Fans of “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy are eagerly anticipating the release of a new animated film set in the beloved universe. “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” takes place 183 years before Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and follows the story of Helm Hammerhand, a legendary king of Rohan, as he and his family defend their kingdom from a Dunlending army.
While an animated “The Lord of the Rings” movie came out in 1978, it was met with mixed reviews and criticism for its animation style.
The 1978 film employed a mix of traditional animation and rotoscoping which, while innovative at the time, resulted in a somewhat eerie and unusual aesthetic that did not fully capture the grandeur of Tolkien’s world.
Now, decades later, the upcoming animated movie promises a fresh take, using advanced digital animation to bring Middle Earth to life in a visually immersive and dynamic style that is expected to resonate with both new audiences and longtime fans.
“The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim” is going to be directed by Kenji Kamiyama, who is known as a writer for other works, such as the “Ghost in The Shell” anime series, “Blade Runner: Black Lotus” and “Star Wars: Visions.” The film will be welcoming back well-known actors such as Brian Cox, Lorraine Ashbourne, Janine Drzewicki and Miranda Otto.
“I’m thrilled that a new generation can now enjoy this trilogy. With its updated art style, I think it will resonate with younger viewers and help them appreciate the beauty of ‘The Lord of the Rings.’ Although, I am very hesitant to watch it due to it being different from the original story I loved as a child.” – Mary Hornaday, “The Lord of the Rings” fan
Calah Miley, a longtime fan, commented, “Portraying the story’s expressions and drama through animation can be challenging but I’m confident this movie can succeed. The art style is reminiscent of ‘Attack on Titan,’ another favorite of mine, so I’m hopeful it can capture a similar essence.”
The movie is set to release on Dec. 13 in select theaters.
