Movie · 2009 · Animation, Family, Fantasy · 1h 19m · NR · English
Curator score: 8.0/10 (105.9K ratings)
Turn the darkness into light
Overview
Adventure awaits 12 year old Brendan who must fight Vikings and a serpent god to find a crystal and complete the legendary Book of Kells. In order to finish Brother Aiden's book, Brendan must overcome his deepest fears on a secret quest that will take him beyond the abbey walls and into the enchanted forest where dangerous mythical creatures hide. Will Brendan succeed in his quest?
Ratings
Curator score: 8.0/10
IMDb: 7.5/10
Letterboxd: 3.86/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Metacritic: 81
TMDB: 7.4/10
Director
Tomm Moore
Production
Cartoon Saloon, Gébéka Films, Les Armateurs, Vivi Film, France 2 Cinéma, Celluloid Dreams
Cast
Evan McGuire, Christen Mooney, Brendan Gleeson, Mick Lally, Liam Hourican, Paul Tylak, Michael McGrath, Paul Young, Nora Twomey, Alli McCann, Clair Funchion, Conor O'Halloran, Gaelle Hersent, Marie Thorhauge, Sean Ono Lennon, Jonas Hoffmann, Fabian Erlinghäuser, Kairen Waloch, James William O'Halloran
Curator Review
Verdict
A visually distinctive Irish fantasy with hand-crafted animation, mythic atmosphere, and a strong sense of wonder. The plot is simpler and less emotionally complete than Cartoon Saloon’s later work, but the artistry and folkloric texture make it an easy recommendation for animation fans and viewers who value style, mood, and worldbuilding.
Best for
animation lovers
fans of Celtic folklore and myth
viewers who prioritize visual design and atmosphere
family audiences comfortable with gentle peril
fans of poetic, art-forward fantasy
Skip if
you want a tightly plotted adventure
you prefer fast pacing and constant action
you’re looking for broad comedy or mainstream Disney-style storytelling
you dislike stylized, storybook-like animation
Overview
The Secret of Kells is the kind of animated film that feels hand-carved rather than manufactured. Its illuminated-manuscript look, geometric compositions, and luminous color palette give the movie a singular identity, turning every frame into something closer to a living artifact than a conventional cartoon.
Worth noting
Narratively, it’s more modest than its visual ambition. The story is straightforward and sometimes rushed, but the film compensates with mood, myth, and a sincere sense of childhood discovery. Brendan’s journey works best as a coming-of-age fable about fear, knowledge, and the courage required to step beyond the walls of safety.
Bottom line
It’s also an important early statement from Cartoon Saloon: less polished than the studio’s later masterpieces, but already rich with imagination and cultural specificity. If you’re drawn to animation as an art form, or to fantasy that feels ancient and handmade, this is well worth your time.
Top Letterboxd reviews
James (Schaffrillas) (3★) · 1138 likes
Absolutely enchanting animation, but it feels like an unfinished beta version of Song of the Sea and Wolfwalkers. Easily Cartoon Saloon's weakest film, but not a bad start for the studio by any means.
Tintin (3★) · 712 likes
…BUT WHAT WAS THE SECRET OF KELLS
Josh Larsen (4★) · 535 likes
A wonder of geometry, the Irish animated feature The Secret of Kells unfolds as if a kaleidoscope had emptied its contents onto a table, where they magically assembled into intricate story panels. Very few animated films have had such a mesmerizing, puzzle-like quality.
The clear influences are the intricately “illuminated” copies of the Gospels that Irish monks drew by hand around 600 to 800 AD. The microscopic patterns and shapes that detail such artifacts – including the actual Book of… more
selomeee (2.5★) · 424 likes
wow lmao the character design for brother assoua is just ... wildly racist! was really not expecting a minstrel-esque caricature in this fairly recent and highly celebrated irish film? what an unwelcome surprise!
besides that, the art was really lovely, but the plot was mid and the pacing was off. i don’t anticipate that much of it will stick with me. i adored the breadwinner, so i’m still excited to see song of the sea and wolfwalkers. cartoon saloon don’t let me down!
🌻 lindsay 🌻 (3.5★) · 371 likes
I liked the animation style more than the plot but I really really loved the style so I enjoyed this a lot. I love magic 😌