Review of The Secret of Kells (2009) by Dawdlingpoet — 20 Nov 2021

I really liked this film for two main reasons - 1) the folk music, with a celtic, mystical sound to it - I particularly like the violin and the harp and 2) the brilliant animation used, with some quite detailed celtic patterns/imagery present (which I admired the intricacy of) and otherwise lots of geometric patterns. I particularly liked the detail shown in the individual snow flakes falling slowly from the sky, for one thing. Some of the animation looks like watercolour paint.

It has quite a fantastical and perhaps even spiritual feel to it. I liked the voices too, the characters sounded quite like like and vulnerable. Plot wise, it has a mythical element to it.

I thought it was a quite engrossing watch, although I didn't think it was quite as good as Song of the Sea, which is by the same Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon. In any case, I'd definitely recommend this film to fans of animation.