The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim had immense potential to revitalize the franchise through an animated format, but it falls short of expectations, failing to live up to the monumental legacy set by Peter Jackson’s trilogy. The film had all the right tools to succeed—particularly the intriguing mix of high fantasy and anime—but these elements are ultimately overshadowed by a poorly executed narrative and lackluster character development.
Set 183 years before Frodo’s journey, the film centers around Héra, the princess of Rohan, whose life becomes embroiled in the aftermath of her father Helm Hammerhand’s actions, which trigger a vengeance plot by Wulf, her childhood friend. The film introduces characters like Héra with potential for rich stories, but the execution stifles this potential. Instead of allowing viewers to organically understand Héra’s character and growth, the film relies on narration from Miranda Otto (Éowyn), which introduces and summarizes the story in a way that distances the audience from the emotional core of the characters. This lack of immersion makes it difficult to care about the relationships that should be central to the plot, particularly the bond between Héra and Wulf, which is barely fleshed out before the war takes a devastating turn.
The primary issue with The War of the Rohirrim is its inability to generate emotional investment. The relationship between Héra and Wulf, which should have been the emotional anchor of the film, is only briefly touched upon in a flashback. As a result, when characters die or face hardships, their loss doesn’t resonate with the audience. The film attempts to build tension around the looming siege of Helm’s Deep, but the lack of character depth makes these moments feel hollow and unearned.
Visually, The War of the Rohirrim has its moments, such as the scenes of battle at the gates of Helm’s Deep and Héra’s encounter with an Oliphant. These sequences show the promise of what an animated Middle-earth could be, but the rest of the film never fully capitalizes on its unique potential. The opportunity to elevate animated storytelling within a beloved franchise is missed, and instead, the film ends up feeling like a lazy, indecisive adaptation.
Ultimately, The War of the Rohirrim had all the ingredients for a successful animated entry in the Lord of the Rings canon, but its failure to prioritize character development, emotional depth, and the richness of the original stories leaves it as a missed opportunity. It may eventually be considered a candidate for a remake, but the first attempt at expanding Middle-earth into animation will likely be remembered as a disappointment.