Warner Bros. Animation, New Line Cinema, and Sola Entertainment recently showcased a sneak peek of their highly anticipated anime feature The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim at the Annecy Animation Festival. Attendees were treated to 20 minutes of footage that was met with enthusiastic applause.
Inspiration and Influences
Director Kenji Kamiyama shared that he drew inspiration from not only J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic works, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, but also from Peter Jackson’s acclaimed film adaptations. I’ve been inspired by Tolkien books since I was a child, so it’s an honor to work on this project.
A Tale Set Centuries Before The One Ring
The story unfolds almost 200 years before Bilbo encounters the One Ring and centers on King Helm Hammerhand, voiced by Brian Cox. A crucial character focus is on his daughter, Princess Héra, portrayed by Gaia Wise. In one intense clip, a council meeting dispute spirals into conflict, featuring Wulf, a determined Dunlending lord swearing vengeance.
Miranda Otto returns to reprise her iconic role as Éowyn from The Lord of the Rings, though this time as the film’s narrator. Otto’s involvement bridges the new anime with Jackson’s beloved live-action adaptations.
A Powerful Story Awaits
There is such power to the story,
Kamiyama remarked during a discussion, emphasizing on the ambitious narrative at play. Andy Serkis added his enthusiasm for the film’s stylish anime look: The fans are going to go nuts for this.
An Eye on Visuals and Style
Producers Philippa Boyens, Jason DeMarco, and Joseph Chou reinforced that with its distinctive anime style, this film aims to be a quintessential Kamiyama movie rather than an animated revision of Peter Jackson’s vision.
A Highly Anticipated Release
I look forward to combining the talents of both companies to deliver creative solutions for whatever a project demands,
shared Andy Serkis about working again with Cinesite and The Imaginarium Studios.
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is set to open in North America on December 13 and internationally starting from December 11. It promises a gripping addition to the vast Middle-earth saga that fans have cherished for decades.
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