WARNER BROS. PICTURES

AUTHENTICALLY ANIME:

DIRECTOR KENJI KAMIYAMA AND OTHER FILMMAKERS TALK ABOUT CREATING

“THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM,” IN CINEMAS

DECEMBER 11 

When award-winning director Kenji Kamiyama first got the offer to make an animated version of “The Lord of the Rings,” the first thought that came to mind was, “How can I possibly recreate Tolkien’s world in an animated form?” 

As a fan of the original movie trilogy, Kamiyama wanted to make sure that the animated form he and his team would create honors the previous movies and the books. Fortunately, producer Philippa Boyens (Oscar-winning screenwriter for the original trilogy as well as “The Hobbit” films) had complete faith in him. “I’ve always loved the story of Helm’s Deep and Helm Hammerhand, and I thought it would mesh well with the great Japanese filmmaker Kenji Kamiyama,” says Boyens in a featurette. 

Watch the “Authentically Anime” featurette: https://youtu.be/ObmscFW4tIE 

“There’s an unconscious sense of amazement when the general audience sees hand-drawn animation,” says Kamiyama. “The amazement that this is the work of a human hand.”

“The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” tells the fate of the House of Helm Hammerhand, the legendary King of Rohan (voiced by Brian Cox, “Succession”). A sudden attack by Wulf (Luke Pasqualino, “Snowpiercer”), a clever and ruthless Dunlending lord seeking vengeance for the death of his father, forces Helm and his people to make a daring last stand in the ancient stronghold of the Hornburg – a mighty fortress that will later come to be known as Helm’s Deep. To save their people, Helm’s daughter, Héra (Gaia Wise, “A Walk in the Woods”), must summon the will to lead the resistance against a deadly enemy intent on their total destruction.  

Tickets for “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” are now on sale. Visit https://www.lotrwotr.com.ph/

Shares Boyens, “I honestly can’t wait for ‘Lord of the Rings’ fans to see the work that Kenji Kamiyama has done on this film. They’re going to go, ‘Whoa… I didn’t expect to feel this way.’ But that’s what anime can do.” 

Journey back to Middle-earth when “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” opens in cinemas December 11. Book your tickets at https://www.lotrwotr.com.ph/ or visit your favorite cinemas’ official websites. #LOTR #WarOfTheRohirrim

About “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim”

New Line Cinema’s original anime feature “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” returns audiences to the epic world brought to life in “The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy, based on the revered books by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Under the direction of award-winning filmmaker Kenji Kamiyama (the “Blade Runner: Black Lotus” and “Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex” TV series), the talented voice cast is led by Brian Cox (“Succession”) as Helm Hammerhand, the mighty King of Rohan; Gaia Wise (“A Walk in the Woods”) as his daughter Héra; and Luke Pasqualino (“Snowpiercer”) as Wulf. Miranda Otto, who delivered an unforgettable, award-winning performance in “The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy, reprises her role as Éowyn, Shieldmaiden of Rohan, who serves as the tale’s narrator. The voice ensemble also includes Lorraine Ashbourne (Netflix’s “Bridgerton”), Yazdan Qafouri (“I Came By”), Benjamin Wainwright (“World on Fire”), Laurence Ubong Williams (“Gateway”), Shaun Dooley (“The Witcher”), Michael Wildman (“Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw”), Jude Akuwudike (“Beasts of No Nation”), Bilal Hasna (“Sparks”) and Janine Duvitski (“Benidorm”).

With Kamiyama at the helm, the original feature is being produced by Oscar winner Philippa Boyens, from the screenwriting team behind “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” Trilogies, alongside Jason DeMarco and Joseph Chou, who, in addition to their many separate animation projects, collaborated on the “Blade Runner: Black Lotus” series. The executive producers are Fran Walsh, Peter Jackson, Sam Register, Carolyn Blackwood and Toby Emmerich. The screenplay is by Jeffrey Addiss & Will Matthews and Phoebe Gittins & Arty Papageorgiou, story by Addiss & Matthews and Boyens, based on characters created by J.R.R. Tolkien. The team of creative collaborators returning from “The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy also includes Oscar winners Alan Lee and Richard Taylor, along with esteemed Tolkien illustrator John Howe.

New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Animation Present, in Association with Wingnut Films, a Warner Bros. Animation and Sola Entertainment Production, “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.” 

Photo & Video Credit: “Warner Bros. Pictures”