“The War of the Rohirrim” trailer excites fans, while purists remain sceptical.
Having dazzled audiences for nearly three decades, it has been hard to top the original trilogy. Even Peter Jackson, the director tasked with its adaptation, found it a trial to outperform his own production, having faced fierce criticism for his follow up saga, “The Hobbit.”
The 2020s looked optimistic, as we got a TV series—one that was a debilitating nightmare to watch. While some fans enjoyed its presentation, it is possible that a satisfaction with anything Middle-Earth and J.R.R. Tokien related was just the ticket.
An Animated Feature
Warner Bros Studios announced they are making a catalogue of LOTRs movies, and with that, an animated one was surely part of the plan.
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Director of “Ghost in the Shell: Standalone Complex,” Kenji Kamiyama, has stepped up to piece together what promises to be an epic anime prequel production with “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.” It follows the royal house of Helm Hammerhand’s King of Rohan, following a sudden attack by the antagonist ‘Wulf’, who seeks revenge for the death of his father at the hands of the monarchy. This forces Hammerhand and his people to seek refuge in the fortress of Hornburg, which later comes to be known as Helm’s Deep.
Fans Are Divided
Rest assured, you cannot expect a film to evade a little criticism. In the case of the franchise, expect to receive a lot. One Reddit user known as u/Dry_Method3738 said: “Anybody else had “Generic Female Anime Protagonist” vibes instead of Tolkien?.” Another remarked “…the outfit is too far off, if she is a shieldmaiden of rohan, she should be covered in chainmail and plate.”
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Some fans are cautiously optimistic, while one exclaims “please just be better than Rings of Power.”
Speaking on the characters, another says: “I hope she’s written well and not just another girl boss, because I really love to support 2D animation being shown in the cinema.”
The Trailer Showcases Epic Visuals And Classic Tolkien Scenes
The trailer begins with unnecessary footage of the original trilogy, but then opens with classic anime visuals that are distinct of the genre.
The signature details inherent to it are present once again, including the ultra-expressive eyes and skin textures that often overemphasise emotion.
Specific attention to detail has been dedicated to the lighting and dimly lit landscapes, a perpetual fixture within Tolkien-esque adaptations.
With characters voiced by Brian Cox (Helm Hammerhand) and Miranda Otto returning as Éowyn, the trailer provides great insight into what we can expect. With an all out conflict raging through the map, it encompasses a lot of what we can expect. But just as the preview draws to a close, a moment arises that deviates from the core story, with orcs that utter “what does Mordor want with rings?.”
To produce anything post-Peter Jackson comes with great difficulty, and fans are clearly split on their expectations. While an animated film is long overdue, in a climate where profits often trump quality, lore enthusiasts are rightly sceptical. Another box office bomb could spell disaster for future stories, but success could encourage more.
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