After watching "Song of the Ocean", there is almost no need to hesitate, even if you don't even know the plot synopsis, you can go straight to the cinema to watch "Wolf Walker". Tom Moore-style animations, from art to soundtrack, are amazing and unique! The still frame-by-frame pictures have already created a unique and magnificent world, and watching these picture-book-like pictures move gives people a sense of The satisfaction of enjoying a miracle. Although Guoman has made a lot of progress in recent years, several major theatrical films such as Nezha White Snake are still imitating American animations modeled in 3D. It's really rare to see a high-quality animated film of another style besides the United States and Japan on the big screen!
Let’s talk about what surprised me first. Unique style, outstanding art and soundtrack like "Song of the Sea". Apart from that, there are two places that I particularly like. One is the presentation method of "smell and hearing" after turning into a wolf, and the second is the flexibility of the picture performance, including not sticking to perspective, placing multiple scenes in the same picture, unique composition, changing the frame, etc. The former can only experience that feeling in the theater, and here I will record the second point, especially the part of the castle in the middle section is used more. Zoomed in close-ups of Robin and the old maid are on either side, while a panoramic view of the interior of the castle is in the middle. It not only highlights the demeanor of the characters but also highlights the overall environment, thereby contrasting the small and depressing characters of the characters. One picture has two kinds of scenes and three functions at the same time, and the overall composition is harmonious and classical, which reminds people of the composition of ancient murals. There are also the activities of different characters at different times in different spaces at the same time period. Robin is working in the laundry room and Miba is waiting at the edge of the forest. The screen is divided into three parts and a series of events are presented at the same time, as if they have their own melody but And a harmonious polyphony. (It reminds me of several beautiful hand-painted games.) When the conflict intensifies, the close-up picture of the character's face is reduced by the black frame floating around, and the complex and tense inner emotions are even more rendered. What can be conveyed in words is just the tip of the iceberg, and when I sit in a movie theater I'm always delighted that we can have this unique art of animation, especially when it's stylized. There are too many things that cannot be represented by real-world images, and 3D modeling animations are still replicating the light, shadow and texture of reality, while "Song of the Sea" and "Wolf Walker" can build another world with colors and lines. .
The storyline is relatively mediocre compared to the artistic expression of its stunning soundtrack, but there is something to be said for it. The development of the story and the contradictions are actually very traditional. "City people" girls, who are naturally free, walk out of the city into the forest, and become friends with alien girls in the secret realm, while the city authority wants to strangle the "infidels" and the free personalities of their subjects. The opposition between man and nature and aliens, urbanized "civilization" and the repression of free nature by autocratic rule. This theme has been presented many times in countless different films, but Wolf Walker takes it to the extreme with a more artistic approach. From the tone lines to the specific character design, the differences between the two sides of the contradiction are highlighted. The colorful part of the wolf transformation can definitely wake up everyone's desire for freedom, a stronger and more flexible body and a keen sense of the five senses, leap and run with the singing. At that time, I was completely substituted. Looking at the smooth picture, I became not only Robin, but also the wolf. The wolf has always been a symbol of wildness, freedom and strength. There are also a few things that come to mind here, such as the wild and romantic nomadic civilization, the id that obeys the nature, the released Dionysian spirit, the will to power of life, and so on. When you are awake during the day, you are a human who obeys social rules, and when you fall asleep at night, you are a sturdy, flexible and unfettered wolf. This setting is very interesting! Isn't Robin, who dared not sleep all night because he was worried that he would become a wolf, and whose eyes were bloodshot? Of course, without repression and restraint, how can the value of freedom be reflected? Then a series of contradictions unfolded, conquering the dictatorship that wanted to rule, taking the initiative to harm aliens out of fear (terrorist propaganda), and compromising with authority in order to protect oneself and protect loved ones. Although everyone talks and laughs at the end, it seems that life is beautiful, but in fact it is still the wolf clan who left the original forest and moved to a distant place.
In fact, when I looked at it, I also thought of two other specific understanding angles. One is religion, the other is female perspective. "Wolfrunner" embodies both sides of religion. On the one hand, the protector of the country uses "God's will" to rule the people and legalize atrocities. He believed in "his own god" until his death, and believed in the justice he held from beginning to end. Although the wolf clan did not talk about religion verbally, it was actually a religion, but it was a positive symbol of religion. The golden glowing runes, the ceremonies that come together, the healing of wounds, and finally the golden light that affects people in the heavy rain are all religious. Feminism is also reflected in many places. Robin who wanted to be a hunter but was laughed at by the boys, the maids who were imprisoned in the laundry room for life (the costume reminded me of "The Handmaid's Tale" (although I didn't watch it)), the patriarchal representative of the Protector society, the matriarchal society represented by the Miba mother. The protector of the country ruled and conquered by violence, and Miba's mother was imprisoned because of her maternal love and healing power. Robin's father, who was in the middle, was cowardly and became a slave of power in the early stage. In the later stage, he protected his daughter and ran away with the wolf clan. He was an ordinary person who was helpless and kind.
The last part is reserved for my favorite girl Robin! (The configuration of the blond, blue-eyed and green hunting suit instantly reminds me of the elf little leaf!) The characterization of Robin did not make her a hero, just like the girls in Hayao Miyazaki's animation, they are not simply to cater to the demands of women. The stereotyped heroines full of male gazes produced on the commercial assembly line, you can see their growth step by step, their cuteness and agility, their gentleness and kindness, their helplessness and struggle, and their tenacity and bravery. At first, Robin, who was naive and naive, got to know Miba and liberated the high-spirited Robin. Later, because he was afraid of turning into a wolf, Robin did not dare to sleep all night, his eyes were bloodshot, and finally he stood in front of Miba's mother. With his heart facing his father's bow and arrow, Robin, whose long hair was scattered in the gust of wind, said "there is no difference inside and outside the cage" (to the effect) (this scene is quite the style of the princess Eowyn!). I love this girl so much!
(last but no least,
Sean Bean, why are you again, hahahahahaha)
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