriending Mebh, Robyn soon becomes determined to end the conflict between the wolves and humans. She tries to tell her father the truth, however, unsurprisingly, he doesn’t believe her. Because a lot of animated films are aimed at children, rather than families of all ages, they feature immature jokes and are lazily made. That’s why I respect filmmakers, including Moore, Stewart and Collins, who tell original and meaningful stories. 

The strength of Wolfwalkers lies in its unique and vibrant animation. Because of an advancement in technology, most animated films are created using computer generated imagery, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, however, I find it refreshing to watch a film that is made using two dimensional animation. The setting of Kilkenny in Ireland is brought to life through bright and vivid colours, making it a delight to watch. Both Moore and Stewart establish themselves as two of the most imaginative filmmakers as, although there’s been little competition this year, Wolfwalkers is certainly one of the best animated films to be released this year. Because the animation is rich in detail and colours, I wouldn’t be surprised if Wolfwalkers received a nomination for Best Animated Feature at the 93rd Academy Awards next year.

Another impressive aspect of Wolfwalkers was the voice work delivered by its talented cast. The only two recognisable names are Bean and McBurney. As Bill, Bean is effective as Robyn’s overprotective but strict father. McBurney makes for a frightful villain as the Lord Protector who is determined to kill the last remaining wolf pack. However, it’s Kneafsey and Whittaker who impress the most with their voice work. Kneafsey makes Robyn a charming and likeable individual, while Whittaker is the standout as the feisty Mebh.

Following my viewing of Wolfwalkers at the Manchester Animation Festival, I watched a Q&A with Moore and Stewart and it was clear that both directors cared a lot about their latest feature.  

I can imagine Wolfwalkers would have benefitted from a theatrical release, unfortunately, cinemas across the globe have been forced to close due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of being released in cinemas, Wolfwalkers will be available to watch on the streaming site, Apple TV+ in December. 

With bright and vibrant animation, Wolfwalkers tells an enchanting story and is one of the best animated films.of this year. 

8/10