Wolfwalkers: 2D Animation Is Pretty Much Alive

Wolfwalkers is an animated adventure fantasy film that was released digitally on Apple TV this December. Directed by Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart, it tells a simple, yet effective story that proves that 2D is not an outdated animation style, it can have all sorts of unique techniques that give every film a different look & feel.

Although the movie has been a moderate commercial success, audiences and critics alike have praised the film for its originality both in style and story, as well as some great voice acting and original soundtrack.

So, without further ado, let’s review this animated gem. Mild spoiler warning ahead.

Check out our review for Soul here! Another animated film very much worth your time.

Wolfwalkers: Synopsis

This is the story of Robyn and Mebh, two young girls from very different backgrounds. Robyn is the daughter of a wolf hunter, one of the closest to the town’s menacing authority, Lord Protector.

Mebh on the other hand, is a wolfwalker, a human from the forrest with magical abilities that turns into a wolf when she goes to sleep, leaving her human body behind in slumber until she wakes again.

Robyn and her father (and the rest of the town really) want to cut the forrest to expand the town and raise crops. However constant attacks from wolves protecting the forrest prevent them from doing so. Which is why Robin’s father is appointed to kill every single one of them.

Robyn, against orders, follows his father outside of town to help him in his hunt, but falls in a trap instead, and its accidentally bitten by Mebh while in her wolf form, which turns her into a wolfwalker herself.

Wolfwalkers: Review

You can imagine what sort of trouble our protagonists get into, this is no super expansive universe or a story with many characters. It’s simple, self contained, yet it manages to stay entertaining through and through.

You were probably be quick to recognize Sean Bean’s voice even if you didn’t know he was in the film, but I say this as a positive, his voice acting and the character fit perfectly. The rest of the cast is great, there is no single weak link in this aspect.

The 2D animation style is not something completely innovative or groundbreaking, but it doesn’t need to be. It is creative, imaginative and fun, and the style fits perfectly with the Celtic source material the story is taken from.

The antagonist although menacing and interesting to follow, could have been better developed, as it is a more bland version of Claude Frollo from ‘The Hunchback Of Notre Dame’ with a bit of John Ratcliffe from ‘Pocahontas’. A mix of religious fanatic with ambitious conqueror.

Conclusion

This is amongst the best animated films of the year, if not the best. The friendship our protagonists develop is endearing and fun to watch You care for the characters even if there are no huge twists and the story is a little predictable. Overall, you’ll have a pretty good time watching this.

SCORE: 8.5/10