The Secret of Kells Trailer

Vikings at the Gates

By TK | Posted Under Trailers | Comments (22)

The Secret of Kells is the underdog entry for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. The trailer for it is below, and it’s an unusual, 2-D animated film that’s got a great atmosphere and style to it. Here’s a quick synopsis for you:

The Secret of Kells is about 12-year-old Brendan who must fight Vikings and a serpent god to find a crystal and complete the legendary Book of Kells. Brendan is hard at work with his uncle, helping to strengthen the abbey walls as protection against the Viking raids. But a new life of adventure begins with the arrival of Brother Aidan, a celebrated master illuminator who initiates Brendan into the art of illumination, awakening his hidden, but extraordinary talents. In order to finish the magnificent book, Brendan has to overcome his deepest fears on a secret quest that will take him for the first time ever, beyond the abbeys walls into the enchanted forest where dangerous mythical creatures hide.

It’s got stiff competition — Up, Coraline, The Fantastic Mr. Fox and The Princess and the Frog are all impressive films that will make it an uphill battle — I can’t think of a year when there have been that many genuinely excellent entries for Animated Feature. It’s brought to you by the folks who did the amazing Les Triplettes de Belleville, and directed by first-timers Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey.

Our review will be up later this week.

(h/t: Movie-List)

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Comments

Wow! It's been a while since I've seen animation like that. I look forward to the review.

Posted by: admin at February 22, 2010 11:44 AM

That is just a stunning trailer. I love that the animation really recalls the illuminations of the book. Just gorgeous. I hope this goes into a wider opening, I think it would be lovely on the big screen.

Posted by: Anna von Beaverpuppet at February 22, 2010 11:55 AM

That reminds me of the crappy 1960's style animation, where I could never tell what the heck anything was. Is that a tree or a brick wall? I hope the real movie is better than the trailer. ALso, I couldn't understand what the wee little voice was saying.

Posted by: BWeaves at February 22, 2010 11:58 AM

It's almost a Samurai Jack-type feel to the animation. I would love to see this.

Posted by: branded at February 22, 2010 12:06 PM

I saw this the other day when the nominations were announced, and I was completely blown away. It looks gorgeous and imaginative, and I'm amazed I haven't heard about it before.

Posted by: figgy at February 22, 2010 12:09 PM

I'm with the folks who think this look great.

Posted by: tamatha at February 22, 2010 12:23 PM

That trailer just gave me chills. It's criminal that I hadn't heard of this until just now.

Posted by: TheMaskedEmu at February 22, 2010 12:50 PM

Yeah, but is it as awesome as "The Last Unicorn"? That's the true test of an animated movie.

Posted by: cleverpeach at February 22, 2010 12:51 PM

Yeah, but is it as awesome as "The Last Unicorn"?

Only if it has the power to scar me for the next 20 years, at least. I haven't seen that movie since I was a wee child, and I don't actually remember anything about the plot, but I still get chills when someone mentions it.

Now that I think about it, maybe that was the one thing I forgot to mention to my therapist. Whoops.

Posted by: the_wakeful at February 22, 2010 2:17 PM

This looks very good and VERY creepy.

Posted by: grace b at February 22, 2010 2:20 PM

I knew I heard Brendan Gleeson's voice!

This looks loverlies...and I hate animated films.

Posted by: DeistBrawler at February 22, 2010 2:35 PM

i am so excited to see this.

I'm a huge fan of animation and we seem to be entering an era of plenty, it seems now, there are handfuls of really good animated features from around the world each year. The genre(can you call animation a genre?) is really growing, especially in films that aren't specifically targeting kids(i.e. fantastic mr fox--fun for kids, funner for adults) and films that are adult dramas or sci-fi(i.e. waltz for bashir).

Posted by: idleprimate at February 22, 2010 2:37 PM

I have been trying to make my way through this film, but have kinda stopped two thirds of the way through, due to sheer boredom. I will watch the end when I can be bothered. Ponyo was robbed.

Posted by: returnofthesmith at February 22, 2010 5:52 PM

the colorblocking alone laid me down by the fire.

Posted by: gp at February 22, 2010 6:02 PM

...Belleville was a lot of fun. I just wish this trailer would load properly. Up was good and Coraline was fantastic (wish I had been able to see it in 3D), I have heard grumblings about Ponyo being left out. We'll see.

Posted by: Jo 'Mama' Besser at February 22, 2010 6:40 PM

Wow. I didn't move during that trailer, not an inch. Spellbound. Want to see.

Posted by: Snuggiepants the Deathbringer at February 22, 2010 7:32 PM

I'm of two minds on The Secret of Kells.

On the one hand, I have a great ammount of pride for an Irish film being nominated at the Academy Awards, and it looks like a good one.

On the other hand, Ponyo was not nominated, and how can I not fully support a Little Mermaid retelling with a big dumb fish that wants ham.

Ireland. or ham? Ham, or Ireland? I'm torn.

Posted by: Robert at February 22, 2010 9:45 PM

This looks pretty cool, but I have one problem. The book of Kells is the Gospels. There's no secret or hidden meaning or Da Vinci Code or whatever. This trailer makes it seem like the Book of Kells is some mystical lost codex that could destroy the Vikings.

Posted by: Rowen at February 22, 2010 9:56 PM

This. Looks. OSSOM!!!

Proof positive that a movie doesn't need to punch you in the face to be good. 2-D WIN!!

Posted by: Jelinas at February 22, 2010 11:35 PM

Ireland. or ham? Ham, or Ireland? I'm torn.
Posted by: Robert at February 22, 2010 9:45 PM

Win.

Also, this is my new motto.

Posted by: Anna von Murderpuppet at February 23, 2010 9:51 AM

moar

Posted by: Protoguy at February 24, 2010 4:23 AM

This NPR article makes me want to watch it that much more.

Posted by: Jelinas at February 26, 2010 2:07 AM

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Vikings at the Gates

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