Irish artist and filmmaker Tomm Moore is two-for-two in getting Academy Award nominations for his previous animated feature films, for the pretty but muddled The Secret of Kells (2009) and for the gorgeous and heartfelt Song of the Sea (2014). He'll likely earn another nod for Wolfwalkers, arriving in theaters Nov. 13 and on Apple TV+ a month later.

Like his other movies, Wolfwalkers is visually sumptuous and narratively mythological, taking elements of Irish folktales and weaving them into an original story set in a storybook past outside of actual history. This time out, the heroine is young Robyn Goodfellowe (voiced by Honor Kneafsey), the daughter of an English huntsman (Sean Bean) who was brought to an Irish village to rid its forest of wolves. When Robyn ventures into the woods, she meets Mebh (Eve Whittaker), a girl her age who's a wolfwalker, with a magical connection to the animal pack and a powerful mother. (In a Disney-like turn, Robyn’s mother is dead.)

Moore's signature style is distinct: Hand-drawn characters appear intentionally flat, as if book illustrations come to life, and the backgrounds in Robyn's village are designed to resemble Medieval woodblock prints, with overlapping layers in place of perspective. The woods, by contrast, are rich with color, depth, and movement. This is state-of-the-art drawn animation — done with computer assists for coloring, compositing, and special effects, but still with a reverence for the aesthetic of pen and ink.

Moore's direction — co-credited this time out to concept artist Ross Stewart — emphasizes artistic flourishes, and his determination to give Robyn fully realized surroundings sometimes bogs down the early going. (A subplot about local bullies goes nowhere, for example.)

But this is no Studio Laika mishmash; Moore is a better storyteller than that (he's one of four credited writers), and the tale he's relating soon becomes clear and captivating. Very small children may be a bit confused or frightened, but school-age kids should love Wolfwalkers, particularly the thrills in its second half. Adults will admire the vivid and original artistry and smile at the satisfying finale.

Grade: B-plus. Rated PG. Starts Nov. 13 at the Carolina Cinemark. Available to stream starting Dec. 11 via Apple TV+

(Photo: Apple TV+)