Wolfwalkers

*This article is about **the Wolfwalkers film**.*

American theatrical release poster

***Wolfwalkers*** is a 2020 animated fantasy adventure film directed by Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart. An international co-production  led by Cartoon Saloon and Melusine Productions, It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 12 and was released theatrically in the United Kingdom on October 30, in the United States and Canada on November 13, and in Ireland on December 2. It was released digitally on Apple TV+ on December 11. It received widespread universal acclaim from critics, who praised the animation, emotional depth, performances and characters.

*Wolfwalkers* follows the story of Robyn Goodfellowe, a young apprentice hunter who arrives in Ireland with her father during a time of superstition and magic to wipe out the last wolf pack. While exploring the forbidden lands outside the city walls, Robyn befriends a free-spirited girl, Mebh, a member of a mysterious tribe rumored to have the ability to turn into wolves by night. As they search for Mebh’s missing mother, Robyn uncovers a secret that draws her further into the enchanted world of the Wolfwalkers and risks turning into the very thing her father is tasked to destroy.

The film stars the voices of Honor Kneafsey, Eva Whittaker, Sean Bean, Simon McBurney, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Tommy Tiernan, Jon Kenny and John Morton. It won several awards including the Satellite Award for Best Animated or Mixed Media Feature and five Annie Awards including Best Director for Moore and Stewart and Best Independent Animated Feature. It also received the nominations for Best Animated Feature Film at the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards and BAFTA Awards.

## Synopsis

In a time of superstition and magic, a young apprentice hunter, Robyn Goodfellowe, journeys to Ireland with her father to wipe out the last wolf pack. While exploring the forbidden lands outside the city walls, Robyn befriends a free-spirited girl, Mebh, a member of a mysterious tribe rumored to transform into wolves by night. As they search for Mebh's missing mother, Robyn uncovers a secret that draws her further into the enchanted world of the Wolfwalkers and risks turning her into the very thing her father is tasked to destroy.

## Plot

**Below is the full summary of the movie, scroll past if you don't want spoilers.**

Kilkenny, Ireland, 1650 – A trio of woodcutters are chopping down trees when they are found by a pack of wolves. They chase after the woodcutters and injure one, Sean Óg, with slashes to the chest. Suddenly, a human woman, Móll MacTíre, and her daughter Mebh Óg MacTíre approach Sean and use their powers to heal his wound. He recognizes them as being Wolfwalkers – humans who can transform into wolves and possess special powers – and they order him and the others to flee the woods.

In the town, an English girl named Robyn Goodfellowe has moved there recently with her father William "Bill" Goodfellowe. He is a hunter for The Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell, tasked with protecting the town from the wolves that are perceived as threats. While Bill wants Robyn to be safe in a position fit for a young girl, she fancies herself a hunter as well, frequently practicing with her crossbow. Bill ventures into the woods to set traps, with Robyn and her pet falcon Merlyn following closely. While going through town, Robyn encounters a group of street children who taunt her for being English and for serving the Lord Protector when they know he is a bad man. Bill catches her before the kids do anything to her, and he puts her in a cage to keep her from following him. However, Robyn finds a way out and continues to pursue.

Once she makes it into the woods, Robyn hears an alarm over a wolf sighting in the town. She heads in to try and help, but she is caught in a sheep stampede. It causes her to accidentally hit Merlyn’s wing. When she goes to get the bird, Mebh comes in and grabs Merlyn, taking him with her back into the woods with the other wolves protecting her. Bill grabs Robyn before she can proceed any further. Sean Og is also caught in the middle of things and is imprisoned when Cromwell overhears him badmouthing him. He chastises Robyn for not working with the other scullery maids and orders Bill to find and kill the wolves within two days time. Robyn creates a distraction by opening Sean’s cage and setting the sheep loose, allowing her to slip back into the woods to find Merlyn.

Robyn goes back in but gets her foot caught in a trap that hangs her upside down. Merlyn flies by, his wing having been fully healed. When Robyn sees Mebh in her wolf form, she attempts to shoot her, but Merlyn swoops in to stop Robyn, causing her foot to get caught in a trap that hangs her upside down. Mebh tries to free her, but Robyn thinks it’s an attack and swats at Mebh until she bites Robyn’s arm and then frees her. Robyn then sees Mebh’s human form through her scent and follows Mebh and Merlyn back to the cave behind the waterfall where the wolf pack lives. Robyn sees that Mebh is a Wolfwalker, and the girl heals Robyn’s bite wound. After playfully chasing Robyn away with the other wolves, Mebh goes after her and helps guide her back, but Robyn stops them from going further so they don’t set off Bill’s traps. The girls find Robyn’s crossbow in the possession of two other men. Robyn gets her crossbow back while Mebh steals the men’s bread and potatoes. The girls then sit together, where Robyn tells Mebh how trapped she feels in Kilkenny. Mebh says that she cannot leave with the others because Móll went off in her wolf form to search for a new home but hasn’t come back. They then part ways when Robyn must return home. Robyn wants to tell Bill that the wolves are harmless, but when she says that she didn’t go to the scullery, he stops her as he begins scolding her before sending her to bed.

The next day, Robyn begins working in the scullery. She is drawn into a private room with a cage where she hears a voice calling out “Girl…” to her, but another maid orders her to stay away from there. She also notices the wound on her arm produces some kind of magic glowing light.

After failing to get Bill to hear her again, Robyn goes to sleep that night and finds her spirit has left her body and transformed her into a wolf. She runs back into the woods to reveal to Mebh what has happened, and although Robyn is scared, Mebh shows her how great is is to be a wolf with her newfound powers and abilities. When she runs back to town, the hunters start chasing after her, and she hears the voice calling to her again. She goes back to the cage and sees that it is Móll. Robyn tells her that Mebh is looking for her, but Móll orders Robyn to tell Mebh to flee from the woods. Cromwell then enters to tell Móll that he will present her to the town the next day to show that he has tamed her. He spots Robyn and shoots at her, but she manages to escape and make it back to her body before Bill finds her. Cromwell and the other townsfolk are all around after the supposed wolf attack, and he orders Bill and Robyn to do their duties or he will keep them separated.

While Robyn returns to the scullery, she sends Merlyn out to warn Mebh. After he reaches Mebh and lets her know what happened, she runs into town to find Robyn. She tells Mebh what Móll told her, but Mebh is upset that Robyn will not help free her like she had promised. Cromwell then has the town gather outside to watch him tame Móll, but Mebh rushes rapidly toward the stage to stop him. Robyn catches her and sadly gets the street kids to trap her so she will not get hurt. However, Mebh breaks free and runs to the stage as Bill opens Móll’s cage. She stands in Cromwell’s way before he can harm her. Bill attempts to stop Mebh while Robyn attempts to stop Bill from hurting her. Realizing she is out numbered, Mebh flees from the soldiers and vows to bring the wolves into town to free her mother, terrifying the people with her howling. Cromwell sets out with his men to hunt the wolves down first and orders Bill to kill Móll. Before he can do so, Robyn frees Móll and rides her out of town to warn Mebh.

Robyn and Móll make it to Mebh and the other wolves. where Mebh reunites with her mother and forgives Robyn for earlier, but Bill shoots Móll with an arrow and severely wounds her, but Móll still manages to bite him. Mebh and the other wolves take her away as she tries to heal her mother, while Robyn tries to stop her father from doing any more harm. As the other soldiers arrive, Robyn reverts to her wolf form and leaves her body in Bill’s arms as he witnesses her transformation. Cromwell and the soldiers start burning down the woods before making their way to the wolves’ den, and he has Bill put in chains for his failure to stop the wolves. There, Mebh desperately tries to heal Móll while sending the pack out there to protect Robyn. She helps the wolves form a strategy to do away with the other soldiers. Cromwell fires his cannon in her direction as she sends the other wolves back to safety, leaving her injured. When Bill sees Cromwell approaching Robyn, he becomes a Wolfwalker and goes after Cromwell. He battles his former commander before making their way to the edge of a cliff. Bill bites into Cromwell’s chest, pinning him to the ground, but Cromwell instead loosens his chest plate and allows himself to plunge to his death rather than die at the jaws of a devil wolf.

Robyn makes it back to the den to help Mebh heal Móll. The other wolves join in as well, and with Bill’s help, Móll is revived. Móll thanks Robyn for her help, and the other wolves lovingly surround Móll. Bill starts to leave, ashamed for his earlier actions, but Robyn and Móll tell him to stay.

A few months later, Bill and Móll seem to be on good terms, and riding together in a wagon with their daughters sleeping in the back. Robyn and Mebh turn into wolves and join the rest of the pack to have some fun in the woods to find their new home.

## Voice cast

### Main

* Honor Kneafsey as Robyn Goodfellowe, the main protagonist. She is a young apprentice hunter, a scullery maid, a wolfwalker after, and Bill's daughter.
* Eva Whittaker as Mebh Óg MacTíre, the deuteragonist. She is an adventurous beta Wolfwalker and Móll's daughter.
* Sean Bean as Bill Goodfellowe, the tritagonist. He is a hunter, a puritan, a soldier, a wolfwalker after and Robyn's father.
* Simon McBurney as Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell, the main antagonist. He is the ruler of Ireland and Robyn Goodfellowe's archenemy.
* Maria Doyle Kennedy as Móll MacTíre, the overarching protagonist. She an alpha wolfwalker, the leader of the wolf pack and Mebh's mother.
* Frank Welker as the vocal effects of Merlyn, a major character. He's Robyn's pet owl.
	+ Welker also provides the vocal effects of the wolves, supporting characters. Their leader is Móll.

### Secondary

* Tommy Tiernan as Seán Óg, a minor character. He a woodcutter who believes in the existence of the wolfwalkers after they heal him.
* Jon Kenny as Stringy Woodcutter, a minor character.
* John Morton as Stumpy Woodcutter, a minor character.
* Paul Young as Sheep Farmer, a minor character.
* Nora Twomey as Bridget, a minor character. She the head maid in the Lord Protector's scullery.
* Oliver McGrath as Padraig, a minor character. He a young bully in the town of Kilkenny.
* Niamh Moyles as Fishmonger, a minor character.

### Additional Voices

* Philip Brennan - Additional Voices
* Jim Carroll - Additional Voices
* Richie Cody - Additional Voices
* Brendan Corcoran - Additional Voices
* Michael Culleton - Additional Voices
* Sarah Doyle - Additional Voices
* Amy Dunne - Additional Voices
* Gilly Fogg - Additional Voices
* Jennifer Hughes - Additional Voices
* Michael McGrath - Additional Voices
* Ken McGuire - Additional Voices
* Desiree Meade - Additional Voices
* Graham Mills - Additional Voices
* Aoibhin Murphy - Additional Voices
* Mags Murphy - Additional Voices
* Aaron O'Dea - Additional Voices
* Cara O'Doherty - Additional Voices
* Aoife O'Neill - Additional Voices
* Jacqueline Purcell - Additional Voices
* Muireann Ryan - Additional Voices
* Alan Slattery - Additional Voices
* David Thompson - Additional Voices
* Eleanor Walsh - Additional Voices

#### Street Children

* Jack Caldwell - Additional Voices
* Eoin Cleary - Additional Voices
* Marguerita Hanlon - Additional Voices
* Jacob Holden - Additional Voices
* Clare Keating - Additional Voices
* Orla Keating - Additional Voices
* Caolan Lucas - Additional Voices
* Patrick McGrath - Additional Voices
* Daisy Moran - Additional Voices
* Dylan Muldowney - Additional Voices
* Mark O'Connell - Additional Voices
* Roisin O'Shea - Additional Voices

#### Soldiers

* Ben Andrews - Additional Voices
* Jerome Burelbach - Additional Voices
* Vince Drews - Additional Voices
* Seamus Greene - Additional Voices
* Gilbert Johnston - Additional Voices
* Luke Mandie - Additional Voices
* Ian Sanderson - Additional Voices

## Production

On September 8, 2018, Apple acquired Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart's *Wolfwalkers* from a script by Will Collins. The film is an original concept that was created by Moore and Stewart, and its animation will utilize a unique 2D style rotating between a woodblock aesthetic and loose expressive linework.

### Music

Moore's frequent collaborators, Bruno Coulais and folk group Kíla, provided the film's original score. Norwegian singer-songwriter Aurora contributes to the soundtrack, with a new version of her already-released single "Running with the Wolves".

## Release

The film had its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 12, 2020.

It was released theatrically on 30 October the same year by Wildcard Distribution in the United Kingdom and on 13 November by GKIDS in the United States and Canada.

Child Film distribute it in Japan and Value & Power Culture Communications will distribute in China.

The theatrical release in Ireland was planned for the same day as the UK but delayed until later in the year due to the enforced closure of cinemas across the country because of the COVID-19 pandemic.It was instead released on 2 December.It was Now Re-Released To June 25, 2021.

The film debuted on Apple TV+ on 11 December, and was later released theatrically in France on 16 December by Haut et Court.In March, *Deadline* announced that *Wolfwalkers* would be re-released to select theaters in North America, starting on March 19, 2021 with the Angelika Film Center in New York.

A release on Blu-Ray Disc with bonus features will be exclusively featured in the *Irish Folklore Trilogy* boxset in the US and UK/Ireland also containing *The Secret of Kells*, *Song of the Sea* and a bonus disc. GKIDS and Shout! Factory will release the boxset on December 14, 2021, while StudioCanal will release the boxset in the UK and Ireland a day earlier, on December 13th.

## Reception

### Box office

*Wolfwalkers* has earned $229,041 at the global box office.It's U.S. Domestic gross has not yet been revealed. It is unknown how much the movie cost to make. According to Moore, the film cost €10 million to produce.

### Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, 99% of 140 reviews are positive for the film, and the average rating is 8.70/10. Critics consensus on the website reads, "A mesmerizing Celtic-inspired adventure, Wolfwalkers offers an epic ethereal fantasy matched by profound philosophies and stellar voice work." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 87 out of 100, based on 28 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".

Sam Adams of *Slate* called this the best animated movie of the year to date, noting some weakness in mismatched tone but writing at length about the beauty and technical ability of the animation. Peter Debruge of *Variety* wrote: "In the decade since "Kells," it’s not just the technological advances that make Moore's latest so impressive, but the rapidly changing cultural conversations as well. He brings everything together by borrowing from timeless visual influences, leaving audiences with another stunning artwork for the ages."

### Accolades

*Main article: List of accolades received by Wolfwalkers*

Metacritic summarized various critics end of year top lists, and ranked *Wolfwalkers* in 26th place overall. IndieWire's poll of 231 critics included Wolfwalkers in its Best Movies of 2020, ranking in 32nd place.

## Trivia

* Wolfwalkers was first announced in 2017.

* The film is confirmed to have been made as a metaphor for colonialism and the suppression of the irish people by England.

* One of the film's directors when asked about the queer undertones of the movie confirmed them as unintentional but something that the cast and crew were aware of. "We didn't do any of that deeply intentionally...we had plenty of women working on the movie who spoke to us about how important that was...One of the most important parts of Robyn's arc is her 'coming out moment', when she decides to tell her father she is a wolfwalker.'

* During an online panel at TIFF both directors confirmed that Robyn was originally written to be a boy, but that something in the story 'just wasn't working.'

* The movie takes place around 136 years before the last wild wolf is said to have been killed in Ireland.

## Future

“*No, I don’t think we do sequels per se, it would be unusual if we did that but we do tend to continue in the same vein, so we’ll see. The next few films that we do will be quite different. Who knows what’s down the line?*”
―Tomm Moore in an interview with RTÉ

During an interview in 2021, Moore stated that there are no plans for *Wolfwalkers* sequel, just like his previous films The Secret of Kells and Song of the Sea, have no sequels.

## Gallery

The **Wolfwalkers Wiki** has a collection of images related to ***Wolfwalkers/Gallery***.

## Videos

### Promotional Videos

Wolfwalkers Conceptual TrailerWolfwalkers — Official Teaser - Apple TV+Wolfwalkers — Official Trailer l Apple TV+Wolfwalkers — Legendary Prologue - Apple TV+Wolfwalkers Film - Apple TV+ share a glimpse Inside the World of WolfwalkersWolfwalkers - Clip 2Wolfwalkers — Tips For Raising a Wolfwalker - Apple TV+Kilkenny Animated - 2020WolfWalkers with Kíla in Concert PromoAURORA’s Running with the WolvesWolfwalkers — A Hand-Drawn World - Apple TV+WolfWalkers Trailer - Mandarin
#### Behind the Scenes of the Making of Wolfwalkers

Wolfwalkers Behind the ScenesWolfWalkers - Art 1WolfWalkers - Art 2WolfWalkers - Art 4WolfWalkers - MusicWolfWalkers - VoicingWolfWalkers - LayoutWolfWalkers - Shot ProgressionWolfWalkers - Background ProgressionWolfWalkers - PosterMaking Of WOLFWALKERS - Best Of Behind The Scenes - Hinter den Kulissen - Apple Original Film 2020How ‘Wolfwalkers’ Used 3D Tech To Transform 2.5D Animation - Movies InsiderHow 'Wolfwalkers' Animated Its Wolf Vision Scenes - Movies Insider
## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 *Wolfwalkers* de Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart (2020). UniFrance. “Nationality : Minority French (Ireland, Luxembourg, France)”
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 *Wolfwalkers*. Toronto International Film Festival. “Ireland, Luxembourg, France, 2020”
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 *Le Peuple loup* (fr). Haut et Court. “16 décembre 2020”
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Debruge, Peter (13 September 2020). ‘Wolfwalkers’ Review: What Big Eyes You’ll Have Watching Tomm Moore’s Environmental Fairy Tale. “(Animation – Ireland-Luxembourg-France) A Gkids, Apple release of a Cartoon Saloon, Mélusine Prods. production, […]”
5. ↑ Full programme announced for 64th BFI London Film Festival. British Film Institute (8 September 2020). “Ireland-Luxembourg-France”
6. ↑ Wolfwalkers. Toronto International Film Festival.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Wildcard Distribution. Facebook.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 *Wolfwalkers*. GKIDS. “In Theaters November 13”
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 *Wolfwalkers* to open in Irish Cinemas from Friday 4th December with previews from Wednesday 2nd December. Wildcard Distribution (25 November 2020).
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "Cartoon Saloon Launches Rights Division, Teams with Dentsu USA on *Wolfwalkers*", *Animation Magazine* (30 May 2019).<span class="Z3988" title="ctx\_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft\_val\_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.type=newspaperArticle&rft.subject=News&rft.title=Cartoon+Saloon+Launches+Rights+Division%2C+Teams+with+Dentsu+USA+on+%27%27Wolfwalkers%27%27&rft.identifier=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.animationmagazine.net%2Ftop-stories%2Fcartoon-saloon-launches-rights-division-teams-with-dentsu-usa-on-wolfwalkers%2F&rft.source=Animation+Magazine<
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "17 Major Animated Movies Releasing In 2020", *Cartoon Brew* (17 October 2019).<span class="Z3988" title="ctx\_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft\_val\_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.type=newspaperArticle&rft.subject=News&rft.title=17+Major+Animated+Movies+Releasing+In+2020&rft.identifier=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cartoonbrew.com%2Ffeature-film%2F17-major-animated-movies-releasing-in-2020-181045.html&rft.source=Cartoon+Brew<
12. ↑ 2021|Oscars.org
13. ↑ Irish film Wolfwalkers lands Oscar nomination. *RTE News* (15 March 2021).
14. ↑ D’Alessandro, Anthony (September 8, 2018). Apple Acquires Global Rights To Documentary ‘The Elephant Queen’ – Toronto.
15. ↑ "Kíla - The latest animated feature from Cartoon Saloon,...", Facebook (25 August 2020).<span class="Z3988" title="ctx\_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft\_val\_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.type=newspaperArticle&rft.subject=News&rft.title=K%C3%ADla+-+The+latest+animated+feature+from+Cartoon+Saloon%2C...&rft.identifier=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fkilaofficial%2Fposts%2F10158530287432243%3F\_\_tn\_\_%3D-R<
16. ↑ Template:Cite book
17. ↑ Running with the Wolves (WolfWalkers Version) - AURORA - Topic on YouTube
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Apple Original ‘Wolfwalkers’ to Premiere at TIFF Next Month", *Animation Magazine*, Animation Magazine (25 August 2020). Retrieved on 30 August 2020.<span class="Z3988" title="ctx\_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft\_val\_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.type=newspaperArticle&rft.subject=News&rft.title=Apple+Original+%E2%80%98Wolfwalkers%E2%80%99+to+Premiere+at+TIFF+Next+Month&rft.identifier=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.animationmagazine.net%2Fevents%2Fapple-original-wolfwalkers-to-premiere-at-tiff-next-month%2F&rft.source=Animation+Magazine<
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "‘Wolfwalkers,’ First Apple Animated Feature, To Premiere At TIFF", *Cartoon Brew*, Cartoon Brew (25 August 2020). Retrieved on 30 August 2020.<span class="Z3988" title="ctx\_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft\_val\_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.type=newspaperArticle&rft.subject=News&rft.title=%E2%80%98Wolfwalkers%2C%E2%80%99+First+Apple+Animated+Feature%2C+To+Premiere+At+TIFF&rft.identifier=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cartoonbrew.com%2Ffeature-film%2Fwolfwalkers-first-apple-animated-feature-to-premiere-at-tiff-195810.html&rft.source=Cartoon+Brew<
20. ↑ Grobar, Matt (2021-03-12). Gkids To Bring Oscar-Contending Animated Feature ‘Wolfwalkers’ Back To Theaters On Friday, March 19 (en-US).
21. ↑ https://gkids.com/2021/10/04/cartoon-saloons-irish-folklore-trilogy/
22. ↑ https://getyourcomicon.co.uk/blog/2021/10/15/cartoon-saloons-irish-folklore-trilogy-coming-to-blu-ray-in-december/
23. ↑ Wolfwalkers Box Office.
24. ↑ Will Wolfwalkers make it fifth time lucky at the Oscars for Cartoon Saloon?. Raidió Teilifís Éireann (25 April 2021). “We're coming out of nowhere; we're in the middle of Ireland, we made a movie for €10 million...”
25. ↑ *Wolfwalkers* (2020). Fandango Media.
26. ↑ *Wolfwalkers* Reviews. CBS Interactive.
27. ↑ Adams, Sam (November 13, 2020). *Wolfwalkers* Is the Best Animated Movie of the Year So Far. *Slate*.
28. ↑ Best of 2020: Film Critic Top Ten Lists.
29. ↑ 2020 Critics Poll: The Best Films and Performances According to Over 200 Critics From Around the World (5 January 2021).
30. ↑ Wolfwalkers directors to keep it Irish for next film (en) (11 March 2021).

## External links

* Official website
* IMDb title
* Rotten Tomatoes|wolfwalkers
* Ireland and UK official website
* US and Canada official website
* Wolfwalkers: The Exhibition Virtual Tour official website
* Wikipedia