disappointment media
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • The Snake Hole
  • About

[TIFF 2020] WOLFWALKERS -- A Beautiful and Heartwarming Family Animated Adventure

9/21/2020

0 Comments

 
Review by Sean Boelman
Picture
Image courtesy of TIFF.
Too often the conversation around animated cinema is dominated by the major studios like Disney, Pixar, and Dreamworks, but the work by smaller independent companies can be just as good, if not better. The newest film from Cartoon Saloon (The Secret of Kells), the animal adventure Wolfwalkers, is a magnificent and magical movie overflowing with creativity and authenticity.

The film tells the story of a young girl, the daughter of a wolf hunter, as she becomes friends with the half-human/half-wolf daughter of the leader of a pack being targeted by her village. A werewolf story made for a younger audience, the movie does hit a lot of familiar beats, but packs an emotional punch in a way that feels entirely natural.

Of course, there is a clear environmentalist message here about protecting wildlife and the reckless disregard which society shows towards the natural world, and while this is obviously well-intentioned, it feels like too little too late. And the film’s themes about family are absolutely heartwarming and sure to affect even the most stolid of viewers.

The movie finds a good balance between the action, sentimental elements of the storyline, and the buddy comedy elements that unite the characters. It’s a cute and enjoyable film all-around, with enough lighthearted fun to allow it to keep the attention of younger viewers but plenty of substance to interest their adult companions. 

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the movie is the way in which the screenplay forms a really interesting duality between the two protagonists. By forming a bond between the “civilized” and the “savage”, the writers show how it is not what divides us that we need to focus on, but rather what brings us together.  

Sean Bean is the most recognizable name in the voice cast, and he voices his character with an unexpected level of nuance and compassion. The true standouts, though, are Honor Kneafsy and Eva Whittaker, both of whom give lovely turns and fit really well together in the central friendship. 

Stylistically, the film is very unique because it doesn’t feel enormously polished like its mainstream contemporaries. The amount of love put into every frame is evident because of the very personal approach to animation. And the level of detail to which the filmmakers went in preserving the Irish mythology which inspired the movie is amazing.

Wolfwalkers is an absolutely gorgeous animated film. And even though it’s story is admittedly a tad on the conventional side, it’s wonderful nevertheless because of the very humanistic approach it takes to the story.

Wolfwalkers screened as a part of the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival which ran September 10-19.

​Rating: 4/5
               
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019

    Authors

    All
    Adam Donato
    Alan French
    Allison Brown
    Borja Izuzquiz
    Camden Ferrell
    Cole Groth
    Daniel Lima
    Dan Skip Allen
    Erin M. Brady
    Jonathan Berk
    Joseph Fayed
    Josh Batchelder
    Paris Jade
    Rafael Motamayor
    Sarah Williams
    Sean Boelman
    Tatiana Miranda

disappointment media

Dedicated to unique and diverse perspectives on cinema!
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • The Snake Hole
  • About