The War of the Rohirrim Trailer Analysis - A Lord of the Rings Anime?

This is my Analysis of the The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim Official Trailer, an Anime Film coming out in December 2024, narrated by Miranda Otto as Éowyn. It tells the story of Helm Hammerhand, around 260 years before the events of LotR.

Today the First Trailer was released and we got to see how the Lord of the Rings Anime Film will look.

Due to Film Companies still living in a dark and distant past, my video gets claimed when I use clips from the trailer (promotional material) without audio. So I can only use stills. As a result I had to re-edit my complete video. Was fun, thanks WB.

My lore video about this story and this time:

► Disclaimer:
I have permission of the artists to use their art works.

► Artwork and special thanks to:

► Sources:
The Lord of The Rings (1954-1955) by J. R. R. Tolkien
The Silmarillion (1977)
The Hobbit (1937; 1951)
Unfinished Tales (1980)
The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien (1981)

Maps:
Amazon (John Howe)
Edited by: Murdo
Aman map by ThePhilosophersGames

► Mistakes:
- some

► Playlists:
If you are interested in Tolkien's legendary fantasy Epic The Lord of the Rings and his related works, here some recommendations:

► Time Codes:
Intro - 0:00

► Social Media:
The Philosopher's Games / TPhGames / TPhLore aka Chris

► Of Games and Rings Podcast:

#WarOfTheRohirrim #Tolkien #LotR

[LowellLucasJr.]

Just a heads up to everyone, this isn't the first time Tolkiens work was ever adapted in animated by Japanese studio. The honor belongs to the Top Craft; who were behind The Hobbit, Return of the King and other 2D productions for Rankin Bass and Jr!❤ There library even includes Thundercats, The Last unicorn and Flight of Dragons! These same animators would later be integrated into studio Ghibli!❤

[specialnewb]

I am a veteran degenerate weeb, so I am very hyped for the art. Watch it for that alone.

Lore wise, I found it interesting how prejudice and assumptions can lead to untold strife that takes on a life of its own in the book history of dunlendings

[aresaurelian]

By all these mythological creatures, I do love them showing here. Through them, Hera seems like she is unknowingly interacting with the gentle nudging of the Valar, guiding her fate a little.

[GreatGreebo]

Hey Chris; Thank you for the trailer analysis. I’m still on the fence regarding the anime styled drawing but I am cautiously optimistic it will be a good series.

[christianefiorito]

Chris I am happy you make more new videos now.I will follow you reviewing the Rings of p. and War of the Rohirrim. Greetings to my favourite Tolkien tuber.

[LowellLucasJr.]

The reference you're making to record a lodoss war was in fact inspired by D&D but the OVA was based on a campaign created by its creator. That animation house was early Studio Madhouse! Such a treasure that OVA was!❤

[paulfreeborn]

Thanks for the video Chris--I'm looking forward to this movie.

[sit-insforsithis]

As a huge Tolkien fan and a noob in anime stuff, I’m excited. I’m gonna see it in the cinemas (if they don’t only show it in like Amsterdam, lol). If this is a success, we might get more silmarillion adaptations ! 😊

[otaku-sempai]

The logistics of bringing Mumakil to Rohan does seem rather daunting. Perhaps they were transported by ships of the Corsairs of Umbar?

[christianefiorito]

Thanks Chris.
I am interested. I am only a little weary that they made Herra the primary protagonist. But I will be open. It cant be worse then rings of power, can it.

[GreatGreebo]

p.s. when will we have a 6 to 8 hour livestream so everyone can thoroughly review this trailer with you? 🤪

[LJLvids]

Back when we only had still images of this film I wasn't all too sure about the artstyle but this trailer has removed my doubts on that front. The character designs shine when the characters are in close up and the amount of detail isn't lost during the action. Not completely sold on how the oliphant/watcher look, they look kind of 'underrendered' for lack of a better word, but it's nothing too bad.

[Enerdhil]

When I saw the notification, I thought it would be a six-hour microbreakdown of the trailer.😅

[ahandsomefridge]

Hmm serious doubts if this will feel much Tolkienesque, the trailer looks like it could become a bit of a generic tropey fantasy story. Not necessarily a bad thing on its own, just not sure if it is good in relation to the Tolkien universe. However, your analysis does make it look more connected to Middle Earth so who knows. I'm definitely much more excited about this than anything Rings of Powers related though, lol.

[iri_riri]

I agree that making the protagonist someone from the sidelines might be a better choice for storytelling

[Crafty_Spirit]

3:17 "... but his ancestors also mingled with the Dunlendings" - that was a very unfortunte picture following this statement xD Actually the whole slander against their people was something that gave me a critical view of Helm Hammerhand right from the beginning, I could never really like the guy

[TheGreenMan]

Why do the the Dunlandings have dark features if they’re from further north west of the Gondorians and Rohirim?

[lyannastark]

Are we going to have a watch party for ROP?

[SoundSaxon]

Spoilers dwell within this comment:
I adore Tolkien's universe. And I enjoy a good anime. It is a beautiful art-form, when made with care. But this trailer has me wary. I am of the mind that when adapting someone's work, one must be as faithful to the source material as can be. It is only right. It is both respectful and fair. In the writings of Tolkien, Helm was at the center of this tale, initiating the war (by killing Freca), and waging a doomed resistance against Wulf and his warriors. Both his sons Haleth and Háma die in the struggle, as does Helm. A tragic yet classically Germanic tale within Tolkien's larger narrative. His nephew, Fréaláf, son of his sister Hild, launches a surprise strike upon Wulf at Edoras, where he and his allies slay Wulf and re-take the throne. Hera is missing from all of this. Her role was significant, yet not a center-piece, and in the material she was not even named. Hera was made-up for this adaptation. Though it is only a trailer, it is looking as though Hera is not only the main character, but also seems to be the one fighting against Wulf (literally all on her own in one scene), which never did occur. The original story was conclusive, and detailed enough to make a great adaptation. So I cannot see the need to shift the paradigm so spectacularly as I see in this trailer. Will Fréaláf play a significant role in the story? He is the one who slays Wulf after all, avenging Helm and his sons (Fréaláf's cousins.)

I am eager to see this film, as it blends the work of Tolkien, and anime, both of which I enjoy greatly. Yet I am very cautious as to how the pieces will fall when it comes to it. Rings of Power was an utter catastrophe, because the writers they placed in charge cared nothing for the material and had egos that put Trump's to shame. I pray this project receives the love and attention these stories deserve.

As a fun little aside, the name Hera likely comes from the Old English "here, " which means, 'army' or poetically 'warrior, ' as found in names like Gúthere 'Battle-Warrior' or Sigehere 'Victorious-Warrior.' For all my Norse mythology enthusiasts out there, the name Freca means 'avaricious, ' or 'bold, ' and is the Old English equivalent of Freki, one of the wolves of Odin. Wolves seemed to have negative associations in Tolkien's world, as Wulf is a villain, and so are, for instance, the Warg riders in the Lord of the Rings. Warg would be the Old English variant of Old Norse Varg, which simply means 'wolf, ' but in a more antagonistic capacity.

[rockershocker]

When can 1st age adaptations maybe be expected, if ever. Rights to those are not available as of now ?