by Ryan McCarthy
April 07, 2021, 5:59am PDT
The large-format art book portrays early sketches, storyboards and exclusive interviews that help define the film s unique artistic style.
Producing lines that jump and shake with elusive humanity, traditional hand-drawn animation subtly reminds audiences of the artists behind the apparatus and the tedious nature of their creation.
“Hand-drawn animation is an art form that is unique in its ability to draw on the thousands of years of visual language handed down to us from the illustrators, painters and cartoonists of the past. We don’t only have to mimic live-action, but convey the emotions and inner worlds of our characters, not just with how they move, speak and act, but also with how they and their world are drawn and painted,” says Tomm Moore, co-founder of Cartoon Saloon.
Wolfwalkers (PG, 103mins) Directed by Tomm Moore & Ross Stewart ½ Even the death of her mother hasn’t dampened Robyn Goodfellowe’s (Honor Kneafsey) love of adventure. So when her father Bill’s (Sean Bean) hunting services are required in Ireland, she’s more than happy to relocate to the Emerald Isle. Keen to clear the forest surrounding Kilkenny, the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell (Simon McBurney) has charged Bill with eliminating the local wolves who have plagued the nearby villages. While he carries out that task, Robyn is expected to attend to chores and adhere to the strict rule of not venturing beyond the city’s walls. Of course, that’s something she almost instantly disobeys – a decision that leads to disaster and potential heartbreak.