Anthomation Assesses The Secret of Kells

Howdy guys, Anthomaton here. Today, I shall review a film that bleeds St. Patrick’s Day fever: The Secret of Kells.

The Secret of Kells is a 2009 Irish-French-Belgian animated film. Yeah I know I broke one of my own rules by reviewing a non-American film, but this one is worth it. It was directed by Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey. The film was animated by Cartoon Saloon and premiered on 8 February 2009 at the 59th Berlin International Film Festival. It went into wide release in Belgium and France on 11 February, and Ireland on 3 March. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, but lost to Pixar’s Up. The film is the first installment in Moore’s “Irish Folklore Trilogy”, preceding the films Song of the Sea (2014) and Wolfwalkers (2020).

In the remote Irish woods, Cellach (Brendan Gleeson) prepares a fortress for an impending attack by a Viking war party. Unbeknownst to Cellach, his young nephew Brendan (Evan McGuire) — who has no taste for battle — works secretly as an apprentice in the scriptorium of the local monastery, learning the ancient art of calligraphy. As the Vikings approach, revered illuminator Aidan (Mick Lally) arrives at the monastery and recruits Brendan to complete a series of dangerous, magical tasks.

The story in this film is full of imagination and Irish lore. The idea goes into a ton of depth on how the book is created through these writers/drawers and how it would be the ultimate power that saves the land of Kells. There is so much tension that is built up between Brendan and Cellach that eventually hits a breaking point when the book gets in the way of prepared counterattack. This is a visually told story, as scenes will transition and characters will emote through a visually flowing manner. It’s a great story that can both build the world and be imaginative.

The animation is absolutely wonderful to watch! The traditional animation from Cartoon Saloon appeals to symmetry, making it a unique experience where the characters and backgrounds have their own distinctive designs. Just like when watching a Don Bluth or Ralph Bakshi film, the animation style is so remarkably Cartoon Saloon that it can be easily pointed out. The movements of the characters feel abstract, but natural to the world they encompass. Other than the symmetry, the most eye-catching part about the film is the color palette this film presents. From the lazy grays and browns of the 9th century Ireland town to the dark reds and blacks from the Viking army to the mystical greens of the forbidden forest, this is the type of film that knows what colors to use in any situation in a productive manner. Thumbs up on my end. 

The characters present themselves as full of emotion and relatability. There is Brendan, a bright, imaginative, and curious 12-year-old who leads a sheltered life. There’s Abbot Cellach (voiced by Brenden Gleeson), a former illuminator who now superintends a wall to protect the Abbey of Kells from invasion. There’s Aisling, a forest fairy, related to the Tuatha Dé Danann, living in the woods outside of Kells. And then there is Brother Aidan, a master illuminator who comes into town and presents Brenden With the Book of Kells and sets the entire plot into motion. These characters showcase themselves in ways that only benefit the movie, making this complete family picture.

This film is a definite must-watch. With a great story, fantastic animation, and characters that are easily likeable, this is a film that deserves more recognition from the mainstream audience. Props to this film!

Score:

8/10