Movie Review The Secret of Kells

The Secret of Kells has been based on Celtic Myth and focuses on the destiny of Brendan to complete Aidens religious manuscript. Take a look between the lines, though, and its easy to see how directors Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey have taken some of the most unique pages in history and forced them into the unremarkable mould of every other heroine coming-of-age fantasy. (Goss, 2010) Tomm Moore has taken events in history such as the invasion of the Vikings as the threat to tie the characters in but Brendans journey eventually becomes the light that changes the atmosphere of the story at the end. Moore has vaguely connected The Secret of Kells to illustrate the Four Gospels to spread a new message about religion to the people. Brendan learns under Aidens guidance which incorporates the idea of the disciple to become the new illuminator, at the end of the film when Brendan returns to the monastery even his uncle believes in the manuscript. Brendan has grown up wise and respected like his mentor Aiden was before him.

Figure 1, 2010, Brendan and Aisling

Tomm Moore adopted a unique style of design through his study through references of history. Tomm Moores Irish animation, drawn with painstaking reference to both Celtic myth and medieval manuscripts, possesses a lively originality that shows Europes animators not far behind Americas and in some ways in front of them. (Malcolm, 2010) Moore has considered carefully how he wished to portray the world of Kells, one example is in Figure 2 when Brendan slips into the Dark Ones Lair and the style of drawing changes into something more traditional and has an ancient feel to the 2D flatness of the worlds design. It feels like a cultural style from the early periods of history when Monks wrote scrolls and manuscripts and used this style to tell stories and express the paths of religion.

Figure 2, 2010, The Dark Ones Cave

The characters have a similar design value between the monks and symbolise typical stereotypes, the uncle for example is tallest of clan and has a strong look that creates a sense of authority. Aisling stands out as an individual character as part of the forest surrounds that she belongs to. Your eyes might take a while to adjust to the film's unique aesthetic. The characters themselves - borderline crude, though expressive, line drawings - aren't much to look at, for starters. (Ivan, 2010) The expressive, line drawing definitely relates to Aislings character as she moves around differently as a creature and morphs into various forms to maintain her forest. Aisling also fills the myth of magic and mysteriousness of Celtic belief, she has been drawn to flow across the landscape naturally as if she were as one with it.

Figure 3, 2010, Aislings Song

Illustration List Figure 1, (2010), Brandon and Ashley, @ http://newvideo.com/secretofkells/, Accessed on: 2010

Figure 2, (2010), The Dark Ones Cave, @ http://animatedviews.com/2010/the-secret-of-kells-special-edition-bluray/, Accessed on: 19th October 2010

Figure 3, 2012, Aislings Song, @ http://wn.com/YingYang96, Accessed on: 2012

Bibliography Ivan Sophie, (2010), Film 4 The Secret of Kells Review, @ http://www.film4.com/reviews/2009/the-secret-of-kells, Accessed on: 6th October 2010 Malcolm Derek, (2010), Cartoon Craic in The Secret of Kells The Secret of Kells Review, @ http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/arts/film/cartoon-craic-in-the-secret-ofkells-7421901.html, Accessed on: 1st October 2010

Goss William, (2010), Orlando Weekly The Secret of Kells Review, @ http://www2.orlandoweekly.com/film/review.asp?rid=15191, Accessed on: 25th August 2010

4/5