Wolfwalkers
Wolfwalkers | |
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![]() U.S. theatrical release poster | |
Directed by |
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Screenplay by | Will Collins[1][2] |
Story by |
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Produced by |
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Starring |
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Edited by |
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Music by | |
Production companies | |
Release dates | |
Running time | 103 minutes[6][2][5] |
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Sprache | English[2] |
Box office | $229,041[8] |
Wolfwalkers is a 2020 animated fantasy adventure film directed by Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart.[1][10][3] The film is the third 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[6][2][7][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.[5][15][16] It received widespread universal acclaim from critics, who praised the animation, emotional depth, performances and characters.
Plot
![]() | This article's plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed. (December 2020) |
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 sneaks out of the town one day and follows him with her pet falcon, Merlyn. After accidentally shooting Merlyn with her crossbow while attempting 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 to convince 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 to restrain 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[update], Wolfwalkers has earned $229,041 at the global box office.[8] Its U.S. gross has not yet been revealed.
Critical response
On Rotten Tomatoes, 99% of 140 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 | Kategorie | Recipients(s) | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | AFI Festival | Narrative Feature | Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart | Won | |
Boston Society of Film Critics Awards | Best Animated Film | Wolfwalkers | Runner-up | [26] | |
Boston Online Film Critics Association | Best Animated Film | Won | [27] | ||
Chicago Film Critics Association | Best Animated Film | Won | [28] | ||
Chicago Indie Critics Awards | Best Animated Film | Nominated | [29] | ||
Columbus Film Critics Association | Best Animated Film | Won | [30] | ||
Denver Film Critics Society Awards | Best Animated Film | Nominated | [31] | ||
Florida Film Critics Circle | Best Animated Film | Runner-up | [32] | ||
Gotham Awards | Best International Feature | Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart, Paul Young, Nora Twomey and Stéphan Roelants | Nominated | [33] | |
Greater Western New York Film Critics Association | Best Animated Film | Wolfwalkers | Won | [34] | |
Houston Film Critics Society Awards | Best Animated Feature Film | Nominated | [35] | ||
Indiana Film Journalists Association | Best Animated Film | Runner-up | [36] | ||
Best Vocal/Motion Capture Performance | Sean Bean | Runner-up | |||
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Animated Film | Wolfwalkers | Won | [37] | |
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards | Best Animated Film | Won | [38] | ||
Music City Film Critics Association | Best Animated Film | Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart | Nominated | [39] | |
New Mexico Film Critics Awards | Best Animated Film | Wolfwalkers | Won | [40] | |
New York Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Animated Film | Won | [41] | ||
Online Film Critics Society Awards | Best Animated Film | Nominated | [42] | ||
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards | Best Animated Film | Won | [43] | ||
San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Animated Film | Nominated | [44] | ||
St. Louis Film Critics Association Awards | Best Animated Film | Nominated | [45] | ||
2021 | Critics' Choice Super Awards | Best Animated Movie | Nominated | [46] | |
Best Voice Actress in an Animated Movie | Honor Kneafsey | Nominated | |||
Eva Whittaker | Nominated | ||||
Hollywood Music in Media Awards | Original Score - Animated Film | Bruno Coulais | Anhängig | [47] | |
London Critics Circle Film Awards | Technical Achievement Award | Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart | Anhängig | [48] |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Wolfwalkers". Apple TV+ Press. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Wolfwalkers". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
Ireland, Luxembourg, France, 2020
- ^ a b c d e f 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, […]
- ^ a b c d "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.
- ^ a b c d "Le Peuple loup" (in French). Haut et Court. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
16 décembre 2020
- ^ a b c "Wolfwalkers de Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart (2020)". UniFrance. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
Nationality : Minority French (Ireland, Luxembourg, France)
- ^ a b "Full programme announced for 64th BFI London Film Festival". British Film Institute. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
Ireland-Luxembourg-France
- ^ a b "Wolfwalkers Box Office". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
- ^ https://gkids.com/films/wolfwalkers/
- ^ Duralde, Alonso (12 September 2020). "Wolfwalkers Film Review: Old-School Animation Invigorates Irish Eco-Fable". TheWrap. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ "Wolfwalkers". tiff.net. Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
- ^ "Wolfwalkers". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
- ^ a b c "Wildcard Distribution". Facebook. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- ^ a b "Wolfwalkers". GKIDS. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
In Theaters November 13
- ^ a b c Milligan, Mercedes (30 May 2019). "Cartoon Saloon Launches Rights Division, Teams with Dentsu USA on Wolfwalkers". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- ^ a b c Dudok de Wit, Alex (17 October 2019). "17 Major Animated Movies Releasing In 2020". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 8, 2018). "Apple Acquires Global Rights To Documentary The Elephant Queen – Toronto". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
- ^ "Kíla - The latest animated feature from Cartoon Saloon,..." Facebook. 25 August 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
- ^ a b Milligan, Mercedes (25 August 2020). "Apple Original Wolfwalkers to Premiere at TIFF Next Month". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
- ^ a b Amidi, Amid (25 August 2020). "Wolfwalkers, First Apple Animated Feature, To Premiere At TIFF". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
- ^ "Wolfwalkers (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- ^ "Wolfwalkers Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
- ^ Adams, Sam (November 13, 2020). "Wolfwalkers Is the Best Animated Movie of the Year So Far". Slate. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
- ^ "Best of 2020: Film Critic Top Ten Lists". Metacritic. Retrieved 2020-12-26.
- ^ "2020 Critics Poll: The Best Films and Performances According to Over 200 Critics From Around the World". IndieWire. 5 January 2021. Archived from the original on January 9, 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- ^ Adams, Ryan (2020-12-13). "'Nomadland' Named Best Picture at Boston Society of Film Critics Awards, Paul Raci and Yuh-jung Youn Among Winners". Variety. Retrieved 2020-12-13.
- ^ Adams, Ryan (2020-12-19). "The 2020 Boston Online Film Critics Association (BOFCA) Winners". Variety. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
- ^ Neglia, mATTS (2020-12-21). "The 2020 Chicago Film Critics Association (CFCA) wINNERS". Awards Daily. Retrieved 2020-12-21.
- ^ Neglia, mATTS (2020-12-28). "The 2020 Chicago Indie Critics (CIC) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
- ^ Neglia, Matt (2021-01-07). "The 2020 Columbus Film Critics Association (COFCA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
- ^ "2021 Awards: Denver Film Critics Society (DFCS) Winners". Retrieved 2021-01-18.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|language-en=
ignored (help) - ^ "The 2020 Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC) Winners | Next Best Picture". Retrieved 2020-12-21.
- ^ "The Gotham Awards". Independent Filmmaker Project. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
- ^ "The 2020 Greater Western New York Film Critics Association (GWNYFCA) Winners | Next Best Picture". Retrieved 2020-12-31.
- ^ "Houston Film Critics nominations: 'Minari' leads with 7". Retrieved 2021-01-12.
- ^ "The 2020 Indiana Film Journalists Association (IFJA) Winners | Next Best Picture". Retrieved 2020-12-15.
- ^ "The 2020 Kansas City Film Critics Circle (KCFCC) Winners| Next Best Picture". Retrieved 2021-01-24.
- ^ Davis, Clayton (2020-12-20). "Los Angeles Film Critics Announce 2020 Winners (Updating Live)". Variety. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
- ^ "The 2020 Music City Film Critics Association (MCFCA) Nominations| Next Best Picture". Retrieved 2020-12-21.
- ^ "2021 Awards: New Mexico Film Critics (NMXFC) Winners". Retrieved 2021-01-24.
- ^ Lindahl, Chris (2020-12-18). "New York Film Critics Circle Awards Winners (Updating Live)". IndieWire. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
- ^ "The 2020 Online Film Critics Society (OFCS) Nominations| Next Best Picture". Retrieved 2021-01-19.
- ^ Kay, Glenn (2021-01-11). "San Diego Film Critics Society Award Announce 2020 Winners". CinemaStance. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
- ^ "2020 San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle (SFBAFCC) Winners". Retrieved 2021-01-18.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|language-en=
ignored (help) - ^ "St. Louis Film Critics Association Awards Announce 2020 Nominees". Retrieved 2021-01-11.
- ^ "Critic's Choice Super Awards". Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
- ^ "Hollywood Music in Media Awards 2021 Nominees". HMMA. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
- ^ "The 2020 London Film Critics Circle (LFCC) Nominations". Retrieved 2021-01-12.
External links
- 2020 films
- 2020 animated films
- English-language films
- 2020 directorial debut films
- 2020 fantasy films
- 2020s fantasy adventure films
- 2020s French animated films
- 2020s historical fantasy films
- English-language French films
- Films based on Celtic mythology
- French animated fantasy films
- French films
- Irish animated fantasy films
- Irish films
- Irish independent films
- Luxembourgian animated fantasy films
- Luxembourgian films
- Werewolves in animated film
- Animated films about wolves
- Irish animated films
- American fantasy films
- American films
- American animated films
- American children's animated adventure films
- American epic films
- American independent films
- Cultural depictions of Oliver Cromwell
- Films directed by Tomm Moore
- Films set in the 1650s
- Apple TV+ original films
- 2020s children's animated films
- Animated coming-of-age films
- Animated films about friendship
- Films about animals
- British animated fantasy films
- British films
- British independent films
- British animated films
- Films set in Ireland