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The Secret of Kells

Play trailer 1:53 Poster for The Secret of Kells Released Mar 5, 2010 1h 18m Kids & Family Adventure Fantasy Animation Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
90% Tomatometer 83 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
In the remote Irish woods, Cellach (Brendan Gleeson) prepares a fortress for an impending attack by a Viking war party. Unbeknown 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.
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The Secret of Kells

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Critics Consensus

Beautifully drawn and refreshingly calm, The Secret of Kells hearkens back to animation's golden age with an enchanting tale inspired by Irish mythology.

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Critics Reviews

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Chris Chang Film Comment Magazine Kells has a decidedly pleasing-to-the-eye, retro-cartoon vibe ( ... ) an intriguing and rare artistic subgenre Nov 13, 2013 Full Review Derek Malcolm London Evening Standard Tomm Moore's Irish animation, drawn with painstaking reference to both Celtic myth and medieval manuscripts, possesses a lively originality that shows Europe's animators not far behind America's and in some ways in front of them. Rated: 3/5 Oct 6, 2010 Full Review Marc Lee Daily Telegraph (UK) The look of the film is simply ravishing. Rated: 4/5 Sep 30, 2010 Full Review Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) It's indescribable, the euphoria communicated by these non-abstract shapes and shades. [Full review in Spanish] Jul 19, 2022 Full Review Yasser Medina Cinefilia 'The Secret of Kells' is an independent animated film that, in my opinion, has an imaginative visual style, as well as allusions to Irish mythology, but its narrative is as soft as the sheets of a century-old manuscript. [Full review in Spanish] Rated: 5/10 Sep 17, 2020 Full Review Mattie Lucas From the Front Row Its skillful balancing act of paganism and Christianity in its evocation of medieval Celtic spirituality is both fascinating and enchanting. Rated: 2.5/4 Aug 5, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Noe G The Secret of Kells is my favorite cartoon saloon movie and it’s amazing fantastic, outstanding, animated film and my rating is a 10/10 Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/21/24 Full Review Annabell M I definitely prefer Wolfwalkers because this story was all over the place but the animation was breathtaking. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/06/24 Full Review Audience Member unbelievable animation that will take your breath away this is magical Irish fairytale storytelling its a shame Aisling isn't in here a whole lot, you'd think it would be a typical boy-meets-girl scenario it's about a young boy growing up to uncover a secret that changes his world the characters for the most part aren't that strong and the plot could have used some more treatment the combination of Celtic and Christian is quite remarkable though as you can see animated storytelling is far from dead Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/23/24 Full Review Leaburn O I love the style of animation. The shapes and shades are beautiful. The problem here is the dreary plot which is both dull and nonsensical. Not a patch in Songs of the Sea I'm afraid. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 07/27/23 Full Review all life i What a fitting start for Cartoon Saloon, perfectly setting up the studio's trajectory for years to come! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/07/23 Full Review Tristan R "The Secret of Kells" is a stunningly beautiful animated film that tells a mythical story of the creation of the famous illuminated manuscript, the Book of Kells. The film is set in medieval Ireland, where a young boy named Brendan is taken under the wing of an eccentric monk named Brother Aidan, who is tasked with creating the book. The film's animation style is a unique blend of traditional hand-drawn animation and computer-generated imagery, resulting in a visually striking film that is reminiscent of illuminated manuscripts. The intricate designs and patterns that are present throughout the film are awe-inspiring, and the attention to detail is remarkable. The film's story is engaging and well-paced, with a perfect balance of adventure, humor, and heart. The characters are charming and likable, and the voice acting is top-notch. Brendan's journey is not only one of artistic creation but also of personal growth and self-discovery, making it a truly inspiring tale. Overall, "The Secret of Kells" is a must-watch for animation fans and anyone who appreciates beautiful storytelling. The film's unique animation style, engaging story, and lovable characters make it a true gem in the world of animation. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/10/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Secret of Kells

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis In the remote Irish woods, Cellach (Brendan Gleeson) prepares a fortress for an impending attack by a Viking war party. Unbeknown 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.
Director
Tomm Moore, Nora Twomey
Producer
Didier Brunner, Tomm Moore, Viviane Vanfleteren, Paul Young
Screenwriter
Fabrice Ziolkowski
Distributor
GKIDS
Production Co
Tax Shelter ING Invest de Tax Shelter Productions, Belgacom TV, Canal+, Broadcasting Commission of Ireland, Cartoon Saloon, Kinepolis Multi, Conseil Général de la Charente, Télédistributeurs Wallons, Bórd Scannán na hÉireann, EU Media Plus Program, MEDIA Programme of the European Union, France 2 Cinéma, Vlaams Audiovisueel Fonds, Vivi Film, Wallimage, Conseil Régional de Poitou Charentes, Piste Rouge, CinéCinéma, Les Armateurs, Promimage, Centre du Cinéma et de l'Audiovisuel de la Communauté Française de Belgique, Euroimages Fund of the Council of Europe
Genre
Kids & Family, Adventure, Fantasy, Animation
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 5, 2010, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 30, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$686.4K
Runtime
1h 18m
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