Wolfwalkers blends Irish folklore, stunning 2D animation, and a deeply emotional coming-of-age tale into one of the most beautiful animated films of the past decade. A must-watch for anyone who believes in the magic of storytelling.
A Fairy Tale with Teeth
The year is 1650. English settlers have tightened their grip on Ireland, pushing their towns further into wild, untamed forests. Robyn, a young English girl restless in a town that doesn’t welcome her, longs for adventure beyond the city walls. Her father, a skilled hunter, is tasked with wiping out the wolves that roam the woods—a mission Robyn can’t resist sneaking into.
One daring chase changes everything. Robyn meets Mebh, a fiery forest girl with a secret—by night, she becomes a wolf. Their bond blossoms quickly, but with it comes danger, as Robyn is pulled between the rigid human world she knows and the wild, magical one she’s just discovered.
Art That Breathes and Roars
If most modern animated films feel polished and perfect, Wolfwalkers is alive—messy in the best way, bursting with texture and movement. The forest is all curling leaves and swirling colors, like a watercolor painting that’s still wet. The town, by contrast, is drawn with sharp, imprisoning lines, reflecting its strict rules and watchful eyes.
Every frame could hang in a gallery, but here they’re in motion—wolves leaping through moonlit glades, shafts of light breaking over moss-covered rocks, and magic unfurling like smoke. The artistry doesn’t just serve the story; it is the story.
Themes That Run Deep
Beneath the magic and adventure, Wolfwalkers speaks to timeless ideas—colonialism’s chokehold on tradition, humanity’s uneasy relationship with nature, and the courage it takes to stand against the forces that demand you change who you are.
For kids, it’s a thrilling adventure about friendship and bravery. For adults, it’s a layered meditation on freedom, identity, and the wildness we risk losing.
Voices That Bring the Magic to Life
Honor Kneafsey captures Robyn’s yearning and determination perfectly, while Eva Whittaker’s Mebh bursts with energy, humor, and raw emotion. Sean Bean lends quiet strength and vulnerability to Robyn’s father. Together, they make the world of Wolfwalkers feel lived-in and heartfelt.
Bullseye Rating:★★★★½ (4.5/5 stars)
Wolfwalkers (2020) is a breathtaking Irish folklore fantasy with some of the most gorgeous hand-drawn animation in decades—an instant classic that’s as moving as it is magical.