Animated Movie of the Day: Wolfwalkers (2020)
Wolves have a strange relationship with humans. As the ancestors of the domestic dog, these animals are often still seen as a predator with an adversarial approach to our kin. This closeness and fascination has been the source of many legends, including those of the wolfwalkers: once human, they become wolves at night. So when the wolfhunter's daughter Robyn is met by a girl who can do exactly that, she's forced to see the world from their perspective, where the woodlands are being destroyed on a daily basis under the authoritarian reign of Lord Protector (obviously based on Oliver Cromwell). And finding herself turned into a wolf, she must now make a choice.
While not the most original take on this variant of Man VS Nature(nor the story of a fish out of water defying societal expectations), the emotional earnestness more than makes up for it with a childlike perspective that doesn't belittle the younger point of view but treats it as equally valid as the concerned adults. There's also the endearing bond of Robyn and Mehb. The sapphic aspect of their blossoming friendship may have been accidental, but it's nonetheless wholesome.
Then, there's the animation. Following on the tracks of Song of the Sea and The Breadwinner, the folks at Cartoon Saloon keep finding ways to advance their craft and approach to the medium as the visual language here subtly morphs with each scene to strengthen the respective mood. The line quality, coloring style, framing and aspect ratio are all subject to change for the sake of enhancing the narrative, and the well integrated uses of 3D(which was turned back into hand drawn animation) just seal the package. It revels on it's folklore inspirations and the value of drawing as an artform.
An audiovisual delight it embraces the value of one's individuality, a denouncement of colonialism and a beautiful tale of finding community where it matters instead of where you're expected to.
