Lord of the Rings: Rohan No Tatakai - English subtitled
An exclusive Japanese-language version of The War of the Rohirrim, an adventurous animated film delving into one of the many side stories from Tolkien's universe.
Set 183 years before the events of the original film trilogy, we are introduced to Helm Hammerhand, the legendary King of Rohan. Following an unexpected attack by Wulf, the ruthless leader of the Dunlendings seeking vengeance for his father’s death, Helm and his people are forced to take refuge in an ancient stronghold, the Hornburg – a fortress in the valley that will later become known as Helm’s Deep. As their situation grows increasingly desperate, Helm's daughter Héra musters the courage to lead the resistance.
Rohan no Tatakai draws on Tolkien’s Appendix A, a kind of encyclopaedia exploring the backstory of several royal lineages. The influence of Peter Jackson’s trilogy is unmistakable, but Kenji Kamiyama’s (Ghost in the Shell) hand-drawn animation and the Japanese dialogue lend this version a distinct character. Héra, in particular, feels like a thoughtful addition to Tolkien’s lore: she emerges – much like many protagonists in Japanese anime – as a strong, independent young woman who eschews romance to dedicate herself to serving her people.