Wolfwalkers (2020)

Wolfwalkers (2020)

8/10

 

Starring the voices of

Honor Kneafsey

Eva Whittaker

Sean Bean

Simon McBurney

Directed by Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart

Watching Wolfwalkers is an experience filled with wonder, emotional triumph, and stellar voice work. Its greatest achievement lies in the artistry of its animation. Combine that with a well-directed and perfectly paced adventure, and you’ll find yourself wishing for a sequel to this Celtic tale.

I thoroughly enjoyed the animation and loved the unique werewolf spin. Wolfwalkers leaned into its strengths, delivering a blend of fantasy, suspense, and thrills. The writers crafted a gentler world, making their werewolf concept suitable for children, and the girl-power theme was executed beautifully.

At its core, the story follows two young girls meeting from opposite worlds and becoming friends—a familiar but heartwarming trope. One of the girls, Robyn, is the daughter of a wolf hunter. She dreams of following in her father’s footsteps, but her biggest obstacle is her gender. Set in colonial times, girls were often seen as second-class citizens, expected to cook and clean rather than take on more daring roles.

Robyn’s father works for the English, tasked with killing the wolves that attack villagers and hinder tree-cutting efforts in a Celtic town. Alongside this, we’re introduced to the legend of the Wolfwalkers—beings who can transform into wolves. Robyn’s adventure begins when she sneaks out to follow her father on a wolf hunt and ends up being hunted herself.

This encounter leads her to a wolf who helps her escape her father’s traps. The wolf turns out to be Mebh Óg, a girl who is also a Wolfwalker. After a failed attempt by Robyn to hunt Mebh, the two girls become friends. Through their bond, we learn that Mebh and her mother are Wolfwalkers, and the wolves are looking for a safe place to live. However, they refuse to leave until Mebh’s mother returns with directions to safety.

The story pulls Robyn into the middle of a conflict as she struggles to bring peace between the wolves and the humans, neither of whom is willing to compromise.

The movie shines in its portrayal of the deep friendship between Robyn and Mebh, as well as the unshakable love between Mebh and her mother. Mebh’s unwavering belief that her mother will return for her is another emotional thread that the film explores beautifully.

What sets Wolfwalkers apart is its willingness to invest in a solid plot and build an immersive world around it. The film also tackles the painful effects of colonization with directness and sensitivity.

This is, without a doubt, one of the best animations I’ve ever seen.

You can watch this critically acclaimed movie on Apple TV+.