Exploring Familiar Paths: 'War of the Rohirrim' and Its Cultural Echoes
"The War Of The Rohirrim," the first Lord of the Rings anime feature, explores the legend of Helm Hammerhand, a King of Rohan, through a blend of 2-D and 3-D animation. Directed by Kenji Kamiyama, the film revives Peter Jackson's Middle-earth aesthetic but is critiqued for its familiar narrative and lack of depth in character development, particularly in its portrayal of Héra, a new character. While visually striking, the film is seen as a slight addition to the Lord of the Rings saga, lacking the unique magic of Tolkien's world.