The Secret of Kells

This post was originally published on March 4, 2020 and has been republished on March 16, 2021.

With St. Patrick's Day coming up, I was in the mood for an Irish-themed movie. An internet search led me to The Secret of Kells. It was inspired by Irish mythology and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2010. It was well-received and it looked interesting to me (both the description of the story and the cover of the DVD), so I decided to check it out.

This was quite the departure from the MCU movies I've been binging on, as I knew it would be. It is a movie that I think can appeal to children and adults alike. Young children will be captivated by the artistry and older children, as well as adults, will appreciate both the artistry and the story line. There are some teachable moments in it that adults can discuss with their children.

While I enjoyed the calmer tone of this movie, a nice interlude from the MCU, and the story line was engaging, what I loved most about it was the animation. The brilliantly bright colors and impeccable art work were a feast for the eyes. They made me want to take out my colored pencils and start coloring.

In addition to the animation, I truly adored the charming character of Pangur Bán. It is rare to see cats depicted as loyal and loving companions in movies, at least judging from my own viewing experience. This was a most welcome change from the norm. If you listen closely at the end of the movie while the credits are rolling, you will hear the recitation of the Old Irish poem of the same name.

I recommend this movie, and honestly, I'm not sure why it didn't win more awards than it did. It could be due to the fact that it's different than typical animated movies. But that's one thing I love about it. It's different in a good way. 

Do you agree? I encourage you to consider checking it out, if you haven't already, and tell me what you think!