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The Secret of Kells
  • Studio: Gkids
  • Release Date: Mar 5, 2010
Metascore
81 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 20 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
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  1. Boxoffice Magazine
    Reviewed by: Pam Grady
    90
    The exquisite art and fairytale ambience will win over animation fans and children alike.
  2. Salon.com
    Reviewed by: Andrew O'Hehir
    90
    A gorgeous transcription of medieval decorative art and its themes into a contemporary animated narrative, one that should enthrall children older than 8 or so, along with the adults lucky enough to watch with them.
  3. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Ella Taylor
    90
    Gorgeously mounted tale of enlightenment through art and courage.
  4. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kenneth Turan
    90
    Teaches important lessons in the most casual, joyful way. How it manages to do that is probably the biggest secret of all.
  5. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: A.O. Scott
    90
    It is only fitting that a movie concerned with the power and beauty of drawing -- the almost sacred magic of color and line -- should be so gorgeously and intricately drawn.
  6. Wall Street Journal
    Reviewed by: Joe Morgenstern
    90
    This wonderfully strange and exquisite little feature was created, especially for young children, to celebrate the book through another kind of illumination that's been falling into disuse--hand-drawn animation.
  7. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Lou Lumenick
    88
    Quite unlike anything I've ever seen before.
  8. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Claudia Puig
    88
    The Secret of Kells is a magical adventure unlike anything we've seen on screen before.
  9. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Ty Burr
    88
    A visually overwhelming labor of love, a hand-drawn medieval adventure tale that seeks and finds cosmic connections.
  10. NPR
    Reviewed by: Bob Mondello
    85
    There's something kind of captivating about a film that's been painstakingly drawn to glorify the craft of illustration, and that's comfortable using retro techniques. Because after all, what else makes sense for bringing to life the gold and scarlet ornamentation in ancient manuscripts?
  11. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Michael Rechtshaffen
    80
    Kells proves that in the increasingly high-tech world of feature animation, there still can be a place for old-time tradition.
  12. Time Out New York
    Reviewed by: Joshua Rothkopf
    80
    The movie isn't quite suitable for the extremely young, but its apocalyptic tint may be catnip for smart preteens. They'll breathe in the chilly air of a mysterious forest--the way forests should be.
  13. Variety
    Reviewed by: Leslie Felperin
    80
    With its jewel-bright colors and intricate use of lines, the result is absolutely luscious to behold.
  14. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    75
    The movie has a wide appeal, with a gap in the middle. I think it will appeal to children young enough to be untutored in boredom, and to anyone old enough to be drawn in, or to appreciate the artistry.
  15. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Rene Rodriguez
    75
    The Secret of Kells manages to feel simultaneously old-fashioned and mesmerizingly modern,and the slight story at its center has the emotional weight of a classic fable: A boy's wild, fantastical adventure, simply told.
  16. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Steven Rea
    75
    Gorgeous work, and its imagery and themes dovetail perfectly: a story about creating art, artfully created.
  17. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Amy Biancolli
    75
    In its small, stubborn way, the film is a love letter to traditions that have endured since cave dwellers painted the walls at Lascaux.
  18. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Ann Hornaday
    63
    Not nearly as accomplished narratively as it is visually.
  19. New Orleans Times-Picayune
    Reviewed by: Mike Scott
    63
    Don't expect there to be a run on Secret of Kells action figures any time soon.
  20. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Owen Gleiberman
    50
    Regrettably, the film's story is so busy yet flat that the effect isn't magical -- it's more like watching the tale of some very enchanted wallpaper.
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User Reviews

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User Score
8.0 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 25 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. TitaniumDragon
    5
    This movie is beautiful but suffers from a singular flaw: it doesn't really go anywhere. The Book of Kells is simply not something that most people in the world know or care about, so the climax of the movie being that the book is DONE is, well, anticlimatic. There is no closure with Ashley, there is no real resolution of mystery, and indeed overall only two characters develop, and then not enough to really feel like adequate payoff. The climax for most audiences comes in halfway, with the theft of the eye. It's worth watching once to appreciate the artistry, but it left me unfulfilled.… Full Review »
  2. AoKuroiRaccoon
    8
    Very beautiful, fun and color-filled. It is interesting as a children's movie due to its art cinema characteristics and to the emphasis put into its visual artistic style. You may often find funny moments but this movie is not meant for a mindless audience. It takes the viewer through a wonderful and mythical story inspired in ancient Irish folk, filled with simple yet breathtaking scenes and a friendly atmosphere that will blow you away with creativity. Perfect for imaginative minds such as children.… Full Review »
  3. Truthslinger
    9
    I should preface my review by stating that I only give it a 9 rating instead of a 10 because I feel perfection should always remain unattainable. But certainly in the realms of animation, storytelling, and world-immersion, "The Secret of Kells" excels nearly all Hollywood prefabricated animated movies of the past 25 years. From the lush and almost pungent colors, to the stark and exaggerated shapes and dimensions, to the fluid and surreal movements, the animation in this film falls second to none for vision, distinction, and uniqueness. Those looking for a photo-realistic or purely verisimilar approach to animation should most definitely look elsewhere, since the style, nuance, character, and idiosyncrasy of "The Secret of Kells" do not fall in the realm of most contemporary, digitally enhanced, video game-lookalikes presented by the Hollywood studio-industrial complex and acting as the next wave in dumbing down our cultural discourse and homogenizing the human imagination. In addition, the themes of friendship, community, daring, assertiveness, and communion with the earth and all her creatures allow the aesthetically pleasing animation to find an equal complement in thematic richness and meaning. The character of Aisling, while not altogether unproblematic for her self-sacrificial tendencies, nevertheless offers children, young people, and anyone with an open mind and heart the opportunity to hear the voice of earth's children in a language any English-speaker can comprehend. In short, "The Secret of Kells" offers great aesthetic, empathetic, and ethical potential to anyone looking for an experience of beauty and meaning. You've been warned.… Full Review »
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