Summary
Lord of the Ringshas made a return to cinemaswith the release of its highly anticipated new anime movie,The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.Following the war between the kingdom of Rohan and the Dunlendings, the movie is filled with mighty warriors, with each kingdom’s respective leaders, Helm Hammerhead and Wulf, being fearsome individuals. In between the conflict, the protagonist, Hèra, manages to become a force to be reckoned with as the heroine steps up to fight in a battle of epic proportions.
LikeThe War of the Rohirrim, there are many movies that share similar aspects, touching upon fragments of the fantasy genre, acting as great alternatives for fans of the newLOTRmovie if the tale from Middle-Earth prompts enough interest and intrigue. Since they are from the same franchise, theLOTRandThe Hobbittrilogies will not be included alongside theLOTRanimated movie from 1978.
Cast
Kelly Macdonald, Emma Thompson, Billy Connolly
Among the catalog of Disney Pixar franchises,Bravethrives in its fantasy setting featuring kings, archery, and warfare. Telling the story ofthe iconic and heroic Merida, set in medieval Scotland, the princess opts to reject marriage, causing an uproar in the kingdom in which her loudmouth father rules, with Merida and King Fergus' relationship mirroring Hèra and Helm’s father-daughter bond fromThe War of the Rohirrim.
As this occurs, Merida’s mother falls victim to a curse, with the heroine trying to heroically save the kingdom and her mother. Like Hèra, Merida shows defiance towards the status quo, starting a shift in the depiction of female protagonists, with her skill as an archer being the opposite of the damsel in distress trope so commonly found in movies of the 20th century.
Mia Farrow, Alan Arkin, Jeff Bridges, Christopher Lee
One of the 20th century’s most underappreciated animated movies,The Last Unicorn, brought forth an intriguing story and a world full ofmystical beasts, magic, and high fantasycharacters much akin toThe War of the Rohirrim. Featuring a star-studded cast,The Last Unicorndepicts a unicorn going on an adventure to try and find the rest of her kind, with the unicorn bringing along a clumsy wizard and a trusty woman on her travels.
While having aspects of a musical,The Last Unicornprovides a grand world with the protagonist exploring themes of loss, love, kinship, and regret, making the movie a fascinating watch for audiences who yearn for the mythical storytelling shown inThe War of the Rohirrim.
Honor Kneafsey, Sean Bean, Eva Whittaker
The Irish independent filmWolfwalkershas emerged as an underrated gem in the animation genre, exploring Irish folklore and fantasy with such care and grace. Set in Ireland,Wolfwalkersfollows the hunter Robyn Goodfellowe, who befriends Mebh, a girl who belongs to a group who many believe to transform into wolves at night.
Among the budding friendship between its female protagonists,Wolfwalkersexcels through its distinctive art style, depicting a radiant and colorful Ireland filled with everything from vivid forests to medieval townsfolk, producing a beautiful spectacle that offers a lot of heart. For fans of Hèra and Helm’s fractured relationship throughout the action-packedThe War of the Rohirrim, Robyn and her father Bill’s familial strain plays a pivotal part in the narrative, sharing similarities to the latest entry in Middle-Earth.
Alison Lohman, Patrick Stewart, Shia LaBeouf, Uma Thurman
One of Hayao Miyazaki’s first movies,Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind,broke through several barriers in the 1980s, furthering the adventure and fantasy genres through the inclusion of an empowered female protagonist in the form of Nausicaä. As a princess of the Valley of the Wind, Nausicaä fights to achieve peace as opposing nations come to blows, threatening themselves and the environment.
While chaos erupts around her, Nausicaä remains calm and levelheaded, with the princess showing true leadership and her skill in combat despite wanting to avoid conflict. Along with the film, Nausicaä has influenced anime protagonists for generations, such as Hèra fromLOTR, with the forward-thinking female character being one ofmany examples of Studio Ghibli’s depictionof strong female leads in male-dominated genres.
Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill
Spanning across three movies, theHow to Train Your Dragonfranchise has spawned an array of enthralling and entertaining movies following the adventures of VikingHiccup and his dragon best friend, Toothless. Similar toThe War of the Rohirrimin its animated fantasy setting teeming with brave warriors and fierce dragons, Hiccup and Toothless’s unlikely friendship and journey see them endure many trials and tribulations. However, their relationship survives and thrives despite dragons and Vikings being at war.
While perfectly encapsulating characteristics of the fantasy genre,How to Train Your Dragonemerges as a child-friendly franchise that succeeds in providing a fun and epic whirlwind adventure carried by its fleshed-out world and cast of characters, led by the incomparable Hiccup and Toothless.
Billy Crudup, Claire Danes, Billy Bob Thornton, Jada Pinkett Smith
Among Miyazaki’s catalog of timeless classics, the famed director brought forthPrincess Mononokeat the end of the 20th century,stunning audiences with its revolutionary animationand compelling story that plays as a perfect mix of fantasy and adventure.
While the movie tells the story of the young warrior Ashitaka, who finds himself in a war between clans and nature, a wolf girl named San is revealed to be a central character in the proceedings, portraying a strong heroine who fights to save her animal family and the surrounding environment. Along with its slick animation that was ahead of its time, the influence ofPrincess Mononokeis undeniable in cinema and animation, owing much to the depiction of the heroine San, opening doors for protagonists of the future, such asThe War of the Rohirrim’sHèra, who operate as strong and independent warriors willing to fight for their cause.
