Animated adventure a spellbinding delight
Review
Wolfwalkers (PG, 103 mins) Directed by Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart Reviewed by James Croot ★★★★1⁄2
Even the death of her mother hasn’t dampened Robyn Goodfellowe’s (Honor Kneafsey) love of adventure.
So when her father Bill’s (Sean Bean) hunting services are required in Ireland, she’s more than happy to relocate to the Emerald Isle.
Keen to clear the forest surrounding Kilkenny, the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell (Simon McBurney) has charged Bill with eliminating the local wolves who have plagued the nearby villages. While he carries out that task, Robyn is expected to attend to chores and adhere to the strict rule of not venturing beyond the city’s walls. Of course, that’s something she almost instantly disobeys – a decision that leads to disaster and potential heartbreak.
While trying to help a shepherd battle a wolf, a misfired arrow strikes her beloved bird of prey Merlin. As he tumbles to the Earth, she looks on in horror as a girl scoops him up and runs off into the woods alongside the wolf pack.
To make matters worse, Robyn’s transgression results in her being ordered to work in the scullery, while Bill is now given only 48 hours to remove the lupine threat, or face the wrath of the Lord Protector.
However, determined to discover the fate of her falcon, Robyn is prepared to risk it all to track down the mysterious young woman who took him.
Having previously charmed global audiences with vibrant Viking tale The Secret of the Kells and spellbinding selkie story Song of the Sea, Irish film-maker and animator Tomm Moore makes it three in a row with this mid-17thcentury set adventure.
The distinctive woodcut-esque, old-school animation gives Wolfwalkers real character, and the story mixes history and fantasy into a compelling cocktail. Although there are thematic similarities to Pixar’s Brave, this sets itself apart with a real sense of danger (one chaotic scene rivals and reminds one of the upheaval and emotion surrounding Bean’s character’s demise in Game of Thrones), flawed complicated heroines and some clever and innovative visuals.
Moore and co-director Ross Stewart do a particularly great job of bringing to life the wolves’ perspective of proceedings. Pointof-view shots include the evocative use of ‘‘scent-o-vision’’.
But in the end, it’s the story that sizzles. There’s a terrifically played out father-daughter relationship, political and environmental allegories that make you think and a tale of young female friendship to rival My Summer of Love or Heavenly Creatures. That’s why you should seek out what is one of the best animated movies of the year.
Wolfwalkers is streaming on Apple TV+