Slapping Peter Jackson’s name on a film sets a high bar of expectation—one of epic storytelling, sweeping visuals, and unforgettable moments. Unfortunately, The War of the Rohirrim doesn’t fully deliver on that legacy. While the idea of merging Tolkien’s lore with hand-drawn anime artistry is intriguing, the result feels more like a missed opportunity than a groundbreaking addition to Middle-earth.
The story (which is taken from the appendices of the Return of the King) takes place two centuries before Frodo and Co. set off on their ring bearing adventure. We are firmly set in the city of Rohan where lord Feca (Shaun Dooley) puts forward his son Wulf (Luke Pasqualino) to marry the daughter of Helm Hammerhand (Brian Cox). When Helm refuses the marriage, it leads to tension and sets Wulf on a revenge path in Rohan. This story feels more Game of Thrones than a typical Lord of the Rings in tone. It’s a narrative rich in potential but constrained by its overly familiar and predictable execution.
There’s a tactile charm in the Japanese anime style, which renovates Middle-earth with warm colours and textured details, offering a welcome departure from Jackson’s often over-reliant CGI. However, this artistic approach isn’t enough to sustain a film whose story lacks depth and energy. There is a focus on strength, particularly from a female leader/warrior point of view that is a refreshing change from the typical male-centric focus these stories traditionally have. Having Miranda Otto narrate as Eowyn brings all the nostalgia from the original trilogy and adds to Héra’s plight in this film.
Brian Cox voices Helm with his signature gravitas, but the patriarchal conflict—Helm’s clash with rival lord Freca and his estranged childhood friend Wulf—feels more like Shakespeare-lite than something fresh. Gaia Wise’s Hèra, Helm’s daughter and the film’s focal point, is presented as a strong, feminist lead. Yet, she is rendered with a stereotypical anime aesthetic that borders on objectification, undermining her character’s otherwise compelling arc.
Directed by anime master Kenji Kamiyama has all the familiar locations from Peter Jackson’s Middle Earth splashed around here, it is in keeping with the rest of the series designs and locations. The animation occasionally provides a refreshing take on Tolkien’s world, but it never quite embraces the boldness that anime as a medium can deliver. Where are the soaring, supernatural spectacles or the wild, imaginative flourishes anime is known for? Instead, the film plays it safe, leaning into solemnity and grounded visuals that lack the flair to elevate the story.
In the end, The War of the Rohirrim feels less like an inspired artistic endeavor and more like another cog in the machine of IP expansion, aimed at cashing in on both Tolkien’s and Peter Jackson’s enduring appeal. It’s not a terrible film, there are moments of beauty and sincerity that feel like it’s attempting to have a fresh take on the lore we all know and love. While these moments are far and few between, overall it fails to capture the magic and grandeur that fans have come to expect from anything bearing the Lord of the Rings name.
The Lord of the Rings : The War of the Rohirrim is in cinemas now.
