--- title: "Wolfwalkers: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/wolfwalkers/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/wolfwalkers" critics_score: 87 critics_reviews: 21 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Wolfwalkers (2020): what the critics said Critics' score 87 from 21 reviews: 20 positive, 1 mixed, 0 negative. The reviews are close to unanimous: this is a Cartoon Saloon film that critics admire, and most admire it a great deal. The praise clusters on the hand-drawn animation, and on the way the film draws its two worlds differently, the oppressive town set against a vivid, living forest. Several critics single out the wolf’s-eye sequences and Mebh’s design, and the friendship between the two girls is often named as the thing that holds the story together. A number also credit the film with thematic weight, on nature, colonialism and belonging. The spread is narrow and the reservations are small. Sight and Sound finds it hugely successful but not much of an advance on Moore’s earlier work, with thin adult characters and too little use of Robyn’s lupine vision. Slant thinks the ecological and religious ideas stay vague. HeyUGuys notes that a bloodless climax takes some edge off the peril. Nobody dislikes it. ## Time Out — Phil de Semlyen Rating 5/5. 15 October 2020. The review presents the film as a magical, clearly praised return from Cartoon Saloon. It singles out the film’s mythical magic as its appeal. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/wolfwalkers) ## Empire — John Nugent Fi1m's normalised score 95/100 (inferred from the text). 26 October 2020. Nugent gives the film an enthusiastic verdict, calling it a treat and praising its extraordinary craft. He singles out the lush hand-drawn animation and visual storytelling as especially magical. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/wolfwalkers/) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 95/100 (inferred from the text). 11 December 2020. Ebiri is deeply enthusiastic, calling the film glorious and profound. He especially praises how its hand-drawn textures and shifting visual styles express feelings beyond the dialogue. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/movie-review-wolfwalkers-an-animated-film-from-ireland.html) ## IndieWire — David Ehrlich Rating A-. 14 September 2020. Festival review. Ehrlich calls it the year’s best animated film so far and Cartoon Saloon’s most poignant feature. He especially praises its richly detailed, expressive animation and how its visuals deepen the story’s themes of nature and colonialism. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/wolfwalkers-review-1234586219/) ## Los Angeles Times — Kevin Crust Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 13 November 2020. Crust finds “Wolfwalkers” enchanting, stirring entertainment with sophisticated themes and a modern perspective. He particularly praises the fluid, colorful animation and the contrast between the wolves’ vibrant forest and the oppressive town. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2020-11-13/review-wolfwalkers-apple-tomm-moore) ## Screen Daily — Allan Hunter Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 13 September 2020. Festival review. The critic suggests the film is destined to become an instant classic. The standfirst singles out its role as the conclusion to Cartoon Saloon’s Irish folklore trilogy. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/wolfwalkers-toronto-review/5153085.article) ## The Guardian — Wendy Ide Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 31 October 2020. Ide gives the film an exuberant, strongly positive verdict. She especially praises the animation’s artistry and its joyous energy. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/oct/31/wolfwalkers-review-cartoon-salon-tomm-moore) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Michael Rechtshaffen Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 14 September 2020. Festival review. The critic calls the film visually dazzling, imaginative, and emotionally resonant. He especially praises its distinctive hand-drawn animation and contrasting visual styles. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/wolfwalkers-film-review-tiff-2020-4059333/) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 12 September 2020. Festival review. Debruge praises the film as a visually stunning, culturally thoughtful fairy tale with empowering female characters. He especially singles out its inventive, hand-tooled animation and Mebh’s vivid design. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2020/film/reviews/wolfwalkers-review-what-big-eyes-youll-have-watching-tomm-moores-revisionist-fairy-tale-1234768102/) ## Little White Lies — Kambole Campbell Rating 4/4/5. 26 October 2020. The critic calls the film a beautiful, intelligent and rousing revisionist fable. They praise its astonishing art direction, especially the contrast between the town and the forest. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/wolfwalkers) ## Radio Times — Trevor Johnston Rating 4/5. Johnston gives the animated adventure a positive assessment. He singles out its beautiful animation and its story of a girl whose friendship changes her outlook. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-f4yep7/wolfwalkers/) ## Sight and Sound — BFI Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 23 October 2020. The review finds the film hugely successful, though it does not go much beyond Moore’s earlier work. It praises the expressive, vividly composed animation, while faulting the limited use of Robyn’s lupine vision and thin adult characters. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/wolfwalkers-tomm-moore-ross-stewart-irish-occupation-forest-spirits) ## Slant Magazine — Dan Rubins Rating 3/4. 27 October 2020. Rubins finds the film lovely and evocative, though its ecological and religious themes are imprecise. He particularly praises the vivid, hand-drawn animation and its striking wolf’s-eye view of the forest. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/review-wolfwalkers-vibrantly-confronts-and-plays-on-the-fear-of-the-unknown/) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 12 November 2020. The URL identifies this as a review, but the page returned only an access error, so its verdict cannot be determined. No specific element can be reliably identified as praised or criticized. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/12/movies/wolfwalkers-review.html) ## Collider — Drew Taylor Rating A. 14 September 2020. The critic calls Wolfwalkers an essential animated film that feels like a new classic. They especially praise its striking, inventive animation and its emotionally powerful story. [Read the review](https://collider.com/wolfwalkers-review-apple-tv-plus/) ## /Film — Hoai-Tran Bui Rating 9.5/10. 13 November 2020. The critic calls the film a masterwork and a singular animation experience. They especially praise its breathtaking, energetic hand-drawn animation and vivid visual style. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/577789/wolfwalkers-review/) ## Polygon — Karen Han Fi1m's normalised score 95/100 (inferred from the text). 11 December 2020. Festival review. The critic calls it one of the year’s most impressive films and Cartoon Saloon’s best work yet. She especially praises its distinctive, kinetic animation and expressive character designs. [Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/entertainment/2020/9/15/21438560/wolfwalkers-review-apple-tv-plus/) ## Paste — Andy Crump Rating 9.3/10. 9 December 2020. Crump calls the film a stunning achievement and the best of Tomm Moore’s career. He especially praises its vivid, purposeful animation and the way it brings its contrasting worlds to life. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/wolfwalkers-review) ## Eye for Film — Jennie Kermode Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 4 February 2021. Kermode finds the film a beautifully presented fable that works for children and adults alike. She especially praises its seamless, flowing animation and the possibilities of traditional 2D work. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/wolfwalkers-2020-film-review-by-jennie-kermode) ## The Wrap — Alonso Duralde Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 11 December 2020. The critic finds the film charming, exciting, and thought-provoking, with lessons that resonate across generations. They especially praise its inventive animation and vivid visual styles. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/wolfwalkers-film-review-tomm-moore/) ## HeyUGuys Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). Festival review. The critic finds the film an effective, emotionally engaging animated folktale, with only its bloodless climax slightly weakening the peril. They praise the tender, relatable friendship between Robyn and Mebh. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/wolfwalkers-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/wolfwalkers.md