WOLFWALKERS | FILM REVIEW
Dirs: Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart (PG, 103 mins)
Few would dispute Cartoon Saloon’s place in the vaults of 21st century animation. This Irish-based studio has wowed audiences with a return to classic, hand-drawn art: their four Oscar nominations are justified, and other awards have been rightly won. In their latest feature, it appears they just made the boat, having most of the film complete before lockdown.
In keeping with their adoration for their home country’s mythology and legend, they have not had to look far for Wolfwalkers. Set in their hometown of Kilkenny, this is the Ireland of the 1600s, under the brutal thumb of Cromwell, hell bent on culling the native population of wolves (as well as enslaving the people). We follow English girl Robyn Goodfellowe and her father, sent to destroy the pack of wolves that haunt the forest. Robyn’s curiosity and free spirit leads her into the woods, where she discovers Mebh MacTíre, an apparently feral girl. Though the woods and the wolves seem to hold their secrets, Robyn discovers more than she could ever imagine.
It wouldn’t be a Cartoon Saloon film if didn’t feature staggering visuals. Here, rich autumnal hues of the forest are contrasted with the block-print mundanity of the town. There is also some cleverness: one vista makes up the profile of a wolf’s body, a marvel of many. The ‘wolf vision’ in the film also alludes to first-draft sketches of the characters, another nice touch.
Through the beauty, there sadly are some gripes. The story does not have as much pull as it should. Simon McBurney, as Cromwell, lacks the terror and power of the man, though it does come out at times (Sean Bean is perfect as Robyn’s father). Some of the background character voices also needed work. The film didn’t establish where Robyn’s kestrel Merlyn was for most of the ending. More Irish language would have been welcome, with any hardly heard at all – though the film redeemed itself with use of the Wilhelm Scream sound effect during the finale.
Whilst there are many comparisons to Pixar’s Brave and Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke, Wolfwalkers does establish the colonial and environmental themes that existed at the time and still prevail today.
Out now in UK cinemas and available on Apple TV+ from Fri 11 Dec
words JAMES ELLIS