New anime film The Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim contains many settings introduced in the original Lord of the Rings live-action film trilogy by Peter Jackson. Following Rohirrim‘s world premiere at London’s Odeon Luxe Leicester Square, executive producer Peter Jackson claimed that it includes “essential lore” about Helm’s Deep — a particular Middle-earth region that is dear to countless Tolkien fans.

Per Oricon, War of the Rohirrim had its first public screening on Dec. 3. Jackson himself was in attendance alongside director Kenji Kamiyama and major LOTR stars such as Ian McKellen (Gandalf), Andy Serkis (Gollum) and Billy Boyd (Pippin). Not long after the credits rolled, Peter Jackson warmly praised Kamiyama’s handling of the film’s story, which centers on the violent conflict between the Kingdom of Rohan and a brutal Dunlending lord known as Wulf (Luke Pasqualino). “From the opening scene, it was magnificent. The way the story unfolded and built momentum toward the climax was captivating,” Jackson said.

Peter Jackson Explains How War of the Rohirrim Relates to Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

War of the Rohirrim is set approximately 200 years prior to the events of Jackson’s trilogy. The story primarily follows King Helm Hammerhand’s daughter, Hera (Gaia Wise), the young heroine who leads Rohan’s army against Wulf’s forces. In one pivotal battle, Helm’s Deep — the same fortress that appears in The Two Towers — serves as the main stage. According to Jackson, his loose adaptation of Tolkien’s original narrative includes the explanation of how the iconic setting acquired its name. “This film delves not only into the story of King Helm Hammerhand but also explains why it became known as Helm’s Deep. It’s incredible that this film sheds light on such an essential part of the Lord of the Rings lore,” Jackson said.

At the premiere, Kamiyama also described some of the cinematic techniques he used when making War of the Rohirrim. “Though it’s an animated feature, we used techniques similar to live-action filmmaking. By recreating structures in 3D space, we carefully chose camera angles and compositions to craft a sense of realism,” he explained. “I hope audiences will take note of this.” Notably, Kamiyama worked exclusively with 3D animation during the making of Blade Runner: Black Lotus, an animated adaptation of Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner films.

Kamiyama’s unique directorial approach is likely to make War of the Rohirrim more accessible to Lord of the Rings fans who are comparatively more accustomed to live-action than anime. As for LOTR fans in Asia, Peter Jackson is confident that his new adaptation will live up to their high expectations. “Kenji Kamiyama has created an extraordinary piece of work,” he stated in a comment geared toward Japanese fans. “This film was brought to life by hundreds of Japanese animators and artists whose craftsmanship deserves immense praise. I hope that you’ll love this film as much as we do.”

Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim will be released in theaters worldwide on Dec. 13.