--- title: "Song of the Sea" year: 2014 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/song-of-the-sea" fi1m_score: 82 critics_score: 83 critics_reviews: 20 published: "2026-09-17T07:08:45.122444+00:00" updated: "2026-09-17T07:08:45.415380+00:00" region: "US" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Song of the Sea (2014) Directed by Tomm Moore · 1h 34m · MPA PG · Family, Animation, Fantasy **Fi1m score: 82** · Critics 83 from 20 reviews *In a sentence:* All those soothing watercolours, and the children still manage to make us worry > Tomm Moore’s second film draws Irish folklore in watercolour and uses it to tell a story about a grieving family. The middle sags and the magic’s rules are loose, but we recommend it, to adults as much as children. ## Synopsis Ben (David Rawle) and Saoirse (Lucy O’Connell) face family grief amid the selkies, giants and faeries of Irish folklore. Ben is a jealous older brother, protective of his sister but resentful of her too. Their relationship drives a magical adventure that brings everyday family troubles into contact with legend. Conor (Brendan Gleeson), Bronach (Lisa Hannigan) and Granny (Fionnula Flanagan) are also part of their lives. Music connects the everyday and the supernatural as the children struggle with loss and their feelings towards each other. ## Review Tomm Moore’s *Song of the Sea* tells its family story through Irish folklore, with the children’s feelings given as much weight as the magic. Ben (David Rawle) and Saoirse (Lucy O’Connell) give the film its emotional centre, and their relationship matters more than keeping every magical rule straight. It is a handsome, moving family film with a wandering middle. We recommend it warmly, with some patience required when the mythology becomes difficult to follow. Adrien Mérigeau’s production design gives the watercolour backgrounds and hand-drawn figures enough detail to reward close attention without making every image busy. The pale, misty colours suit a story in which everyday family life and Irish legend belong beside one another. The flat drawing is a pleasure in itself; it does not need to imitate the weight and surfaces of photographed objects. We kept looking at the backgrounds, sometimes after our interest in the immediate business had faded. The brother’s jealousy is the detail that makes the family convincing. We were moved by it: the film allows a child to resent his sister without treating that feeling as proof that he does not love her. David Rawle’s Ben can be difficult, and that is a useful quality in a family adventure. The affection has to coexist with irritation, as it does between actual siblings. Bruno Coulais’s melodic score supports that tenderness without making the fantasy feel solemn. Darragh Byrne’s editing gives the drawings time to register, and the gentle pace is welcome when so much of the pleasure lies in looking. The music and pictures are often enough to hold our attention through a passage that does little to move the story along. They cannot make every detour necessary. Will Collins’s screenplay is less sure when it has to organise the adventure. The mythology can be difficult to follow, and some stretches wander while the bond between the children waits for attention again. A familiar fairy-tale shape does not make the individual rules any clearer. At 94 minutes the film is not long, but the middle still feels padded. We wanted fewer interruptions to the children’s story. The adult voices help more than the adult writing. Fionnula Flanagan voices both Granny and Macha, while Brendan Gleeson supplies Conor and Mac Lir. Those shared voices give the movement between family story and legend a useful continuity. The performances convey kindness and hurt, though the adult characters do not receive the same attention as the children. A little more room for them would have helped. Set against Tomm Moore’s [*The Secret of Kells*](https://film.one/film/the-secret-of-kells), this is a more confident film and a less surprising one. The resemblance to Studio Ghibli is apparent in its child-centred fantasy, but the Irish folklore and the drawing give it plenty of character of its own. What matters is the seriousness with which it takes jealousy and sorrow. It lets children be jealous and unhappy without becoming a lecture about behaving better. It has a PG certificate, but we would not put it on simply to keep small children quiet. Its grief may leave them needing a conversation afterwards. Watch it together, with time to talk when it finishes. *Fi1m score 82, published 17 September 2026.* ## What the critics say All twenty reviews are positive, and they agree on why. The praise clusters on the hand-drawn animation: watercolour backgrounds, misty pastel frames, a design that takes its shapes from Irish folklore. Several critics welcome it as an alternative to computer animation, and most compare it to Studio Ghibli, usually as a compliment. The score is singled out almost as often. Beyond the look, critics keep returning to the grief under the fairy tale, and to the bond between a resentful older brother and his sister. The reservations, such as they are, concern the story. RogerEbert.com finds the narrative formulaic and borrowed from other fairy tales; Sight and Sound calls it derivative of Ghibli and of The Secret of Kells; the Evening Standard thinks it blander than that earlier film. Consequence notes thin adult characters and mythic rules that are hard to follow, and The Wrap finds the plot dense and short on explanation. The spread is narrow, from good to very good, with nobody in outright dissent. ### Reviews we read (20) - **Los Angeles Times**, Kenneth Turan (95/100, inferred): The critic hails it as a visually stunning masterwork that immerses viewers in an enchanted world blending Irish myth with everyday life. Special praise is given to the gorgeous watercolor backdrops, the melodic score, and the graceful emotional resonance about wonder and loss. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-song-of-the-sea-review-20150109-column.html) - **IndieWire**, Charles Solomon (90/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a visually stunning and emotionally moving animated feature that builds on the director's previous work with rich Irish mythology and expressive animation. It highlights the heartfelt story of family, loss, and sibling bonds as a key strength. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-song-of-the-sea-123759/) - **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (90/100, inferred): This is a superb Irish animation and enchanting, very moving family film rooted in folklore, with selkies, giants and faeries. The gorgeous painterly animation recalls Studio Ghibli while maintaining the director's own distinctive style. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jul/12/song-of-the-sea-review) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, Boyd van Hoeij (90/100, inferred): The review praises the film's hand-drawn 2D animation and watercolor backgrounds as a refreshing alternative to CGI, calling it visually gorgeous and emotionally resonant despite a familiar story. It singles out the score and the way Irish folklore is woven into the narrative for particular acclaim. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/song-sea-toronto-review-732446/) - **The New York Times**, Jeannette Catsoulis (Critic's Pick): The review describes a delicate, painterly animated fable about selkies and the power of music that moves from pain and loss to contentment and love. It singles out the misty pastel hand-drawn frames and the way the story honors Celtic folklore while feeling intimate and purposeful. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/19/movies/song-of-the-sea-an-animated-fable-from-tomm-moore.html) - **Variety** (85/100, inferred): The review praises the follow-up to The Secret of Kells for its dazzling hand-drawn visuals rooted in Irish legend and its ethereal musical score. It notes the rich yet subdued design and the poignant, unconventional happy ending that distinguishes Moore's storytelling. [Read](https://variety.com/2014/film/festivals/film-review-song-of-the-sea-1201310423/) - **Empire**, Will Lawrence (80/100, inferred): The critic praises the film's visual beauty, intricate animation, and emotional depth in exploring folklore and emotions, noting it as a worthy follow-up to The Secret of Kells with some wandering in the story but an enchanting end. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/song-sea-review/) - **Little White Lies**, David Jenkins (4/4/4): The critic hails the film as a stunning, handmade work that enters a child's mindset with magical visual splendour and playful humour, confirming Moore as an animation heavyweight. It singles out the energetic articulation of grief, memory, self-expression and family dynamics through fantastical imagery without being preachy. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/song-of-the-sea) - **Time Out**, Dave Calhoun (4/5): The critic calls it an enchanting, gorgeously drawn Irish animation that mixes heartbreaking family drama with folklore's mystery and wonder. It singles out the dazzling craft, sensitive soul and charming fantasy elements that offset real-world grief, making it perfect for kids and seductive to adults. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/song-of-the-sea) - **Evening Standard**, Charlotte O'Sullivan (75/100, inferred): Praises the astounding beauty of the hand-drawn animation and the magical tale, though notes it's slightly blander than the director's previous film, but still enchanting for fans of subtle animation. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/song-of-the-sea-film-review-a-magical-tale-to-rival-the-best-of-pixar-10379932.html) - **RogerEbert.com**, Simon Abrams (75/100, inferred): The critic calls the film visually splendid but notes its formulaic and flat-footed narrative, which borrows too heavily from other fairy tales. Praise goes to the hand-drawn animation enhanced by CGI, the gentle pacing, and strong voice performances that convey grief and kindness. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/song-of-the-sea-2014) - **Sight and Sound**, Alex Dudok de Wit (70/100, inferred): The critic praises Moore's sophomore feature for its authentic Irish mythology and expressive 2D animation, highlighting greater technical accomplishment than in The Secret of Kells. It notes the film's derivative elements relative to Ghibli influences and its predecessor but commends its bold inventiveness and reminder of 2D animation's unique expressive power. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/toon-week-song-sea) - **Slant Magazine** (70/100, inferred): The review lauds the film's abstract, watercolor-infused animation style that visualizes metaphors directly and elevates the folkloric tale. It notes that while the plot can feel whimsical or incoherent at times, the emotional core about harboring pain and family healing remains fully realized. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/song-of-the-sea/) - **The Skinny**, John Nugent (★★★★★): Praises it as richly deserving of Oscar nomination, rooted in Irish mythology with themes of grief, astonishing animation; brims with charm, wit, emotion and magic. [Read](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/song-of-the-sea-review) - **Paste**, Andy Crump (9.2): The critic calls it the best animated film of the year thanks to its visceral 2D animation and rich Irish folklore, while suggesting it might have translated even better as an interactive game. He singles out the mature handling of grief, sibling resentment, and timeless storytelling. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/song-of-sea) - **HeyUGuys**, Stefan Pape (85/100, inferred): The critic praises the hand-crafted, intricately drawn animation style as a glorious visual experience and highlights the film's sincere emotional core in depicting family relationships, especially the dynamic between the jealous yet protective older brother and his sister. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/song-of-the-sea-review/) - **Consequence** (80/100, inferred): The review lauds the film's gorgeous hand-drawn animation, precise world-building drawn from Celtic mythology, and focus on the children's relationship as an enchanting feat of craftsmanship. Minor complaints include underdeveloped adult characters and occasionally opaque mythic rules. [Read](https://consequence.net/2015/02/film-review-song-of-the-sea/) - **Den of Geek**, Ryan Lambie (4/5): The critic praises the film's charming animation, sense of innocence, and handling of grief through folklore and imagination. They single out the vivid, detailed art style and influence from Miyazaki. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/song-of-the-sea-review/) - **Eye for Film**, Amber Wilkinson (80/100, inferred): The critic commends the intricately drawn, Celtic-inflected animation that flows like the sea itself and notes how the film explores unusually complex emotions such as jealousy, grief, and longing within a magical adventure framework. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/song-of-the-sea-2014-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson) - **The Wrap** (80/100, inferred): The film stands out as one of the year's animated highlights for its exquisite, enigmatic take on Irish folklore. The critic singles out the gorgeous watercolor-style animation and storybook visuals for particular praise while noting the dense, exposition-light plot as a potential drawback. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/song-of-the-sea-review-irish-animation-academy-awards/) ## Details - **Director:** Tomm Moore - **Director:** Tomm Moore - **Writer:** Will Collins - **Story:** Tomm Moore - **Editor:** Darragh Byrne - **Music:** Bruno Coulais - **Production design:** Adrien Mérigeau - **Producer:** Tomm Moore, Paul Young, Ross Murray - **Cast:** David Rawle as Ben (voice); Brendan Gleeson as Conor / Mac Lir (voice); Lisa Hannigan as Bronach (voice); Fionnula Flanagan as Granny / Macha (voice); Lucy O'Connell as Saoirse (voice); Jon Kenny as Ferry Dan / The Great Seanachaí (voice); Pat Shortt as Lug (voice); Colm Ó'Snodaigh as Mossy (voice) - **Runtime:** 1h 34m - **Certificate (MPA):** PG - **Release (the US):** 19 December 2014 - **Genres:** Family, Animation, Fantasy - **Budget:** $8 million - **Box office:** $857,522 - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrhoOzW8oF8 ## Where to watch in the US - Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, hd - Apple TV: rent $3.99, hd - Amazon Prime Video: buy $6.99, sd - Apple TV: buy $12.99, sd *Checked 2026-09-17.* Also available in: AR, AT, AU, BE, BR, CA, CL, CO, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, IE, IN, IT, JP, MX, NL, PA, SE, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## Awards - Academy Awards 2015: Best Animated Feature (nominated) - European Film Award for Best Animated Feature Film 2015: European Film Award for Best Animated Feature Film (won) - Annie Award for Best Animated Feature 2014: Annie Award for Best Animated Feature (nominated) ## If you liked this - *The Secret of Roan Inish* (1994): John Sayles’s live-action selkie story, told patiently, with family matters close at hand. - *Wolfwalkers* (2020): Moore again, with a tighter plot and wolves that run like brushstrokes. - *Ponyo* (2008): Miyazaki’s small girl from the sea, with more room for uncomplicated joy. - *Kirikou and the Sorceress* (1998): West African folk tale, flat and bright and unbothered by Hollywood rules. - *The Red Turtle* (2016), Fi1m 84: A man, an island and no dialogue; grief and the sea, for patient viewers. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-red-turtle.md) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/song-of-the-sea