The First Main Feature Film

Ten years after the studio had been founded, they finally reached their main goal, creating their very first main feature film. "The Secret of Kells" premiered in the Berlin film festival february 8th in 2009. It was very well received, it has received an average of 7.5/10 on IMDB, with the selected Top Critics giving it 88%. Later the same year, it was nominated in the category of best animated feature in the academy awards.

The movie is based on irish folklore, with main focus on The Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript gospel book. In this clip from the movie, you meet the main character, an orphan called Brendan, who has been forbidden by his uncle to go into the forest. Yet he eventually ventures into it to find some special berries to make ink for the book of Kells. He then meets Aisling, a forest-spirit. Although she is sceptical, she agrees to help, and shows him her forest. The influence of traditional celtic art is clearly apparent:

The story itself seems very real, with relatable and charming characters. One might feel that some parts of the story is somewhat vague, the ending could have been better strung out, and you don't really learn why the book is so important. However this is the only lacking part of the film. The characters and the world they live in is so complete and believable, and even though the style is intentionally flat (like in a medieval illustration), their existence and story is by no means one-dimensional. 

The characters are constantly surrounded by exquisite details, often you can see spirals and intricate patterns, often laced, which irish art is well known for.  

Their world may be flat, but that does not take away the energy and force from the animation.

Although the style is simple, through colours, lighting, shapes and contrast the film is a collage of a wide range of moods and strong emotions. In this screenshot, we see the villagers of Kells flee in terror from the vikings, who are the main villain in the film.

Director Tomm Moore and his friends started development already in 1999, inspired by Richard Williams' "The Thief and the Cobbler" and Disney's "Mulan". They where both films that used the respective traditional art as a basis for their style. They decided to do something like it with irish art. Another inspiration outside medieval art came from Genndy Tartakovsky's "Samurai Jack", who uses multiple international sources of inspiration.

A screenshot from Richard Williams' still unfinished piece "The Thief and the Cobbler"

Walt Disney's "Mulan"took their inspiration from traditional chinese art.

Although based on traditional japanese folklore, "Samurai Jack" has created a new modern, almost futuristic look, and blended well.

A big part of irish culture is their traditional folksongs. And what would a film which is so well-rooted in irish history as "The Secret of Kells" be without music with an irish feel to it? In this final clip, Brendan is locked inside the tower, and needs Aisling's help getting out. With the help of the cat Panger Baum and with a lullaby-like song, this scene is one of the most magic and memorable scenes in the movie:

Information sources: 

http://www.cartoonsaloon.ie/2009/06/feature-film-the-secret-of-kells/

http://www.awn.com/articles/2d/secret-kells-what-remarkable-animated-feature/page/1%2C1

Video sources:

http://youtu.be/Q7m1E0l-SZg

http://youtu.be/xFhd8RfCqVg

Picture sources:

http://www.cartoonsaloon.ie/2009/06/feature-film-the-secret-of-kells/

http://www.impawards.com/1998/mulan_ver1_xlg.html

http://veryaware.com/2010/07/terrible-thursday-the-thief-and-the-cobbler/theif_cobbler/

http://www.comicvine.com/myvine/deadcool/all-images/108-304719/1300594725638/105-1764148/