The Secret of Kells (2009)

The film nails Irish cultural peculiarities without stereotyping and mixes Christianity with paganism in its tale of the Book of Kells' creation. The animation is astonishing, with intricate details echoing the manuscript, and the story enchants both children and adults as a European equivalent to Miyazaki.

The review praises the film's universal appeal and visual dazzle, noting its suitability for both children and art enthusiasts while highlighting its Oscar nomination. It singles out the retro-cartoon style and Celtic-psychedelic backgrounds as standout elements.

The film is a visually breathtaking metaphorical exploration of Irish history and the symbolic importance of the Book of Kells, with a rich, layered world that rewards attention to its complex themes. It may baffle viewers expecting conventional fairy-tale structure but succeeds through its intense emotions and lush animation.

This sumptuous 2D visual feast is the year's third best animation after two 3D blockbusters. Its ravishing, intricate hand-drawn style inspired by the Book of Kells is singled out for praise.

The review calls the film a ravishing example of hand-drawn animation that fights against contemporary trends with its sophisticated European style and defense of books and imagination. Its success stems from a marvelous visual style and playful yet serious spirit that blends pagan, Christian, and monstrous elements joyfully.

The critic finds the film a visually stunning animation that blends whimsy and menace effectively. They praise its detailed hand-drawn style and the way it uses the story as a metaphor for a boy's coming-of-age and imagination, though the historical elements of the Book of Kells are less clear.

Calls the film visually ravishing and doused in Celtic magic, highlighting the intricate animation in forest sequences that draw on medieval manuscript styles and motifs. Notes it will appeal especially to younger audiences and Irish diaspora viewers for its original take on traditional animation.

The critic praises the film's vibrant, hand-drawn animation inspired by the Book of Kells as a reminder that 3D is not needed for striking images. They highlight its whimsical quality, universal themes of imagination and dreams, and suitability for all ages.

This hand-drawn Celtic animation turns the legend of the Book of Kells into compelling viewing for children and an artistic delight for adults. The lively illuminations and magical elements are highlighted.

Praises the magical, ornate hand-drawn animation inspired by medieval art and Celtic folklore. Singles out the labor of love in the animation and the wonderful images, while noting the story is a bit tangled.

Tomm Moore’s Irish animation, with its painstaking references to Celtic myth and medieval manuscripts, shows lively originality that places Europe’s animators on par with or ahead of America’s in some respects. The original animation draws viewers in, making it suitable for parents and children alike without adult boredom.

This unlikely Irish animation about monks creating the Book of Kells is a quiet, pleasurable film. The visuals evoke the illustrations themselves in a low-key way.

The critic highlights the film's dense, intricate animation style inspired by the Book of Kells, praising its visual brio and the convincing link it draws between ancient manuscript illumination and modern animation. A somewhat hectic plot serves mainly as scaffolding for the extraordinary artwork.

The critic finds the retro look, drawing from illuminated manuscripts and older animation styles, luscious and refreshing, with jewel-bright colors and intricate patterns that will appeal especially to younger children and art-minded parents. The earnest screenplay lacks jokes, limiting broader appeal despite strong craft.

The film's majestic hand-drawn animation creates a visually stunning medieval-inspired world full of inventive imagery, but the story lacks dramatic vigor, emotional depth, and engagement, feeling schematic and underdeveloped despite its folklore roots.

The critic praises it as a feast for fans of serious animation, highlighting the love and dedication in the hand-drawn Celtic/medieval style and the emotional engagement in the story sequences.

The critic praises the film's unique artistic design inspired by medieval art and its meditation on knowledge, nature, and civilization. However, the story and characters sometimes get lost amid the visual inventiveness, leading to a slow pace that prioritizes spectacle over narrative drive.

The critic finds the film captivatingly creative visually but over-fussy in story, calling it an entertaining and accomplished debut. They single out the intricate, hand-drawn animation inspired by Celtic imagery as a visual feast that pops off the screen.