Wolfwalkers

Wolfwalkers is a 2020 animated fantasy adventure film directed by Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart.

Wolfwalkers is a 2020 animated fantasy adventure film directed by Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart. Set in 17th-century Kilkenny, Ireland, it follows a young hunter’s daughter who befriends a girl from a mysterious people said to transform into wolves. The film is the third and final instalment in Moore’s Irish Folklore Trilogy.

Premise

The story is set in Kilkenny in 1650, during the English occupation of Ireland. It centres on Robyn Goodfellowe, a young apprentice hunter, and Mebh, a girl linked to the wolfwalkers. The film depicts wolfwalkers as people with a dual human-wolf nature.

Production

The film was directed by Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart and written by Will Collins. It was produced by Cartoon Saloon and Mélusine Productions as an international co-production involving Ireland, Luxembourg, and France.

Release

Wolfwalkers premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on 12 September 2020. It was later released theatrically in several markets, including Canada on 13 November 2020.

Reception and significance

The film was widely discussed as the final entry in Moore’s Irish Folklore Trilogy, following The Secret of Kells and Song of the Sea. It is also noted for its historical setting and its use of Irish folklore and environmental themes.