The Secret of Kells (2009)
There are films that arrive quietly, made on modest budgets by small studios in countries not traditionally associated with feature animation, and then somehow end up nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. The Secret of Kells is precisely that kind of film. Released in 2009 and co-produced across Ireland, France, and Belgium by the Galway-based Cartoon Saloon alongside Gébéka Films, Les Armateurs, and their co-producers, it drew its inspiration from one of the most celebrated artefacts in Irish cultural history: the Book of Kells, a ninth-century illuminated manuscript housed at Trinity College Dublin. The film takes that manuscript not merely as a backdrop but as a structural and visual philosophy, building its entire aesthetic around the flat, geometric, ornamental style of Celtic illumination. For a debut feature from a studio that had previously worked only in short-form animation and television, the ambition on display is, to put it plainly, remarkable.
Tomm Moore, who co-directed here with Nora Twomey (Twomey would later direct the equally acclaimed The Breadwinner), had been a co-founder of Cartoon Saloon in 1999 alongside Paul Young and Twomey herself. The Secret of Kells was the studio's first feature-length production, and Moore's fingerprints are all over its sensibility: a genuine reverence for Irish folklore, mythology, and craft tradition, presented without condescension to younger audiences. He would return to that same well with Song of the Sea (2014), forming what many now consider the first two entries in an informal Irish folklore trilogy. The budget, by Hollywood standards, was extremely modest, which makes the visual ambition of the finished film all the more striking. On screen, twelve-year-old Brendan, a boy raised within the walls of a fortified abbey, ventures beyond its gates into an enchanted forest to help complete the legendary illuminated manuscript, facing mythological dangers and the ever-present threat of Norse raiders along the way.
The voice cast is a pleasingly Irish affair, anchored by Brendan Gleeson, a performer who has long brought considerable weight to projects ranging from literary adaptations to genre pictures (if you are curious how Irish filmmaking talent travels across very different genres, our look at Evil Dead Rise is worth a read alongside this one). Gleeson voices the stern, fortress-minded Abbot Cellach, Brendan's uncle and guardian, and brings a gruff, conflicted humanity to what could easily have been a one-note obstacle figure. The young protagonist Brendan is voiced by Evan McGuire, a child actor who manages the tricky job of carrying a film without tipping into either blandness or precocious irritation. Christen Mooney voices Aisling, a forest spirit whose presence is one of the film's most visually inventive creations, while the late Mick Lally, a much-loved figure in Irish theatre and television, provides the warm, scholarly voice of Brother Aidan. The cast, like the animation style itself, feels chosen with care rather than commercial calculation. For another example of animation that carries serious cultural and artistic weight, it is worth a glance at our review of Father and Daughter (2000), a short that punches well above its running time in emotional terms.
The moment you press play on Tomm Moore’s 2009 animated feature The Secret of Kells, you are immediately struck by how utterly gorgeous it is. The vibrant colours, the geometric, illuminated-manuscript art style, and the sheer fluidity of the animation make it a genuine visual feast.
It is incredibly rare to see Irish folklore captured with this level of artistic reverence in animation, and Moore clearly poured his heart into every single frame. It’s a cracking visual achievement that immediately sets it apart from the glossy, mass-produced output of the major studios, demanding that you just sit back and admire the craftsmanship.
But it’s not all solemn, mystical brooding. The film knows exactly when to lighten the mood, and I found myself genuinely chuckling at several points. There’s a brilliant, literal wild goose chase early on that perfectly captures the chaotic, mischievous energy of the young protagonist. The supporting cast provides some excellent comedic friction, ensuring the picture never feels too heavy or self-serious, even when the very real threat of Viking raids is looming on the horizon. It strikes a lovely balance between historical weight and youthful adventure.
I will concede, however, that the narrative itself is a little thin. Once you get past the initial wonder of the setting, the plot beats become fairly predictable, marching towards a standard, by-the-numbers coming-of-age resolution. It is also impossible not to compare it to Moore’s later, more emotionally devastating work, Song of the Sea. While Kells is undoubtedly a beautiful precursor, it simply doesn't quite reach the profound emotional depths or narrative complexity of that later masterpiece. The soundtrack, while decent and appropriately Celtic, also lacks the haunting, unforgettable punch of its successor's score.
A slightly predictable storyline doesn't take away from the sheer magic of the overall package. Tomm Moore crafted a deeply charming, visually stunning love letter to Irish heritage that feels both timeless and refreshingly unique. It’s a highly watchable, beautifully realised piece of cinema that proves you don't need a massive Hollywood budget to create something truly special. It remains a cracking introduction to the studio's golden era.
The Secret of Kells occupies an interesting position in the broader landscape of European animation: polished but unremarkable in its storytelling, yet genuinely exceptional in its visual conception. It announced Cartoon Saloon as a studio with a distinct identity, one rooted in place and myth rather than in the market-tested formulas of its larger competitors, and it set Moore on a creative path that he has pursued with admirable consistency ever since. Whether you come to it as a fan of Celtic art, a parent looking for something a little less factory-produced, or simply someone who appreciates the craft of hand-drawn animation, it rewards the sitting. It is, in the best sense, a film that knows exactly what it is. Sometimes that is more than enough.
Rating: ★★★½ | Year: 2009 | Watched: 2026-07-23
Trailer
▶ Watch the official trailer for The Secret of Kells (2009) on YouTube
Where to watch
Watch in the UK
Stream: Studiocanal Presents Amazon Channel
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Buy: Apple TV Store · Amazon Video · Sky Store
Physical: Amazon UK · Zavvi
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Buy: Amazon Video · Apple TV Store · Google Play Movies · YouTube
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