Le Chant de la Mer

The European Road to Fantasy, endowed by Tomm Moore with his typical mysterious veil and lightly growing spirit of adventure. The Celtic legends, in their freshness, enchant you perfectly well and there was no need to get into a confused bearded man or a fight with the owls. Just a look at the group of seals and it is clear that something great is beginning here. Ben's journey to save mythical creatures and his own adulthood is an unobtrusive but all the more impressive bit of magic. (14/07/2015)

Brendan and the Secret of Kells had already convinced me that Tomm Moore is a creator whose work is worth following. It is a joy to see a film that can work with fairytale motifs and appeal to adults without relying on pop culture references. The film, which cleverly combines Irish mythology with the present, manages to avoid cheap sentimentality while telling stories that directly invite emotional manipulation. A bonus is the original visual design, which not only surpasses what Disney has achieved in animated films but also defies the standards of contemporary American animation and computer graphics. Personally, I give it a thumbs up and I would just add a warning: Song of the Sea is not suitable for young children due to how it is made, and not just because it is shown in its original language. The ballad-like story and philosophical depth will appeal more to older viewers. Overall impression: 90%. (10/04/2015)

What The Secret of Kells failed to do for me, Song of the Sea did perfectly. I felt like I lived this story fully and enjoyed it immensely. It is such a nice combination of a fairy tale and Celtic mythology that it is lovely to watch. As with The Secret of Kells, the nice and colorful animation is worth mentioning, which, especially in the last part (when Saoirse starts singing), turns into what I think is a really beautiful visual experience. If I add to this the soundtrack, which is simply magical (especially the main theme’s melody), the interesting characters, led by the incredibly cute Saoirse, and the movie’s narrative, which is quite straightforward yet emotional, I had a great experience. Therefore, it quite obviously deserves five stars and 10/10. (17/03/2015)

Song of the Sea reminded me, like many here, of Hayao Miyazaki's phenomenal Spirited Away, and while Tomm Moore's film didn't grab me as much as its "Japanese cousin", it’s still a beautifully told story with distinctive animation and more than one strong moment. The film offers a beautiful and sad tale of a family straddling the line between the real and fairy tale worlds, which can both be warm and cruel. I was intrigued by the diverse characters that Ben and Saoirse met on their adventurous journey, like the bearded Seanchaí or the ambiguous Macha, and overall, I loved the magical story of the Song of the Sea and the setting of magical Ireland. (03/01/2021)

L'Irlande est un pays imprégné de légendes et d'histoires mystérieuses et ça transparaît bien dans ce film d'animation. Un film beau, agréable et visuellement intéressant. Dommage que je l’aie vu dans sa version doublée ; les voix de B. Gleeson et de L. Hannigan auraient encore intensifié l’expérience. (18/03/2015)

A beautiful example of how interesting animated films can be created without unnecessary reliance on 3D animation or an American style. Original and beautiful films can be made, films that contain the beauty of fairy tales but also the thoughtfulness of their Asian versions. Beautiful animation with a beautiful story. (22/04/2015)