5 Reasons The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim felt like a story by J.R.R. Tolkien himself

The anime fantasy film, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, premiered in December 2024 and was based on Tolkien’s appendices from his epic The lord of the Rings novels. While creative liberty helped in the film’s creation, it didn’t require much imagination due to Tolkien’s extensive world-building.

The film focuses on Héra, King Helm Hammerhand’s daughter, who ended the epic battle at Hornbug that her father had started unintentionally. The film had many aspects that made us feel like it was a Tolkien-written story. In The Lord of the Rings, amid the fight between the greater forces of good and evil, Rohan and the Rohirrim became the human aspect of the epic story.

Therefore, making a film focusing on a place that suffered a lot during the War of the One Ring, the film brought the narrative closer to the LOTR franchise, and felt like a story written by Tolkien himself. Here’s a list of 5 reasons why The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim felt like a Tolkien-written story.

Disclaimer: The article is based on the writer's opinion. Reader discretion is advised.

---

5 Reasons The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim felt like a story by J.R.R. Tolkien himself

5) Followed the appendices of Tolkien’s novel

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim followed the appendices to develop a story that fits right into the Tolkien-created world. They followed King Helm’s story, incorporated a battle that reminded us of the battle of Helm’s Deep from the main narrative, and also used one of the important characters from The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Éowyn, who became the narrator of the story.

Furthermore, as a way to avoid disrupting the main story, they used Helm’s daughter, Héra, as the protagonist, as she was the only one whose life wasn’t well documented in the novels and gave them room to develop her character, who could fit right into Tolkien’s story.

---

4) A tragic reminder: Showed another tragic attack on Hornburg

Another moment that made The War of the Rohirrim feel like a Tolkien story was the battle at Hornburg. To avenge his father’s death, Wulf attacks Hornburg with his extensive army, reminding us of the battle of Helm’s Deep, which happened in the same place hundreds of years later.

The tragedy of the Rohirrim, trying to fight back or escape through the secret passage, and the horrific death of King Helm, reminded us of the loss that they will have to go through again in the coming years.

---

3) Héra distracts Wulf by challenging him to a duel, just like Aragorn tried to keep Sauron’s eye away from Frodo

According to Tolkien’s story, Wulf was not part of the battle as he was not present there, but his addition brought a lasting impact on the story, as this ensured that Héra, who unintentionally became the reason for the war, also got the opportunity to finally end it.

While the Rohirrim try to escape using the secret passage, Héra tries to distract Wulf by challenging him to a duel. This scene resembles another moment from The Lord of the Rings, when Aragorn tries to keep Sauron’s eye away from Frodo, who was entering Mordor to finally destroy the Ring.

---

2) Another epic callback: Fréaláf arrives with his army at Helm’s Deep

As the battle reminded us of another epic battle, although this one lasted longer than the Battle of Helm’s Deep, it incorporated many moments from the main story. For instance, after Helm’s death, Héra sends a message to her cousin, Fréaláf, for help.

The Fréaláf and his army were a call back to another epic moment: the arrival of Gandalf and Éomer and his army during the battle in the second The Lord of the Rings movie. Fréaláf even traveled down the hill that would be used by Gandalf and Éomer in the future.

---

1) Héra’s involvement in the war as a Shieldmaiden is a call back to Éowyn, who defeated the Witch King in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

With this anime film, the lore around the greatness of the shieldmaiden of Rohan expanded. By choking and killing Wulf with a shield, she ended the war and became an inspiration for so many other women of Rohan, just as Éowyn.

Years later, Éowyn also made a lasting mark during the crucial battle of the Pelennor Fields by slaying the witch king of Angmar, a Nazgûl, and proving an old prophecy true.

---

Also Read: 5 Deadliest villains from Mission: Impossible franchise who gave Ethan Hunt a really hard time