Honor Kneafsey

Eva Whittaker

Sean Bean

Simon McBurney

Tommy Tiernan

Maria Doyle Kennedy

Jon Kenny

John Morton

Nora Twomey

Oliver McGrath

Paul Young

Niamh Moyles

Ben Andrews

Jerome Burelbach

Vince Drews

Seamus Greene

Gilbert Johnston

Luke Mandie

Ian Sanderson

Jack Caldwell

Eoin Cleary

Marguerita Hanlon

Jacob Holden

Clare Keating

Orla Keating

Caolán Lulias

Patrick McGrath

Daisy Moran

Dylan Muldowney

Mark O'Connell

Róisín O'Shea

Philip Brennan

Jim Carroll

Richie Cody

Brendan Corcoran

Michael Culleton

Sarah Doyle

Amy Dunne

Gilly Fogg

Jennifer Hughes

Michael McGrath

Ken McGuire

Desirée Meade

Graham Mills

Aoibhin Murphy

Mags Murphy

Aaron O'Dea

Cara O'Doherty

Aoife O’Neill

Jacqueline Purcell

Muireann Ryan

Alan Slattery

David Thompson

Eleanor Walsh

Christine Seznec

Tomm Moore

Ross Stewart

Maria Pareja

Kairen Waloch

Nicole Storck

Steven McClurg

Anna FitzSimons

Charly Katrin Mårtensson

Joanna Mularz

Colette Macauley

Ciara Davis

Agnieszka Heinicke

Fabien Renelli

Aurélien Antezac

Nicolas Debray

Judith Enault

Estelle Leguérinel

Bruno Coulais

Léo Vincent

Florian Fabre

Félix Davin

Baptiste Boucher

Axel Steichen

Alexandre Fleurant

Stéphan Roelants

Will Collins

Louise Kiely

Martin Quaden

Mark Mullery

Louise Bagnall

Gerry Shirren

Yang Ying

Didier Brunner

Damien Brunner

Eric Beckman

David Jesteadt

Katja Schumann

Giovanna Ferrari

Lily Bernard

Aaron Blaise

Elliot Cowan

Alice Dieudonné

Ciarán Duffy

Arina Korczynski

Guillaume Lorin

Iker Maidagan

Almu Redondo

Friedrich Schaper

Fabien Devillers

Anne-Lyse Haddak

Sébastien Marquilly

Leena Lecklin

Geoff King

Anita Gaughan

Walter Giampaglia

Adrien Calle

James Baxter

Sandra Norup Andersen

Andrzej Radka

Alessandra Sorrentino

Léo Weiss

Guillaume Bissières

Gilles Rudziak

Denis Figueiredo

Allan Michaut

Pénélope Camus

Régine Waleffe

Tom Findrik

Janos Szabo

Reg Isaac

Jamie Merry

Marianne Le Moigne

Federico Pirovano

Maria Madelaire Forná

David McDermott

Eimhin McNamara

Daniel Pinheiro Lima

Tatiana Mazzei

Jean-Baptiste Vendamme

Animation

Family

Adventure

Fantasy

Wolfwalkers

Cartoon Saloon

Melusine Productions

Value&Power Culture Communications

Film Fund Luxembourg

Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland

Broadcasting Authority of Ireland

Haut et Court

Canal+

RTÉ

Pôle Image Magelis

Folivari

GKIDS

China

France

Ireland

Luxembourg

United States of America

English

Gaeilge

Manuel São Bento

If you enjoy reading my Spoiler-Free reviews, please follow my blog @
https://www.msbreviews.com

I've always been a tremendous fan of animation. If there's one comment I deeply despise is the "animated films are for children". This preconceived notion is extremely dated, and honestly, quite childish. I don't even think it works within a teenage banter anymore since anime keeps growing exponentially around the world, and animated movies are reaching more and more people as time goes by. The whole "you watch cartoons, you're a baby" bullying statement to make friends laugh about someone is now decades-old. However, I still feel a bit of pity for people who believe animation can't have the same emotional impact than live-action, especially when a major studio like Pixar is known for making the most grown-up of adults cry like an infant.

In addition to this, some viewers think that the latter studio owned by Disney is the only company making decent animated flicks when they've been losing ground to other unbelievably talented people. One of my favorite animated films of all-time is Kubo and the Two Strings, a stop-motion animation work from Laika, the studio that also created Missing Link and Coraline. Cartoon Saloon is emerging as an awards-contender studio, by releasing movies such as Song of the Sea, The Breadwinner, and now Wolfwalkers. The main difference between this last company and the others is the style of animation: the "old" 2D animation that 90s kids like me grew up with.

That's precisely where I'm starting this review. Wolfwalkers' 2D animation proves once again that this style will never become "dated" or "less than" the current 3D design. Don't be mistaken, I love both styles! I'm not part of the whole 2D vs 3D discourse simply because I firmly believe both have their own benefits and limitations. 2D animation brings a sense of uniqueness and artistry to any story due to the distinct drawing from many skilled artists, but it's more limited than 3D when it comes to creating an immersive atmosphere and its respective world. However, the latter is becoming stagnated in its design structure since almost every 3D animated flick visually feels and looks the same.

So, there's no good or bad, right or wrong, better or worse when it comes to animation. I can offer dozens of examples of exceptional, gorgeous-looking, utterly superb animated flicks from both styles, as well as awful, corporate-like films that I try my hardest to forget (looking at you, The Emoji Movie). Fortunately, Wolfwalkers belongs to the first group. Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart direct an emotionally heartwarming tale with seamless execution of every single aspect. Will Collins' screenplay isn't particularly new or innovative though. It follows a somewhat generic, predictable story with key plot points that any viewer with minimum viewing experience will see coming from miles away.

However, it's a formula that, if executed properly, still delivers a rich, passionate, captivating narrative, which will always please both children and adults. Just from the premise, it's pretty clear that the message of the movie is inspired by cliches such as "don't judge people by their cover" or "our wants can steal someone else's needs", and it even approaches racial discrimination since the film deals with two different populations. Obviously, having in mind one of these "societies" is a pack of wolves, there's also a message towards deforestation and excessive animal hunting, leading thousands of species to their eventual extinction. All of these themes are handled brilliantly, and it never feels preachy.

It doesn't matter how unsurprising the story ends up being when I feel as absorbed by the characters and the animation as I did. Honor Kneafsey and Eva Whittaker, as Robyn Goodfellowe and Mebh Óg MacTíre respectively, display phenomenal voice work, which is then elevated by the stunning, expressive, award-worthy animation. Sean Bean is also terrific as Bill Goodfellowe, Robyn's father, who basically possesses the character arc that goes through the significant change of acknowledging, understanding, and accepting an entirely different culture and its people (in this case, animals). Every character is incredibly well-written as are all dialogues, surrounded by a Celtic-inspired atmosphere, myths, and obviously, music.

Bruno Coulais and folk group Kíla developed the movie's original score, and it's undoubtedly one of my favorite soundtracks of 2020, including one of my favorite original songs ("Running with the Wolves") in one of my favorite musical sequences of the year. "Favorite" is definitely the right one-word description of how I feel about Wolfwalkers. It's one of those films I can't really point out a single flaw. Massive praise to the drawing artists who designed such a fantastic 2D world. Their work is often unappreciated and underrated (besides being underpaid), so I want to offer Cartoon Saloon my biggest thank you, and keep making excellent cinema.

I have no doubts: Wolfwalkers is, by far and so far, the best animated feature-film I've seen all year. I know the big gun from Pixar is coming up (Soul), but it will have to be an absolutely perfect movie to surpass Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart's beautifully heartwarming Celtic-inspired tale. Cartoon Saloon continues to prove that 2D animation is still capable of delivering emotionally compelling stories through gorgeous-looking, unique, artistic drawings. Despite Will Collins's generic narrative and cliche messages, every single detail is executed perfectly, without a single flaw to point out. Outstanding voice work from Honor Kneafsey and Eva Whittaker as the well-written, captivating protagonists. However, it's Bruno Coulais and Kíla's original score that melts my heart and sends chills down my spine every time I listen to it. One of my favorite films of the year, I'd be extremely surprised with myself if it doesn't end on my Top10. Watch it with your family. It's worth it.

Rating: A

SWITCH.

With its multi-layered metaphysical storytelling and rich animation, 'Wolfwalkers' is basically the only reason to acknowledge Apple TV+ at the moment. It also reaffirms that Cartoon Saloon makes animated films that culturally literate adults can watch without needing a pint-sized companion as pretext. After watching it, you'll see why the studio is destined to become just as legendary as Laika and Ghibli.
- Jake Watt

Read Jake's full article...
https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-wolfwalkers-a-gorgeously-animated-irish-fable

Wolfwalkers is the winner of the Feature Film category | BAFTA Children & Young People Awards 2022

Wolfwalkers

производственные компании

Актёрский состав 54:

Recommended films

Trailer

Sequels and Prequels