‘My son, remember me in your stories and in your songs...’
Tomm Moore’s Songs of the Sea didn’t make much of a splash upon release despite an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature. This is perhaps indicative of the stranglehold that Disney/Pixar and Studio Ghibli holds over the world of animated cinema, but it also means that watching Moore’s enchanting film feels like discovering a wonderful secret. Something in keeping with the enigmatic nature of the film…
Following the death of their mother, life is pretty grim for siblings Ben (David Rawle) and Saoirse (Lucy O’Connell). Their father Conor (Brendan Gleeson) is too stifled by grief to properly care for his children and the kids’ granny (Fionnula Flanagan) is obsessed with moving them out of the countryside and into the city. Over one heady evening, life changes for Ben and Saoirse forever following an encounter with some mysterious glowing orbs and an evil witch.
On a scale of Pixar to Ghibli, Songs of the Sea is definitely closer to the latter. The distinctive animation style coupled with the fantastical and inventive story ensures that this gorgeous Irish fable wouldn’t look out of place next to Howl’s Moving Castle or Spirited Away. That being said, this is very much its own film, taking its cues from traditional Irish folklore and fairy stories whilst still feeling fresh and relevant.
As with all great animated movies, I definitely had something in my eye at the end there and as Moore’s latest film Wolfwalkers is also receiving various plaudits, it would seem that the Irish director is certainly one to watch.
I love animation and I loved Songs of the Sea, one of those films that surely everybody would enjoy.