A young boy sets out on a perilous quest to retrieve the legendary crystal from a mythical creature in the enchanted forest, hoping to complete the master illuminator’s magical book. An animated film by Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey, featuring the voices of Evan McGuire, Christen Mooney, Brendan Gleeson, Mick Lally, Liam Hourican, Paul Tylak, Michael McGrath, and Paul Young.

An animated feature film follows the creation of the Book of Kells, an illuminated Celtic Gospel book in Latin containing the four Gospels of the New Testament. The Book is considered a masterpiece of Western calligraphy and Insular illumination. Its vibrant colors and intricate illustrations combine traditional Christian iconography with the ornate swirling motifs typical of Insular art.

Book of Kells (Codex Cenannensis / Leabhar Cheanannais) also known as Book of Columba, is an illuminated Celtic Gospel book in Latin, containing the four Gospels of the New Testament and several passages from the earlier Vetus Latina Bible. It is believed to have been created around 800 AD. The Book of Kells surpasses other Insular Gospel books in the extravagance and complexity of its illustrations and ornamentation, which combine traditional Christian iconography with the ornate swirling motifs typical of Insular art. Figures of humans, animals, and mythical beasts, together with Celtic knots and interlacing patterns in vibrant colors, enliven the manuscript’s pages. The Book of Kells is regarded as a masterwork of Western calligraphy and the pinnacle of Insular illumination. It takes its name from the Abbey of Kells, County Meath, where it was housed for centuries.

In the 9th century, the Northmen attack Ireland, destroying everything in their path in search of gold and the island of Iona, believed to be the home of Brother Aidan, creator of the Book of Iona, which was first established 200 years ago by Saint Columbkille.

The Northmen who attacked Ireland were Vikings from Scandinavia, known for their brutal raids during the Viking Age, which began in the late 8th century. The first recorded Viking raid on Iona occurred in 795 AD, marking the beginning of a series of assaults on this significant Christian monastery. The attacks intensified over the years, with notable raids in 802 and 806, the latter resulting in the massacre of 68 monks at Iona Abbey. The Vikings were particularly drawn to Iona due to its wealth and the presence of sacred relics, including the shrine of Saint Columbkille.

Saint Columbkille, also known as Saint Columba, was an influential Irish abbot and missionary born around 7 December 521, in Gartan, County Donegal, Ireland. He traveled to Iona with twelve companions, which later earned them the title of the “Twelve Apostles of Ireland.” Upon arriving on Iona, he received the island as a monastic settlement from King Conal of Dál Riata, a relative of his. The monastery that Columbkille established on Iona became one of the most important religious sites in the British Isles. Iona was not only a center for religious activity but also a place of learning and artistry. The monastery became renowned for its contributions to Christian scholarship and the creation of illuminated manuscripts, including the famous Book of Kells, which is believed to have been produced there. Saint Columbkille is one of the three patron saints of Ireland, alongside St. Patrick and St. Brigid.

Brendan (Evan McGuire), an apprentice in the scriptorium of the monastery at Kells, lives under the care of his stern uncle, Abbot Cellach (Brendan Gleeson). The Abbot is obsessed with building a wall around the abbey to protect it from Viking attacks.

Aidan (Mick Lally), accompanied by his white cat, Pangur Bán, arrives in Kells after his monastery at Iona is destroyed by a raid. Abbot Cellach is concerned that the Northmen may follow Aidan to Kells, putting everyone in danger, as Aidan carries the Book of Iona, an unfinished but highly revered national treasure.

Brendan, curious about the Book, eagerly assists Brother Aidan, who tasks him with retrieving gall nuts from the woods. Despite being forbidden to leave the abbey’s walls, Brendan sneaks out into the woods with Pangur Bán. As they venture deeper into the forest, they are cornered by a pack of hungry wolves. Fortunately, they are saved by the fairy Aisling (Christen Mooney) who also leads them to the gall nuts, which are used to create emerald green ink for the Book.

Aidan confesses that he has become too old, his eyes go weary, his wrist is not what it used to be. Seeing Brendan as a suitable apprentice, he wishes to train Brendan to finish the Book. But the Eye of Columbkille was destroyed while Aiden fleeing from the Northmen attack.

The folklore surrounding the “Eye of Columbkille” is intricately linked to the creation of the Book of Kells. The tale suggests that the Eye was a special magnifying lens necessary for the meticulous work involved in illuminating the manuscript.

To complete the Book, Brendan must venture into the Cave of Crom Cruach, a Celtic pagan deity residing in a strange realm of darkness, to retrieve the remaining eye.

Crom Cruach is an ancient deity from Irish mythology, often associated with fertility and harvest, but also with darker elements such as sacrifice and death. His name translates roughly to “crooked one” or “crouching darkness,” and he is depicted as a powerful and ambivalent figure. However, the exact appearance of Crom Cruach, an ancient Irish deity, is not definitively known, as descriptions vary across different sources. According to a 12th century poem in the Book of Leinster, the cult image of Crom Cruach at Moy Slecht consisted of a large gold figure surrounded by twelve smaller idols made of stone or bronze. Crom Cruach is sometimes referred to as Crom Dubh, meaning “the crooked black one”. He is described as a dark, ambivalent figure associated with darkness and invoked with awe and trepidation by his worshippers.

An archaeological find, the Killycluggin Stone discovered in County Cavan, has also been interpreted by some as the cult image of Crom Cruach. In modern artistic depictions, Crom Cruach is often portrayed as a large, ominous figure with a bent or crooked posture. In the folklore related to the Book of Kells, Crom Cruach is depicted as possessing a magical eye, referred to as the “Eye of Columbkille.” This eye is said to be essential for completing the manuscript.

The Secret of Kells is the first animated feature film from Cartoon Saloon that Tomm Moore co-founded with Nora Twomey and Paul Young. The film showcases uniquely beautiful hand-drawn images with intricate details and masterful use of color. The captivating story, albeit unsuitable for young children at times, is elevated by the enchanting music of French composer Bruno Coulais, which perfectly captures the mood and tone of the film.

The Secret of Kells premiered at Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin on 8 February 2009. The film was theatrically released in Belgium and France on 11 February and in Ireland on 3 March.

Awards

• Directors Finders Award — Directors Finders Series in Ireland (2008)
• Audience Award — Annecy International Animated Film Festival (2008)
• Audience Award — Edinburgh International Film Festival (2009)
• Roy E. Disney Award — Seattle’s 2D Or Not 2D Film Festival (2009)
• Grand Prize — Seoul International Cartoon and Animation Festival (2009)
• Audience Award — Kecskemét Animation Film Festival (2009)
• Best Animation Award — Irish Film and Television Awards (2010)
• European Animated Feature Award — British Animation Awards (2010)

The Secret of Kells was released on Blu-ray on 6 January 2015, with a subsequent re-release on 3 November 2020, by Shout Factory. This edition includes a variety of special features including an audio commentary by director Tomm Moore, co-director Nora Twomey, and art director Fabrice Ziolkowski. Other features include “Voices of Ireland” and “Pencil to Picture”. The film is presented in a 1080p format with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound mix.