The Lord of the Rings franchise continues to captivate audiences, with a new anime feature film, The War of the Rohirrim, set to expand the beloved universe. This prequel, directed by Kenji Kamiyama, delves into the story of Helm Hammerhand, the legendary king of Rohan, and his daughter Héra. The film promises a unique blend of influences, drawing as much from the works of Hayao Miyazaki as from J.R.R. Tolkien’s rich lore.
Entertainment Weekly recently provided an inside look at the film, revealing that the idea to make War of the Rohirrim an anime came early in the development process. Philippa Boyens, who co-wrote Peter Jackson’s Rings films, felt that the character-driven and self-contained nature of the story made it a perfect fit for anime. “It speaks to certain things that work really well with Japanese storytelling,” Boyens explained.
Gaia Wise, who voices Héra, described her character as “fierce, complex, and rebellious,” noting that she bears a stronger resemblance to Miyazaki’s heroines than to classic Lord of the Rings characters like Arwen and Éowyn. This blend of influences is evident in the film’s approach to storytelling and character development.
Héra’s story is central to The War of the Rohirrim, despite her being unnamed in Tolkien’s appendices. Boyens and screenwriter Phoebe Gittins were particularly drawn to her character, intrigued by the weight of being an unnamed daughter in such a pivotal conflict. “We could feel the weight of being that unnamed daughter, which immediately piqued our interest: Who was she? How did she live?” Boyens said.
The film also features Brian Cox as Helm Hammerhand and Luke Pasqualino as the antagonist Wulf. Miranda Otto reprises her role as Éowyn, who narrates the film, providing a familiar voice for fans of the original trilogy.
The War of the Rohirrim is set 183 years before the events of The Lord of the Rings, focusing on Helm Hammerhand and his family as they defend their kingdom against an army of Dunlendings. The film’s visual style, while inspired by Jackson’s trilogy, embraces the aesthetics of anime, with Kamiyama’s unique touch evident throughout.
The production team includes many veterans from the original films, such as Richard Taylor, Alan Lee, and John Howe. Sola Entertainment is handling the traditional 2D animation, using a unique process that combines motion capture and 3D animation to create fluid, hand-drawn movements.
Stephen Gallagher, who worked closely with Howard Shore on the Hobbit trilogy, is composing the score, ensuring continuity with the musical themes of the original films. The score was recorded with an orchestra at Angel Recording Studios in March 2024.
The film’s development has been fast-tracked to prevent the studios from losing the film adaptation rights for Tolkien’s novels. Kamiyama, Boyens, and the rest of the team have worked diligently to create a film that honors Tolkien’s legacy while introducing new elements inspired by Japanese storytelling.
The War of the Rohirrim is scheduled for a theatrical release in the United States on December 13, 2024. Fans eagerly await this new addition to the Lord of the Rings universe, which promises to offer a fresh perspective on the world of Middle-earth through the lens of anime.
