The Secret of Kells (2009) User Reviews

Unforgettably Haunting Animation

[3xHCCH · 8/10 · 9 February 2010]

I would not have known about this film if not for its "surprise" Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature film. Thankfully, it came to pass that I was able to watch this animated little treasure.

The story is about the child Brendan who was the nephew of the imposing and overprotective Abbot of the township of Kells. The main pre-occupation of the Abbot is to build a wall to protect Kells from the attacking Vikings. One day, Aiden, the renowned illustrator from Iona, sought refuge with them. Aiden opens Brendan's eyes to the art of illustration and the lure of the outside world. Along the way, Brendan befriended the white forest sprite Aisling, as he sought to recover an ancient crystal invaluable to the meticulous art of book illustration.

"The Secret of Kells" is unlike most of the animation released these days. It is a throwback of sorts as the illustrations are done in stark geometric lines and design without much care for realism, as much as symbolism. The movements of these lines are reminiscent of the simplistic yet fluid animation style used at the beginning sequence of "Kung Fu Panda." However, it is the magnificent use of color that is the main source of wonderment for the audience. The reds used in the Viking invasion sequence is unforgettably haunting.

Try to catch this quiet gem of a film. It is a welcome respite from all the senseless bombast of current animated fare such as "Monsters vs. Aliens" and the like. The sparse Celtic musical score is effective in evoking the sense of fantasy that imbues the film. OK, the story might be a little shallow and the ending a bit wanting. I would have liked to know more about the Book that Brendan and Aiden was working on. But the clear star of this film is clearly its amazing stylized artwork, said to be based on the artwork in the real Book of Kells.

enchanting visuals

[otter68 · 8/10 · 18 April 2010]

In an age where it seems all animation is either expensive computer generated, a-list celebrity vehicles or anime, which seems like it's all drawn by one man, it's refreshing to see an throw back to a time when animation was hand drawn and more attention was paid to the use of color and intricacy of design than mimicing real life or creating 3D.

The characters in this movie at times take a back seat to the scenery. The scenery alternates between what seems to be illuminated water color to illuminated manuscript illustration. It is breathtaking to behold on the big screen.

My main complaint about this film is that it was too short! I wish more time had been spent in the forest scenes, which are the richest in detail and color. One can imagine how the scenes in the Irish forest and wilderness inspired the illustrators of the Book of Kells.

The story is not simply a child's tale, and there's no potty humor as is prevalent in many Pixar and Disney movies today, but children with vivid imaginations and who love to draw will love this as will their parents.

A visually astounding animated movie.

[lewiskendell · 7/10 · 12 October 2010]

"Do you want to see the most beautiful page? The one that will turn darkness into light?"

The story of The Secret of Kells is a simple one. A monastery in Ireland hurries to complete a wall that will hopefully protect it and its village from the coming destruction of the Vikings, when it is visited by a monk who also flees the Vikings. He brings with him a special book that he is writing, and a young boy who lives in the monastery tries to help him complete it, and meets a shape-shifting forest girl in the process. The friendship that's made between the two may end up saving both the book, and the lives of the monks and villagers. 

The aspect of The Secret of Kells that's most noteworthy is the visuals. This is one of the most gorgeous and visually inventive movies I've ever seen. The art style is like moving illustrations from a book of English fairy tales, and it constantly changes from scene to scene, offering new things to see while keeping the same basic theme. It really is a beautiful movie, and I don't see how anyone could watch it and not be thoroughly impressed by the amount of creativity and work that had to go into making this.

On the whole, I think this will appeal to older teens and adults more than children, as it's a quite serious story, and pretty violent in some places. There's not much of the humor or kinetic antics that younger viewers usually like in their animated movies, but anyone old enough to appreciate The Secret of Kells will be quite pleased with this little gem.

Beautiful!

[whistlestop · 9/10 · 30 March 2009]

The Secret of Kells is a film I've been waiting for for years after seeing some early footage at the Cartoon Saloon in Kilkenny. I'm here to tell you now it's been worth the wait. The cartoons are heavily stylised but not annoyingly so as I'd feared. The whole film is a thing of beauty and great imagination, I particularly love the animated illuminated book where the little figures come to life on the page. The characterisation is superb, I love Brendan Gleeson's voice as the stern Abbot and I especially liked the voice of the sprite Aisling. The forest is a triumph, such a beautiful place. The story is well realised, a mix of fact and fantasy. and really draws the viewer in to cheer on Brendan in his quest for the perfect materials for the Book. I'm a lover of calligraphy and illumination anyway so the subject is close to my heart, but all the people I know who've seen this and are not fans of the craft agree that it's a lovely little film. I will definitely buy the DVD when it's released, and would like to say, well done Cartoon Saloon and all the people involved in this mammoth project. May there be many more. :) Coming back in here to say that I bought several copies of the DVD as soon as I could and gave them out at Christmas, everyone loves it! And I wish them all the luck in the world at the Oscars, such a joy to see this nominated.

Sublime. A Rare Gem and Utter Masterpiece

[idleprimate · 10/10 · 3 May 2010]

It's a shame there were not more opportunities for people to see this on the big screen. It is stunningly beautiful. There is incredible detail in the artwork, all of it an homage to illumination.

The reviews I read said the film was a spectacle and impressive for its art and topic, but that it was dry and slow. This simply isn't true. there is a rich and innocent humour in the film, and it is an exciting story.

The story itself is quite sophisticated. On the one hand, it depicts medieval Christian scholar-heroes courageously dedicated to preserving knowledge, creating books, and demonstrating reverence for words through painstaking arts, and on the other there is a magical childhood world of fairy folk and demons who are part of a hero quest that is mythical and dreamy. Both the Christian world and the pagan world are fraught with danger and violence.

The imagery, themes and music of this film create a work that is sublime, Yet the warmth of the characters and the spirited adventure ensures that the audience does not feel remote from the experience. This film ranks as an instant classic and a superb achievement in the medium of animation. having now seen all the animated films nominated at the Oscars, this one should have won.

See it any way you can, and don't miss a chance to see it on the big screen if the opportunity arises.

Gorgeous to watch, but the story is not quite there

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 8 January 2011]

I love animated films, so I was interested in seeing The Secret of Kells. Overall I really liked it. However, I do not think it is perfect, the story has a lovely idea and starts off very well, however there are parts that could have been less detached and done with more development, and it could have done with less of a politically correct note(I wouldn't have minded if it was there, it just got a tad heavy-handed). Also, I think the film sags in the pace in the middle. That said, it is a very worthwhile watch. The Secret of Kells does look simply gorgeous. The backgrounds are stunning, and the character designs are unique, but I loved the picturesque watercolour-like colours most of all. Another strong asset was the music, I loved the sweet, lyrical Celtic lilt to it. There is also a stirring prologue and while the story may be detached as I've said there isn't a complete lack of emotional attatchment, you do care for the characters and there are some touching and haunting moments and the film teaches some good lessons. The characters are likable with good personalities and the voice work especially from Brendan Gleeson is excellent. Overall, while lacking a tad in the story, it is a visually and musically rewarding animated film. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Different And Yet Great

[StuffedCupcakes · 8/10 · 10 April 2010]

When I first watched the movie, the way everything was drawn kind of made me lower my expectations; that still didn't make me stop watching. I soon began to see that the two dimensional drawings came to life more and more as I watched. Watching the movie was magical.

The story was also great. The characters and their looks and accents made me interested in what was going on - I especially loved Aisling. Brendan is the main character, a young boy who is adventurous like any other his age however has to face some of his fears to help finish a book.

The whole movie was a magical, colorful, pictorial, unforgettable ride.

I loved the artistry....the story itself was awfully strange.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 26 November 2010]

The art style of this animated film is arresting--you cannot see the film and not have a reaction. While hard to completely describe, it looks like the art of the Disney show "Kim Possible" merged with the art of Eric Carle. While I would never want a steady diet of this, it is quite creative and artistic--something that can't be said about most animation. Also, at times, it appears as if the characters are walking on letters from an ancient illuminated manuscript.

The story is set in Ireland during the Middle Ages. A young orphan boy is being raised in by monks who are working on preserving their secrets through writing. When sent on a task to retrieve berries needed for an ink, the boy meets up with a very strange and magical girl. Who is she and what awaits them? Tune in and see this very strange film set during the era of Viking raids and monasticism.

You notice I said 'strange'. It is NOT a film most kids would enjoy and even adults might find it all too bizarre. At about the time this was released, "Ponyo" was released here in the States--and by comparison, "Ponyo" is a pretty normal film!! Dark, confusing and not 100% kid-friendly, this is one you certainly wouldn't want to show to young kids, as they'd quickly get bored or confused or scared when the Vikings begin killing and plundering. As a weird history lesson infused with mysticism, it is pretty good, however...but you must be very patient, indeed, to enjoy this one.

You won't confuse this one for "Up"!

Beautiful, rich film!

[llamswerdna · 9/10 · 25 February 2010]

The Secret of Kells is one of the most unique, beautiful, and eye- popping animated films I have ever seen. Before watching this film, I was convinced that nothing could give Up a run for its money and that it was a shoo-in to win in this category, but I found in Kells a serious contender.

The Secret of Kells tell the story of a young orphan named Brendan, who lives with his uncle, the Abbot of Kell. The Abbot is a loving guardian, but perhaps a bit too strict and much more concerned with fortifying the wall around the town from a coming attack by vikings than he is at nurturing the boy's imagination. When the legendary Brother Aidan (who looks surprisingly like Willie Nelson) shows up and takes the boy under his wing, Brendan goes on a journey into the woods and meets a lovely forest nymph named Aisling who takes a liking to him (and saves his life more than once). With Aisling's help, he attempts to save the town and help Brother Aidan complete the mystical book which—legend has it—can turn dark into light.

See my full review of The Secret of Kells at: http://theoscarsblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/movie-review-secret-of- kells.html

Rich and artistic visuals

[Gordon-11 · 8 February 2010]

This Oscar nominated animated film is about a young boy in a Celtic walled village who has to prepare for his book by wandering out into the forbidden woods.

"The Secret of Kells" is visually rich and artistic. The characters are simple in design, almost minimalistic. This interestingly contrasts with the imaginative and stylish background, that never ceases to amaze. The background of the animation blends modern art and traditional art, and is only limited by the boundary of imagination. It takes viewers into a stunning flight of psychedelic journey. Though the plot may not be the strength of this animation, the artistic visuals makes up for it.

Brilliant animation not quite matched by the story

[paudie · 7/10 · 10 August 2010]

There aren't too many Irish made Oscar nominated movies so I was looking forward to watching "The Secret of Kells" directed by Tomm Moore.

The standard of animation was very high, breathtaking at times. The animators seemed to have been inspired by beauty of the Book of Kells itself as they have created some of the most colourful and vibrant images I've seen in a movie in a long time.

The story is about a young boy (Brendan) living in the monastery of Kells where his uncle is the Abbot. His uncle is obsessed with building up the defences of the monastery to protect them from the marauding Vikings. Other monks are transcribing sacred manuscripts. A monk arrives from the island of Iona with an uncompleted book after Vikings have destroyed the monastery there. Brendan is talented at drawing and takes a lot of interest in the new monk and the book, much to the displeasure of his uncle. Aided by a fairy (Aisling) he meets in the forest Brendan finishes the book just before the Viking attack.

Interestingly the story has elements of both Ireland's Christian and pagan heritage but the ending seems quite abrupt especially when the film is only seventy-five minutes long. Actors such as Brendan Gleeson and Mick Lally, both very familiar to Irish audiences, voice the main adult characters. Evan McGuire is excellent as Brendan.

So a treat for animation fans while the story might spark curiosity in people to discover more about Irish heritage and history.

wonderful unique beautiful style

[SnoopyStyle · 8/10 · 28 November 2015]

Brendan is a young boy living in a walled medieval monastery town of Kells. He is apprenticed to monks illuminating books. Brother Aidan arrives with the Book of Iona that is suppose to shine a light beacon into the dark times. He is working on the final pages. Brendon's uncle Abbot Cellach is more obsessed with building a wall against invading northmen. Aidan sends Brendan out to find gall nuts to make ink. He is hounded by wolves and saved by the forest spirit Aisling. There is an evil in the forest called Crom Cruach. Meanwhile, barbarians from the north are brutally invading.

The animation is wonderful with an old magic that fits the subject. The unique style is inspired by celtic art. It's like a beautiful children's book come to life. The characters are likable and their story is compelling.

Style over substance - hides slow, unpolished story

[robotbling · 6/10 · 1 January 2012]

(www.plasticpals.com) The Secret of Kells is an animated film made in 2009 that draws its inspiration from the Book of Kells, a celebrated 9th-century illuminated holy book. The art style mixes the iconic characters and intricately detailed backgrounds from Celtic tradition, and it's a welcome change from the glut of computer animated films. However, when you look passed the flashy veneer you're left with a much less polished story.

Brendan is a young boy living in the fortified city of Kells under the watchful eye of his uncle, the Abbot. Although Brendan wants to apprentice with the older scribes, his uncle has little patience for books. The Abbot is building up the city's defences against an imminent attack from the invading Viking hordes. When a famous illuminator arrives in the city with the incomplete book of Kells, Brendan breaks his uncle's rules and leaves the city to collect the requirements for inking its pages.

Inside the forest he befriends the fairy Aisling, who can transform into a wolf. Unfortunately the cultural divide between Aisling (a creature of pagan mythology) and Brendan (a devout Christian) is totally ignored and therefore wasted. Brendan tells no one of Aisling or her incredible powers which defy his community's religious beliefs. The scenes in the forest are easily the most interesting and visually exciting in the film, but they're few and far between. Another problem is the depiction of the Vikings, which are dehumanized monsters. This was certainly the popular perception of them for centuries, but a more even-handed approach would have been appreciated.

In the end, The Secret of Kells is a disappointing film that builds to an anti-climactic ending. The purported magical qualities of the Book of Kells never materialize, leaving the viewer to conclude that the forgotten pagan mythology is more powerful. One can't help but feel that its story was entirely misplaced, and should have been centered around Celtic mythology. The few scenes which do involve Aisling and mythical monsters are the highlight of an otherwise dreary and slow moving plot that could have used some fine-tuning.

not the truth

[gilleliath · 5/10 · 6 January 2021]

I came across someone on the net lately asking about this film, 'What's actually *in* the Book?'. I couldn't blame them. Though it's visually awesome, this film totally fudges that question. In case anyone reading this also doesn't know, the Book of Kells is an early medieval illuminated copy of the Christian Gospels. It wasn't inspired by any magic talisman or Pater-esque ideology of 'beauty', but by the faith of a deeply devout Christian land. That vagueness creates a hollow where the film's heart should be.

If you're going to try to make films about Ireland's heritage - which is laudable - it's no good stopping half-way. Be true, or leave it alone.

Unique, Intricate, Beautiful and Historical Animation

[alixj248 · 8/10 · 22 May 2015]

I had the pleasure of watching this in an Art House cinema in Aberdeen for my 16th birthday 2 months ago, being re-released as a celebration of Song of the Sea Tom Moore's new film (another STUNNING Gem by the way!) and I instantly fell in love with Moore's style and artistry. The film tells a true story about a book from an isle in Ireland with the most beautiful pictures and words written upon it's pages, describing it as "to look upon heaven itself". The book is brought to Kells, a medieval outpost which is constructing a great wall around it's monasteries and abbey to protect it from the Northern Invaders, (presumed to be the Vikings of Scandinavia who also pillaged Scotland.) The area is known to be full of monks and holy symbols, lead by Cellach, who anxiously awaits the attack. His young nephew Brendan, who usually spends his days with his "brothers" the other monks is swept up in the story of the book brought by it's author Brother Aiden, a monk from the Isle of Iona. Aiden and Brendan become close acquaintances and he entrusts his new apprentice to go into the forest with his white cat Pangur Bhan (from the old Irish poem) to collect green berries called gall nuts that produce the most beautiful emerald ink. Brendan is cornered by wolves in the process but is saved by a mysterious green eyed white spirit wolf who turns into her true form of a young girl about his age named Aisling. Aisling herself is in fact hundreds of years old and is a faerie of the forest which she is proud to call her own. She helps Brendan to collect the berries and although she isn't trusting of humans she forms a friendship with him and says he is welcome in her forest. Brendan must then look for the Eye of Crom, guarded by a dark ancient spirit Crom Crauch whom Aisling is deathly terrified of. The crystal eye will allow Brendan to concentrate when illustrating the Book. However, with Abbot Cellach under stress and the Vikings drawing ever nearer to the monastery, Brendan appears to have other things to worry about. This film is gorgeously animated, I felt like I was watching a painting all the way through. The Irish accents aren't difficult to understand at all and the Celtic rhythm of the music makes you feel as though you are there sitting in a bright green forest with Brendan and Aisling perched on a branch laughing along. The story flows very well, however the one problem I have with the film is you may need to be familiar with Celtic mythology. As a Scottish person I could understand most of it, but I think others had trouble keeping up. It was very well executed though so you kind of have it explained without to much exposition. The characters are all very 3 dimensional. The monks of the monastery are all very well designed with unique head shapes and voices and Brother Aiden is like a typical quirky grandfather figure. Brendan himself who is around 11 years of age is a very well written child character. He's intelligent but also clumsy and makes bad decisions and mistakes. His heart is kind and he looks to the good side most of the time. We see his spontaneous nature in the first scene as he attempts to catch an escaped goose, even going as far as to climb up the scaffolding. Aisling, the forest spirit is adorable. She's sweet but is also no nonsense and will not put up with a human stumbling across the forest which she guards as her home. She sees all animals as friends and my favourite scene is when she uses Pangur to help get the key to the cell Brendan is locked by Cellach his uncle, to prevent him from entering the forest again. She sings a Gaelic song to turn Pangur into a feline spirit and back again, allowing him to slip into Abbot Cellach's bed chamber without being seen or heard. Christian Mooney the voice actress for Aisling has a lovely voice. All the voice actors do a terrific job, especially the harsh tone of Abbot Cellach played by Brendan Gleeson. The Secret of Kells is a historical fantasy that can only be compared to the great works of Miyazaki. Watching it I drew parallels to Princess Mononoke, (wolves, girl of the woods, man and nature, the battle scenes) it's a very pretty film. It is quite dark in some places, the battle scene of the Viking invasion is frightening and a little graphic. I remember a mother who took her children out once or twice after seeing bodies fall off the scaffolding. It's a PG film but not for young kids. I would say for maybe 10 and up. Overall, this movie was amazing and I look forward to more of Moore.

THE SECRET OF KELLS may be the most exquisite film I have seen...

[jkbolio · 10/10 · 9 December 2009]

THE SECRET OF KELLS may be the most exquisite film I have seen since THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE. Although stylistically very different, KELLS shares with TRIPLETS and (the jaw-dropping opening 2D sequence of) KUNG FU PANDA, incredible art direction, production design, background/layout and a richness in color that is a feast for one's senses. KELLS is so lavish -- almost Gothic in its layout (somewhat reminiscent of Klimt), wonderfully flat in general overall perspective, ornate in its Celtic & illuminated design, yet the characters are so simplistic and appealing -- AND it all works together beautifully. You fall in love with the characters from the moment you meet them. You are so drawn to every detail of the story and to every stroke of the pencil & brush. What Tomm, Nora, Ross, Paul and all at Cartoon Saloon (& their extended crews) have achieved with this small budget/VERY small crewed film, is absolutely astounding. The groundswell of support amongst our animation community is phenomenal. This film is breathtaking and the buzz amongst our colleagues in recommending this film is spreading like wildfire. Congratulations to KELLS on its many accolades, its Annie nomination as well as its current Oscar qualifying run. They are all very well-deserved nods, indeed...

Gorgeous Irish animation movie

[Imdbidia · 7/10 · 7 February 2011]

The Secret of Kells is an Irish-French-Belgian-British animated feature film that revolves around the "making" of the famous "Book of Kells", an illustrated Irish illustrated Bible of the Middle Ages through the eyes of the young monk-child Brendan.

The movie translates well into images and style the layout, functionality and way of life of old medieval abbeys in Ireland, and the religiosity dominating the period.

The abbey in the movie, as well as its surroundings, are somewhat a reproduction of the old monastic place of Glendalough in Ireland, and even has the lighting and atmosphere you get when you visit it. In that regard, the movie is true to the surroundings, physical space, atmosphere, and history of this sort of abbeys, always in constant danger, at the beginning of the Middle Ages.

This is old traditional drawing and coloring revamped and modernized that incorporates the cultural and historical background of the place into the storytelling. There is also a wonderful mix of Early-Christian and Pre-Christian Irish elements, myths and motives in the story and the visuals of the movie. The use of lightening is superb, especially in scenes in the forest, and it really recreates the mood and magic that surround Glendalough's woodlands. In fact, the drawing of the forest is luscious and extremely artistic, as well as all the design of the monastery, its yards and orchards despite their flatness and awkward perspectives. Also great is the dual coloring, so colorful and bright for the abbey and the forest, with a predominance of greens, while a mix of intense red/black mate colors are used for the scenes involving the barbarians and their attacks.

The script is simple and somewhat predictable and the characters classic, but the story is so original and unconventional, the animation so artistic, the design so unique, the subject so educative, the music so beautiful, that the result is an uber-charming entertaining gorgeous movie for the whole family.

A Masterpiece

[dbborroughs · 10/10 · 27 February 2010]

First animated feature film from Ireland is also one of the best animated films I've ever seen. Its a real warts and all story that is unlike any of the other Oscar nominees and any other film from this year or any other year.

The plot of the film has the Abbot of Kells, a village in Ireland building a wall around his town to prevent the vikings from destroying the town should they ever attack. His nephew Brendon, is a young monk who does the best he can but meets the ire of his uncle by doing things in his own time. When a legendary illuminator Aidan arrives from a destroyed monastery, Brendon drifts towards him and his warm personality. Much to his uncle's chagrin Aiden offers to teach Brendon how to illuminate. In order to help Aidan work on his great book, saved from his destroyed monastery, Brendan goes out into the forest to get material to make ink. While outside the walls he meets Ashley, a forest spirit with whom he develops a friendship. Unfortunately the Abbot finds out that he went outside the wall and there is hell to pay. But lurking in the distance are the vikings...

Forget what you think you know about this film you're wrong. Even what I've explained doesn't do this film justice. Its a simple story with so much more going on. This is a wonderful movie about trying to find your way in the world, over coming demons and finding the beauty of the world outside of the walls. (As the film says the world is a dangerous place and doesn't cease to be even if you build walls).

Its a film that treats its audience as adults and deals with all of life including the darkness. There is death and destruction and joy and happiness. Its not sugar coated. People die. Monsters lurk. (it freaked out some of the kids), but in the end there is hope. Frankly the darkness in this film is completely unlike anything in any recent American film. Forget the "sadness" in a Pixar film, this is the real thing, and its refreshing and it shows how homogenized even Pixar has become.

Its a Genndy Tartakovsky-esquire (Samurai Jack) animated film who's look is actually based upon the the Celtic art of the period. Its a film that looks unlike any other. Here again is another film that takes the movie frame and uses it in every way possible. the Images are designed to fill the available space as much as possible. Often the film manipulated things to make it look like a page in the legendary Book of Kells. Its stunningly beautiful and best described as art come to life.

Director Tomm Moore has fashioned a film that is a masterpiece. I can't say more than that. Its a masterpiece. Its one of the best animated films I've ever run across.

Celtic Beauty and a new worthy direction of modern animation!

[tomson-7 · 7/10 · 15 January 2010]

A beautiful piece of children's cinema buried in a world of archaic Celticism. Setting the story around the famous Book of Kels, believed to have been comprised by monks from the small island of Iona, off the western coast of Scotland.

Telling the tale of a young abbots apprentice who goes off into the forest in search of Crom-Cruic, the fierce headless horseman of pagan mythology. In hopes of recovering a lost artefact.

The films true beauty lies in its' animation. Cell shaded in a bright and inspirational style of deep complexity resulting in a look of seem less simplicity. Deriving much from the artistic style of the brilliant Cartoon Network series 'Samurai Jack' for its genius use of mark making and background depth, The Secret of Kels creates a consistently affective Celtic world living under the shadow of Viking invasion.

The history may be intensely inaccurate and the ways of life portrayed lacking realism but these facts are utterly irrelevant as the film sets itself in a world of fantasy and Celtic-revivalist mysticism. The girl of the forest is a wonderful addition and in my opinion makes the picture what it is, as she glides from branch to branch. Appearing and disappearing like a mysterious nymph with qualities resembling the legendary Cheshire Cat from Alice and Wonderland.

The Secret of Kels is an absolute treat. For all genders, all ages, it's a lovely piece of family cinema.

Don't expect to be awed but instead pleasantly impressed!

History meets animation

[moviemanMA · 9/10 · 4 February 2010]

The Secret of Kells is an independent, animated feature that gives us one of the fabled stories surrounding the Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript from the Middle Ages featuring the four Gospels of the New Testament. I didn't know that this book actually exists, but knowing it now makes my interpretation and analysis much a lot easier. There are a few stories and ideas floating around about how the book came to be, who wrote it, and how it has survived over 1,000 years. This is one of them.

We are introduced to Brendan, an orphan who lives at the Abbey of Kells in Ireland with his uncle, Abbot Cellach (voiced by Brendan Gleeson). Abbot Cellach is constructing a massive wall around the abbey to protect the villagers and monks. Brendan is not fond of the wall and neither are the other monks. They are more focused on reading and writing, something Abbot Cellach does not have time for anymore. He fears the "Northmen," those who plunder and leave towns and villages empty and burnt to the ground.

One day a traveler comes from the island of Iona near Scotland. It is Brother Aidan, a very wise man who carries with him a special book that is not yet finished. Abbot Cellach grants him permission to stay and Brendan buddies up with him. Aidan has special plans for Brendan. First he needs ink for the book, but he requires specific berries. The only way to get them is to venture outside the walls and into the forest, an area off limits to Brendan. Seeing that he is the only chance for Aidan to continue his work, he decides to sneak out and return with the berries before his uncle notices his absence.

In the forest Brendan meets Ashley, the protector of the forest. She allows Brendan passage to the berries and along the way becomes akin to his company. She warns him of the looming danger in the dark and not to foil with it. There are things worse than Vikings out there. From there Brendan is met with more challenges with the book and the looming certainty of invasion.

I like the story a lot more now that I know what it is about. Knowing now what the Book of Kells is and what it contains, the animation makes perfect sense. I'm sure you have seen pictures or copies of old texts from hundreds of years ago, with frilly borders, colorful pictures, and extravagant patterns, creatures, and writings adorning the pages. Much like the opening frames of Disney's The Sword in the Stone. The animation here contains a lot of similar designs and patterns. It creates a very unique viewing experience where the story and the animation almost try to outdo each other.

I couldn't take my eyes off of the incredible detail. This is some of the finest 2D animation I have seen in years. It's vibrant, stimulating, and full of life. The characters are constantly surrounded by designs, doodles, and patterns in trees, on the walls, and in the air just floating around. It enhances the film.

The story is satisfactory, although I think the ending could have been strung out a little more. With a runtime of only 75 minutes I think there could have been something special in the final act. It doesn't give a lot of information nor does it allude to the significance of the book. We are reminded of it's importance but never fully understand. We are told that it gives hope, but never why or how. That was really the only lacking portion of the film. Otherwise I thought the story was interesting though completely outdone by the animation.

I guess that's okay to a certain degree. The animation can carry a film so far before it falls short. The story lacks a few parts, but it is an interesting take on a fascinating piece of history. I would recommend looking up briefly the Book of Kells just to get an idea of what myself and this film are talking about. I think it will help your viewing experience a lot more. This a very impressive and beautifully illustrated film that should definitely not be missed.

Visually stunning, story needs work

[cherold · 6/10 · 13 May 2015]

This film looks great. Simple character design is set on a backdrop of incredibly elaborate beauty. There are some marvelous set pieces, as when magic infuses a cat. It's gorgeous, with a lovely, lilting score.

The story, on the other hand, is a bit of a mess.

The protagonist, Brendan, lives in a monastery, and the film is inspired by The Book of Kells, an elaborately illustrated book of the gospels. Oddly, the movie never actually tells you that, it simply states that this book can bring light to darkness yada-yada-yada.

While inspired by a Christian text, the movie also has a pre-Christian forest fairy and monster.

There are two ways to look at this. You can not look up Kells in wikipedia and it's a fairy tale of sorts involving a book whose power seems to lie in its gorgeous illustrations.

Of you can know what the book is, and see it as a hodge podge of pagan and Christian religions.

But either way, I can't think of a way to look at the movie that makes sense to me. If it's a fairy tale, then the book needs something more than to be a pretty thing with glowing illustrations. If it's a Christian thing, it should bring out the way that paganism and Christianity intertwine in the story.

Ultimately, it has the elements of a folk tale but those elements, which include a stern uncle obsessed with protection, a kindly old man, a cat, a fairy, a monster, a magical crystal, and more, feel not like connected pieces but a rather random stew.

I don't know if there is a good way to connect these elements; I feel the problem is in the premise. Still, it's very pretty.

Kellbinding Animation.

[geochia · 9/10 · 10 December 2009]

THE SECRET OF KELLS is an astonishing first animated feature which will dazzle your eye and move your heart. The shortcomings of the film's limited budget and sometimes limited animation are more than compensated for by the visual poetry of the story of young Brendan's heroic quest to become a master illuminator during the dark ages. Historically this was in the late 8th century, when the centers of Irish learning were over-run by the Vikings. The Vikings appear here as brute antagonists, the equivalent on the North Seas of the plundering Huns and Mongols further East. The film's narrative--- which functions more as a parable--- centers around the conflict between Brendan, who seeks to create beauty in his illuminations during a time of encroaching darkness, and his stern Uncle the Abbot-- who seeks to protect the town of Kells and his nephew with a looming wall as barrier against the Norsemen. The Abbot disregards the value of Brendan's art in his quest for security. This is the movie's outer conflict. Brendan's inner conflict is to find the hidden eye of creative illumination which will allow him to complete the most difficult painting in the Book of Kells. This eye is guarded by a Dragon Ouroboros, who destroys from within those not suited to this quest as surely as the Vikings will kill from without (That's as much of the story as I'll divulge!)

What I really like about this film is its creators' imaginative understanding of some of the greatest art work to survive in the West from 1200 years ago. The characters are stylized in flat abstract shapes defined by line just as in the original Book of Kells. (Particularly noteworthy is monk Aidan's pet cat, defined in few lines, yet purely--- and even magically metamorphically feline.) The range of emotion which Brendan and the other animated characters convey given their economy of abstract design is a tribute to the excellent artistry of the director and his animators. The decorative borders on the edge of the picture change to complement the dramatic impact of a given scene, and this characteristic of illuminations from the dark ages is brought to wondrous animated life in THE SECRET OF KELLS. Of course, historical dramas usually tell us more about our own times than the times which these dramas endeavor to depict. However, by introducing archetypal elements into this story, the writers and director of THE SECRET OF KELLS convey a numinous sense of lived-life from that far-off time in Ireland which feels psychologically true, however much the script might stray from pedantic historical fact. (The United Nations' band of illuminators who appear as a rogues' club of artists in The SECRET OF KELLS aren't historically probable, but they're all well-designed, individuated characters who do much to convey the universal appeal of this quintessentially Irish story.) Animation has always seemed the best vehicle to me to better help us understand the visual art of different times and cultures. The magnificent art direction of this movie clearly derives from its historical visual source, but has also been cleverly adapted to the demands of animated storytelling; if animation had existed in the Dark Ages, the SECRET OF KELLS is what it would look like! Finally, Brendan's hero's quest in this film is the artist's perennial quest to convey the spirit of beauty, life and inspiration. (Without being preachy or even particularly Christian, this movie affirms Jesus' dictum that "Man does not live by bread alone." ) In my estimation the most inspired movie about the creative process of visual artists is Andrei Tarkovsky's ANDREI RUBLEV, a film about the great Russian icon painter of the 15th century. The SECRET OF KELLS expresses much the same sense of mystery and exhilaration about the artist's visual quest and creative process. It's certainly not as profound as ANDREI RUBLEV, but--- heck--- its a cartoon! (And one which will appeal to young and old alike.) I think this movie will hold up well to repeated viewing: in its own modest life-affirming way, this stylized SECRET OF KELLS is a classic.

An Irish Beauty

[JohnDeSando · 17 April 2010]

"I've lived through many ages. I've seen suffering in the darkness. Yet I have seen beauty thrive in the most fragile of places. I have seen the book. The book that turns darkness into light." Aisling (Christen Mooney)

Writer/director Tomm Moore's Secret of Kells is an Irish animation more like a highly stylized, richly illustrated children's book than an historical look at the Book of Kells. Reverence for the illuminated manuscript so lovingly transcribed by Celtic monks in the post-Roman British era of Insular Art is there; characterization of the main players such as the Abbot Cellach (voice of Brendan Gleeson) is not there, as if the hand-drawn cells were the reason everyone is at the screening, not the characters.

The abbot's nephew Brendan (voice of Evan McGuire) is a young apprentice scribe who eventually saves the manuscript and whose presence is continual through the film, a symbol of hope for Irish culture and a dramatic necessity given the flatness of the other characters. His relationship with the sprightly Aisling is childlike and then mystical as they grow apart with different missions defining their lives.

The animation becomes as alive as the artwork with the arrival of the marauding Vikings, whose hulking, boxy blackness and menacing horns contrast with the richness of the forest green and the manuscript pages themselves. Sneaking in is a bit of CG to augment the busy background of Kells town and the manuscript.

The beauty of the animation is similar to that of the book itself, whose Christian gospels and motifs are lavishly ornamented, far superior to any other Insular Art in its time. The colors of the film remind me of the richness in Sita Sings the Blues.

The two-dimensional animation seems flat by contrast with the recent 3-D obsession, yet I was not interested in changing The Secret of Kells into a modern cinematic fad. Splendid 900 A.D. art is just fine, thank you.

Mesmerizing animation and beautiful music

[cricketbat · 6/10 · 28 December 2018]

The animation in The Secret of Kells is mesmerizing, and the soundtrack is beautiful, which is probably why I fell asleep while watching it and had to rewind the ending-which wasn't that strong, to be honest. Perhaps the story will appeal to those who know and understand Irish history and folklore, but it's a bit of a deep dive for everyone else.

Highly acclaimed, but not my cup of tea...

[paulclaassen · 3/10 · 6 July 2022]

Unfortunately this highly acclaimed animated movie was not my cup of tea. I found it confusing and uninteresting, and I didn't like the animation (way too many straight lines; almost like a cartoon instead of a feature film).

The story revolves around an unfished illuminated book that can turn darkness into light. Our hero is an inquisitive boy, Brendan, who becomes an apprentice to Aidan, the book's creator. Brendan, who has never been outside his village, wanders into the woods to find gall nuts used as ink for the book. There he meets the fairy, Aisling, who helps him and they become friends.

With numerous obstacles to overcome, they attempt to finish the book. As I said, I didn't find the premise interesting and the film therefore did not appeal to me. Although this is a short movie, I got bored and was hoping for it to end.