Wolfwalkers (2020) Movie Review
Wolfwalkers was one of my most anticipated animated movies in 2020. The story is a sweet one, set in 1650 in Ireland and it’s brimming with magical elements and fantastical moments. Our protagonist, Robyn Goodfellowe (Honor Kneafsey), is a young girl who lives with her father Bill (Sean Bean). They have moved from England to Ireland so Bill can exterminate the wolf problem the town of Kilkenny is having. The townspeople are attempting to clear the nearby woods for farming by order of the Lord Protector (Simon McBurney). The wolves are hindering this progress and Bill’s job is to hunt the wolves down so that the massive deforestation project can continue.
Robyn despises house cleaning and other “womanly” chores and wants to be out in the woods hunting wolves with her dad. One day she sneaks out and while trying to shoot a wolf, accidentally shoots her pet falcon, Merlyn. Out of the woods comes a young girl with wild red hair who takes Merlyn and disappears. After being scolded and taken into the custody of nitwit soldiers, Robyn escapes and makes her way to the woods again. She finds Merlyn completely healed and then gets caught in a wolf trap. A young wolf comes and sets her free, accidentally biting her arm in the process.
Robyn follows the young wolf back to her den and discovers the young wolf is actually the young girl from earlier, Mebh (Eva Whittaker) and she is a wolfwalker. She’s a girl when she’s awake but turns into a wolf whenever she goes to sleep. The two girls bond over their desire for freedom and they quickly become friends. Mebh explains that her mom is also a wolfwalker and left a while ago to try to find a new home for them and their wolfpack but she never returned. The rest of the movie sees Robyn torn between making her father happy and her friendship with Mebh. I don’t want to spoil anything for you so I’ll leave the plot description as is.
What is truly remarkable about Wolfwalkers is in part the story. The themes are important, especially for young girls. Making your own decisions for your life is essential, even if your family might disagree or not understand. There is also the common trope in animated movies where the children know what’s going on far before the adults catch on. Robyn tries in vain to communicate with her father and make him understand what is happening. Despite her pleas, her father assumes he knows best and won’t even entertain the notion that Robyn might know something he doesn’t. In trying to keep his daughter safe, he instead makes her feel trapped. It’s an excellent commentary on growing up and coming of age for both children and parents.
In addition to the engaging story, Wolfwalkers is superb because of the unique animation style. The figures are not polished the way a Pixar production might be. They are angular and full of darker colors. The backdrop of the city of Kilkenny is drab and almost two dimensional. This backdrop is a stark contrast to the wonders of the woods. The glorious colors and the magical elements of the wolf den light up the screen. You feel yourself get depressed each time Robyn is in the confines of the grey city. You can see why she longs for the freedom and the lightness she feels when she’s in the woods. Wolfwalkers boasts a fantastic story and wondrous animation techniques. It’s one of the best animated movies of the year, you don’t want to miss it!
Film or Movie: Film
You’ll like this film if:
1. You like fantasy stories
2. You love animation
3. You want to see a sweet story about friendship
