46 years after Ralph Bakshi made his animated film “The Lord of the Rings,” we finally get another Tolkien cartoon.

When will The Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim be released in Australia?

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim hits Australian cinemas on December 12

What is The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim about?

Set 183 years before the events of the main trilogy, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim tells the story of King Helm Hammerhand of Rohan, who must lead his people into battle against an invading Dunlending army led by the vengeful Wulf, who seeks a little revenge for his father’s death. Expect epic cavalry battles, stirring moments of heroism, and finally the naming of Helm’s Deep, the fortress that plays a major role in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.

Attentive readers will notice that it’s an anime, directed by Ghost in the Shell veteran Kenji Kamiyama. But it’s also part of the New Line/Peter Jackson Tolkien universe: Lord of the Rings co-writer Philippa Boyens is a producer and co-wrote the story with Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, while Oscar-winning Wētā effects legend Richard Taylor and illustrators Alan Lee and John Howe also contributed.

The cast of The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim

The mighty Brian Cox lends his powerful lungs to Helm Hammerhand; Gaia Wise is Hèra, his spirited daughter who seems to be a recurring theme in Rohan; Luke Pasqualino (Shadow and Bone) is the vengeful Wulf; Shaun Dooley is his father Freca; and Lorraine Ashbourne, Yazdan Qafouri, Benjamin Wainwright, Michael Wildman, Jude Akuwudike, Bilal Hasna and Janine Duvitski complete the voice cast. The whole thing is narrated by Miranda Otto, reprising her role as Éowyn.

Trailer for “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim”

Why we’re excited for The Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim

We’re just huge fans of cavalry charges. And since this is animated, we don’t have to worry about feeling guilty when the horses fall over.