Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		5.0

Wolfwalkers Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf December 24, 2021

While major animated releases from studios such as Pixar and Dreamworks manage to dominate the box office and command critical conversation, some of the finest examples of the medium have been produced by Cartoon Saloon over the last decade. They’ve churned out magnificent efforts such as “Song of the Sea,” “The Secret of Kells,” and “The Breadwinner,” invested in the art of challenging audiences with unusual tales of resilience and wonder, digging into extremes of fantasy and reality to inspire their stories. The artistry and integrity of this company is astounding, and for 2020, they offer “Wolfwalkers,” once again crafting a story that welcomes hearty emotion and real suspense for family audiences, also delivering a visual feast of 2D animation that supplies some of the most striking imagery of the film year. “Wolfwalkers” is stunning and sincere, preserving Cartoon Saloon’s position as the most exciting animation studio working today.

In 1650 Ireland, Bill (voiced by Sean Bean) has pledged his loyalty to Lord Protector (Simon McBurney), acting as the official wolf catcher for the burgeoning English kingdom freshly established in Ireland. Bill is a widower, raising young Robyn (Honor Kneafsey) on his own, often unable to contain the girl’s curiosity, especially with the world beyond the gates. While Bill sets out to rid the area of hungry wolves, Robyn manages to have a close-up interaction with Mebh (Eva Whittaker), a child who’s also a wolfwalker, with her spirit transforming into a magical creature as she sleeps. Receiving a bite for her nosiness, Robyn is gradually turned into a wolfwalker herself, introduced to their healing powers and control over the local pack. Mebh remains alone, without her mother, Moll (Maria Doyle Kennedy), who became a wolf one night and never returned home. She finds a friend in Robyn, who’s excited by the life, but is soon aware of its increasing danger, with Lord Protector refusing to rest until the wolves have been exterminated, with Bill unknowingly hunting his own daughter.

“Wolfwalkers” has a political element to the screenplay, highlighting the oppression of England as it moves into the open world of Ireland, but the writing (credited to Will Collins) remains attentive to character, exploring the new world order through the eyes of Robyn, a free spirit sent to live behind bars with her father, with a falcon, Merlyn, her closest friend. The beauty of Collins’s creation is its focus on love, with Bill an emotionally wounded man trying to do whatever he can to protect his child, accepting assignments from the oily Lord Protector to maintain his military and community standing. And Robyn isn’t a one-note firecracker, but an adventurous child who wants to learn more about the forest around her, with her bright spirit folded into the role of a scullery maid trainee, handed a glimpse of her bleak future.

Pure energy arrives in the form of Mebh, an indefatigable girl who’s just as interested in the settlement constructed near her, dreaming of village bread while avoiding Bill’s plans to trap members of her pack. She’s a magical creature, transforming into a wolf while asleep, exploring the realm with amazing sensory amplification, managing to turn Robyn into her kind with an accidental bite. “Wolfwalkers” transforms the pair into friends, with Robyn learning more about her new world and Mebh’s heartache, with her mother unable to awaken without the return of her animal form. Directors Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart play up the contrast of wolfwalker elasticity and English rigidity, finding ways to cinematically explore such rising tensions, periodically playing with aspect ratios and split-screens to bring out the artistry of the endeavor, captured with dazzling animation that’s expressive and textured.

Wolfwalkers Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

New to Blu-ray is "Wolfwalkers," which offers an AVC encoded image (1.84:1 aspect ratio) presentation. The feature's vibrant palette supplies a lively viewing experience, with rich greenery and bright orange hair on Mebh, while the colder hues of "civilized" life register as intended. Menacing reds and magical golds are present, and the wolves retain a natural gray appearance. Animation detail is precise, showcasing often packed frames of information and subtle character touches. Delineation is exact.

Wolfwalkers Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix is extremely active, with surrounds delivering hearty atmospherics with community movement and forest tours. Separation and panning effects are common, along with a special POV sound for Robyn's initial wolf awakening. Dialogue exchanges are exact, with sharp accents and softer emotional moments. Sound effects are defined, ranging from wolf howls and growls to more violent encounters with weapons. Scoring is crisp, with excellent instrumentation. Low-end offers some harder hits with physical activity and chases.

Wolfwalkers Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features director Tomm Moore and screenwriter Will Collins.

• Interviews (24:19, HD) discusses dramatic challenges and character creation with voice actors Honor Kneafsey, Eva Whittaker, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Sean Bean, Jon Kenny, and Tommy Tiernan.

• "The Art of Voicing 'Wolfwalkers'" (3:57, HD) pays a visit to Grouse Lodge in 2018, watching the actors bring their characters to life in front of microphones.

• "Behind 'Running with the Wolves'" (3:00, HD) tracks the development of a key scene from the film, with commentary from the creative team.

• "How to Draw: Wolf, Mebh, and Forest" (33:44, HD) offers a tutorial on the creation of characters and environments from "Wolfwalkers," with gifted artists Tatiana Mazzei, Maria Madelaire Forna, and Ross Stewart guiding viewers through various steps required to bring these images to life.

• "The Music of 'Wolfwalkers'" (1:48, HD) highlights the recording efforts of the Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra.

• "Character Designs of 'Wolfwalkers'" (60:07, HD) is a video conference class with director Tomm Moore, who goes into the animation process, offering instruction on technique and detail as he creates various personalities from the film.

• "2020 Comic Con Panel" (26:37, HD) showcases the world of Cartoon Saloon in Kilkenny, Ireland, providing a montage of creative efforts while audio interviews include assistant director Mark Mullery, co-director Thom Moore, co-director Ross Stewart, art director Maria Pareja, and lead posing artist Sandra Norup Andersen.

• Behind the Scenes (2:52, HD) is a brief look at the Cartoon Saloon creative process.

• And a Conceptual Trailer (1:51, HD) is included.

Wolfwalkers Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Wolfwalkers" is a gorgeous film, but it's also playful when necessary, and tension is earned throughout, especially with Lord Protector's reliance on faith to justify his violent orders, putting Bill in a troubling spot. Voicework is simply wonderful, with the cast infusing their roles with subtle feelings and fears, while leads Kneafsey and Whittaker bring a perfect blend of joy and concern to their parts. Their warmth does so much for "Wolfwalkers," which effortlessly deals with danger and discovery, touching on the trials of parenthood and the moral purity of youth. The feature is another triumph for Cartoon Saloon, who remain confident that a little sophistication and lot of Irish soul is the key to their brand of animation, gifting the audience something different and quite special.