Wolfwalkers

Wolfwalkers is a 2020 animated fantasy adventure film directed by Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart.[1][10][3] The film is the third and final installment in Moore's "Irish Folklore Trilogy", following his previous films The Secret of Kells (2009) and Song of the Sea (2014).[11] An international co-production[7][2][8][3] led by Cartoon Saloon and Mélusine Productions,[1][3] The film premiered at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival on September 12[12] and was released theatrically in the United Kingdom on October 26,[13] in the United States and Canada on November 13,[14] and in Ireland on December 2.[4] It was released digitally on Apple TV+ on December 11, 2020.[6][15][16] It received widespread universal acclaim from critics, who praised the animation, emotional depth, performances and characters.

Wolfwalkers
U.S. theatrical release poster
Directed by
Produced by
Screenplay byWill Collins[1][2]
Story by
  • Tomm Moore
  • Ross Stewart
Starring
Music by
Edited by
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release date
  • 12 September 2020 (2020-09-12) (TIFF)[2]
  • 2 December 2020 (2020-12-02) (Ireland)[4]
  • 11 December 2020 (2020-12-11) (Apple TV+)[1]
  • 16 December 2020 (2020-12-16) (France)[6]
Running time
103 minutes[7][2][6]
Country
  • Ireland
  • Luxembourg
  • United States
  • United Kingdom
  • France[7][2][8][3]
LanguageEnglish[2]
Box office$229,041[9]

Wolfwalkers follows the story of Robyn Goodfellowe, a young apprentice hunter who arrives in Ireland with her father during a time of superstition and magic to wipe out the last wolf pack. While exploring the forbidden lands outside the city walls, Robyn befriends a free-spirited girl, Mebh, a member of a mysterious tribe rumored to have the ability to turn into wolves by night. As they search for Mebh’s missing mother, Robyn uncovers a secret that draws her further into the enchanted world of the WolfWalkers and risks turning into the very thing her father is tasked to destroy.

Plot

In 1650 Ireland, the residents of the town of Kilkenny are working to clear the nearby woods for farming under orders from the authoritarian Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell, putting them at odds with a wolf pack living there. English hunter Bill Goodfellowe, with his young rebellious daughter Robyn, has been summoned to Kilkenny by the Lord Protector to exterminate the wolves. Disliking the confining nature of Kilkenny and wanting to help Bill, Robyn secretly follows him out of town one day with her pet falcon, Merlyn. After accidentally shooting Merlyn with her crossbow while trying to kill a wolf, Robyn watches a mysterious girl take Merlyn into the woods with the retreating wolves. The Lord Protector scolds Robyn for not working in the town's scullery and gives Bill two days to kill the wolves.

As the Lord Protector's guards are escorting her back to the town, Robyn manages to sneak away back into the woods. Upon finding Merlyn, miraculously healed, she is approached by a young wolf, causing her to stumble into a trap. As the wolf frees Robyn, she tries to attack it, causing the wolf to bite her arm. Merlyn and the wolf lead Robyn to the wolves’ den, where she discovers the wolf is the same mysterious girl from earlier. The girl, Mebh, magically heals Robyn's wound and explains she is a “wolfwalker”, whose spirit becomes a wolf when she sleeps. The two girls quickly bond over their desire for freedom. Robyn also learns that Mebh's wolfwalker mother, Moll, has not yet returned in her search for a new home for their pack. Returning home, Robyn tries convincing Bill of the existence of wolfwalkers, but Bill scolds her for going into the forest instead.

The next morning, while working her first day at the scullery, she is drawn into the Lord Protector's chambers by a mysterious voice, finding a large concealed cage, but is quickly ushered out by the head maid. That night, as she sleeps, Robyn finds her soul has left her body and become a wolf as a result of Mebh's bite, thus making her a wolfwalker herself. Fleeing Kilkenny, she returns to the woods where Mebh, ecstatic to learn of her transformation, helps Robyn get accustomed to her new form.

Upon returning to Kilkenny, Robyn is drawn to the Lord Protector's manor. She infiltrates the manor and finds Moll inside the cage. Moll tells Robyn that Mebh must leave the woods with the pack, as they are no longer safe. Unable to free Moll, Robyn escapes the Lord Protector and returns to her human form just as Bill returns home. The Lord Protector, seeking to restore control of the town, assures the angry townspeople he can tame the wolf he's captured, and by extension, nature itself. He ignores Robyn's pleas to let Moll go and demotes Bill to a foot soldier for failing to eliminate the wolves.

Fearing separation from each other, Robyn and Bill tend to their duties. Mebh, having waited for Robyn to return on a promise from the previous night, infiltrates Kilkenny herself. She finds Robyn, who attempts to relay Moll's message of leaving with the pack, but Mebh, hurt by Robyn's refusal to help rescue her mother, resolves to do so alone. Mebh and Robyn watch the Lord Protector present a muzzled and chained Moll before the townspeople. An enraged Mebh storms the stage to free her, and when Bill tries restraining her, Moll breaks the muzzle and bites his arm. Moll is put back in the cage, forcing Mebh to flee, but she vows to return with her pack to rescue her mother. The Lord Protector orders Bill to kill Moll, and leads his army to burn the forest down and destroy the wolves. Robyn protects Moll from Bill before freeing her and reuniting her with Mebh before she and her pack can attack Kilkenny, earning Mebh's forgiveness.

Bill arrives and shoots Moll in the chest, causing Moll's wolf form to become a spirit and return to her human form in the den, with Mebh and the wolves following it. Robyn transforms into her wolf form and follows before the Lord Protector and his army arrive and begin razing the forest. As Mebh works to heal a grievously wounded Moll, Robyn leads the pack to stall the army. Mebh summons Robyn and her pack back, realizing she needs them present to heal Moll, but Robyn is left behind and knocked unconscious after disabling the army's cannon. Before the Lord Protector can kill her, Bill, due to Moll's bite, becomes a wolfwalker and overpowers the Lord Protector in his wolf form, holding him with his teeth over the edge of a cliff. Rather than let himself be killed, the Lord Protector commits suicide by loosening his belt and falling to his death.

Robyn and Bill return to the den and help Mebh and the pack revive Moll, and accept her invitation to stay with the pack and embrace their new identities as wolfwalkers. Later Robyn, Mebh, Bill, and Moll set off west with their pack to find a new home.

Voice cast
  • Honor Kneafsey as Robyn Goodfellowe, a young apprentice hunter and Bill's daughter.
  • Eva Whittaker as Mebh Óg MacTíre, an adventurous wolfwalker and Moll's daughter.
  • Sean Bean as Bill Goodfellowe, a hunter and Robyn's father.
  • Tommy Tiernan as Seán Óg, a woodcutter who believes in the existence of the wolfwalkers after they heal him.
  • Maria Doyle Kennedy as Moll MacTíre, a wolfwalker, the leader of the wolf pack and Mebh's mother.
  • Simon McBurney as Oliver Cromwell, "The Lord Protector"
  • Jon Kenny as Ned Stringy
  • John Morton as Stumpy
  • Paul Young as Sheep Farmer
  • Nora Twomey as Bridget, the head housekeeper of the Lord Protector's scullery.
  • Oliver McGrath as Padraig, a young bully in the town of Kilkenny.
  • Niamh Moyles as Fishmonger

Production

On September 8, 2018, Apple acquired Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart's Wolfwalkers from a script by Will Collins.[17] The film is an original concept that was created by Moore and Stewart, and its animation uses a unique 2D style alternating between a woodblock aesthetic and loose expressive line work.[15][16]

Music

Moore's frequent collaborators, Bruno Coulais and folk group Kíla, provided the film's original score.[18] Norwegian singer-songwriter Aurora contributes to the soundtrack, with a new version of her already-released single "Running with the Wolves".

Release

The film had its world premiere at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival on 12 September.[19][20]

It was released theatrically on 26 October the same year by Wildcard Distribution in the United Kingdom[13] and on 13 November by GKIDS in the United States and Canada.[14]

Child Film distributes it in Japan and Value & Power Culture Communications will distribute in China.[19][20]

The theatrical release in Ireland was planned for the same day as the UK but delayed until later in the year due to the enforced closure of cinemas across the country because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[13] It was instead released on 2 December.[4]

The film debuted on Apple TV+ on 11 December, and was later released theatrically in France on 16 December by Haut et Court.[15][16]

Reception

Box office

As of December 2020, Wolfwalkers has earned $229,041 at the global box office.[9] Its U.S. gross has not yet been revealed.

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, 99% of 151 reviews are positive for the film, and the average rating is 8.70/10. Critics consensus on the website reads, "A mesmerizing Celtic-inspired adventure, Wolfwalkers offers an epic ethereal fantasy matched by profound philosophies and stellar voice work."[21] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 87 out of 100, based on 28 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[22]

Sam Adams of Slate called this the best animated movie of the year to date, noting some weakness in mismatched tone but writing at length about the beauty and technical ability of the animation.[23] Peter Debruge of Variety wrote: "In the decade since "Kells," it’s not just the technological advances that make Moore's latest so impressive, but the rapidly changing cultural conversations as well. He brings everything together by borrowing from timeless visual influences, leaving audiences with another stunning artwork for the ages."[3]

Accolades

Metacritic summarized various critics end-of-year top lists, and ranked Wolfwalkers in 26th place overall.[24] IndieWire's poll of 231 critics included Wolfwalkers in its Best Movies of 2020, ranking in 32th place.[25]

Year Award Category Recipients(s) Result Ref.
2020 AFI Festival Narrative Feature Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart Won
Atlanta Film Critics Circle Awards Best Animated Film Wolfwalkers Runner-up [26]
Boston Society of Film Critics Awards Best Animated Film Wolfwalkers Runner-up [27]
Boston Online Film Critics Association Best Animated Film Wolfwalkers Won [28]
Chicago Film Critics Association Best Animated Film Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart, Nora Twomey and Paul Young Won [29]
Chicago Indie Critics Awards Best Animated Film Wolfwalkers Nominated [30]
Columbus Film Critics Association Best Animated Film Wolfwalkers Won [31]
Denver Film Critics Society Awards Best Animated Film Wolfwalkers Nominated [32]
Florida Film Critics Circle Best Animated Film Wolfwalkers Runner-up [33]
Gotham Awards Best International Feature Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart, Paul Young, Nora Twomey and Stéphan Roelants Nominated [34]
Greater Western New York Film Critics Association Best Animated Film Wolfwalkers Won [35]
Houston Film Critics Society Awards Best Animated Feature Film Wolfwalkers Nominated [36]
Indiana Film Journalists Association Best Animated Film Wolfwalkers Runner-up [37]
Best Vocal/Motion Capture Performance Sean Bean Runner-up
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards Best Animated Film Wolfwalkers Won [38]
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards Best Animated Film Wolfwalkers Won [39]
Music City Film Critics Association Best Animated Film Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart Nominated [40]
National Board of Review Top 10 Independent Films Wolfwalkers Won [41]
New Mexico Film Critics Awards Best Animated Film Wolfwalkers Won [42]
New York Film Critics Circle Awards Best Animated Film Wolfwalkers Won [43]
North Texas Film Critics Association Awards Best Animated Film Wolfwalkers Nominated [44]
Online Film Critics Society Awards Best Animated Feature Wolfwalkers Nominated [45]
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards Best Animated Film Wolfwalkers Won [46]
San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Awards Best Animated Feature Wolfwalkers Nominated [47]
St. Louis Film Critics Association Awards Best Animated Film Wolfwalkers Nominated [48]
2021 Critics' Choice Super Awards Best Animated Movie Wolfwalkers Nominated [49]
Best Voice Actress in an Animated Movie Honor Kneafsey Nominated
Eva Whittaker Nominated
Golden Globe Awards Best Animated Feature Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart Pending [50]
Hollywood Film Critics Association Awards Best Animated Film Wolfwalkers Pending [51]
Best Animated or VFX Performance Honor Kneafsey Pending
Hollywood Music in Media Awards Original Score - Animated Film Bruno Coulais Nominated [52]
London Critics Circle Film Awards Technical Achievement Award Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart Pending [53]
Satellite Awards Best Animated or Mixed Media Film Wolfwalkers Pending [54]

References
  1. "Wolfwalkers". Apple TV+ Press. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  2. "Wolfwalkers". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved 2 November 2020. Ireland, Luxembourg, France, 2020
  3. Debruge, Peter (13 September 2020). "'Wolfwalkers' Review: What Big Eyes You'll Have Watching Tomm Moore's Environmental Fairy Tale". Variety (magazine). (Animation – Ireland-Luxembourg-France) A Gkids, Apple release of a Cartoon Saloon, Mélusine Prods. production, […]
  4. "Wolfwalkers to open in Irish Cinemas from Friday 4th December with previews from Wednesday 2nd December". Wildcard Distribution. 25 November 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  5. "Wolfwalkers - GKIDS Films". gkids.com. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  6. "Le Peuple loup" (in French). Haut et Court. Retrieved 2 November 2020. 16 décembre 2020
  7. "Wolfwalkers de Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart (2020)". UniFrance. Retrieved 2 November 2020. Nationality : Minority French (Ireland, Luxembourg, France)
  8. "Full programme announced for 64th BFI London Film Festival". British Film Institute. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020. Ireland-Luxembourg-France
  9. "Wolfwalkers Box Office". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  10. Duralde, Alonso (12 September 2020). "Wolfwalkers Film Review: Old-School Animation Invigorates Irish Eco-Fable". TheWrap. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  11. "Wolfwalkers". tiff.net. Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  12. "Wolfwalkers". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  13. "Wildcard Distribution". Facebook. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  14. "Wolfwalkers". GKIDS. Retrieved 2 November 2020. In Theaters November 13
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  16. Dudok de Wit, Alex (17 October 2019). "17 Major Animated Movies Releasing In 2020". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
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