The War of the Rohirrim, a new anime film set in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, explores the human drama and conflicts of Rohan centuries before the events of The Lord of the Rings. This departure from familiar characters like hobbits and elves focuses on civil war and features a strong female protagonist in a distinct Japanese animation style.
A Departure from Familiar Middle-earth
NO elves, no dwarves, and not a hobbit in sight: The Lord of the Rings returns to the big screen with a new Japanese anime-style movie about the warring men of J.R.R. Tolkien’s fictional universe.
Out in theatres now, The War Of The Rohirrim is a prequel that takes place nearly two centuries before Peter Jackson’s original Oscar-winning films, which were themselves adapted from Tolkien’s fantasy books.
But unlike the first Lord of the Rings movies – or the disappointing The Hobbit films that followed – there are no magical rings or all-powerful Dark Lords this time around.
Human Drama Takes Center Stage
Director Kenji Kamiyama stated that the original trilogy focused on hobbits, elves, dwarves, and monsters.
Kamiyama, known for his work on animated Star Wars and Blade Runner, described the new film as focusing on human drama, emotion, greed, and power.
Hollywood studio Warner Bros announced in 2021 that the next Rings film would be an anime – a distinctively Japanese visual style and genre that has exploded in popularity in the West in recent years.
Anime’s Influence on Tolkien’s World
Filmmakers scoured the vast, invented histories that Tolkien wrote as footnotes for his beloved novels.
They soon homed in on a brief description of a civil war between a king and a rebellious nobleman.
Producer Philippa Boyens, co-writer of the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies, explained that the story felt intrinsically suited to the Japanese filmmaking tradition of anime.
That tradition means themes such as honor, loyalty, hubris – and a fearsome female protagonist, in the ilk of Studio Ghibli’s famous Princess Mononoke.
War of The Rohirrim is about the Story of Hera and the Rohirrim Civil War
The War Of The Rohirrim is set in Rohan, the kingdom of horse-riding, Viking-looking warriors that featured prominently in Jackson’s 2002 movie The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.
The animated movie revisits key locations from that film – such as the epic battleground fortress of Helm’s Deep – and is narrated by Miranda Otto, who played a heroic female Rohan warrior, Eowyn, in Jackson’s trilogy.
The plot begins with ambitious Lord Freca plotting to marry his son to Hera, the daughter of the king of Rohan.
When the offer is contemptuously spurned by the proud monarch, Freca mounts a mutinous challenge to the throne but is fatally struck down.
Sent into exile, his son cultivates a massive rebellion that will unleash catastrophic war on the entire kingdom.
Although she is central to the conflict, Tolkien did not even bother to give the princess a name in his lengthy historical footnotes.
But Boyens was fascinated by the idea of expanding this mysterious character, who witnesses and links the new film’s various heroes, villains and battles.
A Realistic Protagonist in a Tolkien World
Boyens emphasized that they wanted Hera to be a realistic character, full of curiosity and capable of making mistakes, rather than a stereotypical “warrior princess.”
Jackson himself served as an executive producer for the new film, but reduced his involvement from day-to-day involvement, encouraging Kamiyama to put his own anime stamp on the film, according to Boyens.
Boyens noted that elements from the live-action films are subtly present. Kamiyama affirmed their commitment to both the Tolkien universe and their expertise in creating anime.
Where To Watch The War of the Rohirrim?
You can watch The Lord Of The Rings: The War Of The Rohirrim on Amazon Prime Video and other participating digital platforms including AppleTV, Fandango at Home, and more.
Want to explore the world of The War of the Rohirrim in breathtaking detail? The official Visual Companion is here, filled with stunning artwork, character profiles, and exclusive insights from the new Lord of the Rings anime.
