The Secret of Kells

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

39K

YOUR RATING

Young Brendan lives in a remote medieval outpost under siege from barbarian raids. But a new life of adventure beckons when a celebrated master illuminator arrives from foreign lands carrying an ancient but unfinished book, brimming with secret wisdom and powers. To help complete the magical book, Brendan has to overcome his deepest fears on a dangerous quest that takes him into the enchanted forest where mythical creatures hide. It is here that he meets the fairy Aisling, a mysterious young wolf-girl, who helps him along the way. But with the barbarians closing in, will Brendan's determination and artistic vision illuminate the darkness and show that enlightenment is the best fortification against evil?

Play trailer2:01

9 Videos

89 Photos

Adventure Animation Family Fantasy

A young boy in a remote medieval outpost under siege from barbarian raids is beckoned to adventure when a celebrated master illuminator arrives with an ancient book, brimming with secret wis... Read allA young boy in a remote medieval outpost under siege from barbarian raids is beckoned to adventure when a celebrated master illuminator arrives with an ancient book, brimming with secret wisdom and powers.A young boy in a remote medieval outpost under siege from barbarian raids is beckoned to adventure when a celebrated master illuminator arrives with an ancient book, brimming with secret wisdom and powers.

Directors
- Tomm Moore
- Nora Twomey
Writers
- Tomm Moore
- Fabrice Ziolkowski
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

39K

YOUR RATING

Directors
- Tomm Moore
- Nora Twomey
Writers
- Tomm Moore
- Fabrice Ziolkowski
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 7 wins & 7 nominations total

Brendan
(voice)
(as Evan Mc Guire)

Brendan Gleeson

Abbot Cellach
(voice)

Mick Lally

Aidan
(voice)

Christen Mooney

Aisling
(voice)

Liam Hourican

Brother Tang
(voice)
(as Liam Hourrican)
…

Paul Tylak

Brother Assoua
(voice)
(as Paul Tylac)

Michael McGrath

Adult Brendan
(voice)

Paul Young

Brother Square
(voice)

Nora Twomey

Additional Voices and Walla
(voice)

Alli McCann

Additional Voices and Walla
(voice)

Clair Funchion

Additional Voices and Walla
(voice)

Conor O'Halloran

Additional Voices and Walla
(voice)
(as Conor O Halloran)

Gaelle Hersent

Additional Voices and Walla
(voice)

Marie Thorhauge

Additional Voices and Walla
(voice)

Sean Lennon

Additional Voices and Walla
(voice)

Jonas Till Hoffmann

Additional Voices and Walla
(voice)
(as Jonas Hoffmann)

James O'Halloran

Additional Voices and Walla
(voice)
(as James O Halloran)

Fabian Erlinghauser

Additional Voices and Walla
(voice)
(as Fabian Erlinghäuser)

Directors
- Tomm Moore
- Nora Twomey
Writers
- Tomm Moore
- Fabrice Ziolkowski
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

More like this

8.0

8.0

7.7

7.8

7.7

Kubo and the Two Strings

6.5

7.5

6.9

7.2

8.0

The Tale of The Princess Kaguya

7.6

The Little Prince

7.8

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

Storyline

Edit

Did you know

Edit

Trivia
Aisling, the fairy girl, is named after a 17th-century genre of Irish poetry. Aisling is Irish for "dream vision." In an Aisling poem, the poet would describe receiving a vision of the spirit of Ireland, who appeared to him in the form of a beautiful young woman. The female spirit of Ireland would inspire the poet to write about his homeland, and serve as his guide in creating the poem (much as Aisling serves as Brendan's guide in the film).

Quotes
[first lines]
Aisling: I have lived through many ages, through the eyes of salmon, deer, and wolf. I have seen the Northmen invading Ireland, destroying all in search of gold. I've seen suffering in the darkness. Yet I have seen beauty thrive in the most fragile of places. I have seen the book. The book that turned darkness into light.

Crazy credits
During the closing credits, Aidan is heard reciting part of the Irish poem "Pangur Ban."

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: The Ghost Writer/Shutter Island (2010)

Soundtracks
Aisling Song
Written by Tomm Moore and Bruno Coulais
© Les Armateurs and Passerelle
(P) Les Armateurs and Vivi Film
Performed by Christen Mooney (uncredited)

User reviews114

Review

Featured review

9/10

Beautiful, rich film!

The Secret of Kells is one of the most unique, beautiful, and eye- popping animated films I have ever seen. Before watching this film, I was convinced that nothing could give Up a run for its money and that it was a shoo-in to win in this category, but I found in Kells a serious contender.

The Secret of Kells tell the story of a young orphan named Brendan, who lives with his uncle, the Abbot of Kell. The Abbot is a loving guardian, but perhaps a bit too strict and much more concerned with fortifying the wall around the town from a coming attack by vikings than he is at nurturing the boy's imagination. When the legendary Brother Aidan (who looks surprisingly like Willie Nelson) shows up and takes the boy under his wing, Brendan goes on a journey into the woods and meets a lovely forest nymph named Aisling who takes a liking to him (and saves his life more than once). With Aisling's help, he attempts to save the town and help Brother Aidan complete the mystical book which—legend has it—can turn dark into light.

See my full review of The Secret of Kells at: http://theoscarsblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/movie-review-secret-of- kells.html