2021 Oscars Challenge: [2] “Wolfwalkers” — Best Animated Feature

March 20, 2021 / Leave a Comment

WOLFWALKERS

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Moll MacTire (voiced by Maria Doyle Kennedy) and her daughter Mebh MacTire (Eva Whittaker) in Wolfwalkers, directed by Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart. Copyright: Wildcard Distribution. All Rights Reserved.

A young apprentice hunter journeys to Ireland with her father to help wipe out the last wolf pack. But everything changes when she befriends a free-spirited girl from a mysterious tribe rumored to transform into wolves by night.

Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart, Paul Young and Stéphan Roelants

There should be no real surprise that “Wolfwalkers” got a Best Animated Feature nomination. The Academy loves this hand-drawn style of animation. They’ve honored Tomm Moore, officially, two times before with “The Secret of Kells” (2009) and “Song of the Sea” (2014), and unofficially a third, with “The Breadwinner,” which he also produced but was not apart of the nominees. And this could be the closest one of those films gets to winning the whole thing, as “Wolfwalkers” has been a favorite all awards season. Tomm Moore can now say that all three of his films in the “Irish Folklore trilogy” were Oscar-nominated.

Robyn is a young lady who is good with a crossbow. She lives with her father, Bill, an expert hunter who has moved them to Ireland to help the king rid the surrounding forests of the last wolves hiding there. Robyn wants to help her father but must resort to sneaking around to do so. Eventually, she finds that the tall tales told of “wolfwalkers” are real. The legends tell of humans whose spirits can become wolves while they sleep. After the young wolfwalker girl, Mebh Óg MacTíre, bites Robyn while trying to save her, they become friends. Mebh shows Robyn her newfound abilities, and the two set out to find a way to save Mebh’s mother, Moll, as well as the entire wolfpack.

“Wolfwalkers” would be in for a win if it weren’t for “Soul.” Anytime a film has to face off with Pixar Animation, it will be an uphill battle. Pixar is just so good at creating interesting, worthwhile stories to tell. They tap into our emotions, all while being visually stunning and standing apart from not only their previous fare but any other current animated films. Humbly, I don’t see “Wolfwalkers” overcoming “Soul.” They’re both great, but “Soul” connects on a higher level.