Song of the Sea 2014

Mary Houlihan, Chicago Sun-Times: Moore manages this life-affirming touch without being preachy and by simply melding unusual old folktales into a new story filled with visually stunning images sure to captivate children of all ages. Read more

Haley Goldberg, New York Post: They don't make movies like this anymore - except when, lucky us, they do. Read more

Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: Mr. Moore's second feature, "Song of the Sea," amply fulfills the shining promise of the first one. Read more

Peter Debruge, Variety: In a worthy follow-up to The Secret of Kells, Moore applies his dazzling hand-drawn style to another tale inspired by Irish legend. Read more

Suzanne Condie Lambert, Arizona Republic: You'll leave the film knowing more than you might have imagined about Irish culture, but never once feeling subjected to anything Very Special or Good for You. Read more

Tom Russo, Boston Globe: Sweet, aesthetically breathtaking ... Read more

J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader: Irish animator Tomm Moore follows his celebrated feature debut, The Secret of Kells, with another ravishing fantasy based on Irish folklore. Read more

Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor: If I had to recommend the best children's film out there for all ages, this one, and The Tale of Princess Kaguya, would easily top the charts. Read more

Nancy Churnin, Dallas Morning News: A film about terrible things that ensue when overprotective love separates a child from her heritage and represses the natural expression of grief. Read more

Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post: Irish director Tomm Moore's animated beauty Song of the Sea tells the sort of story that makes you crave the flickering of firelight or wish for the warmth of a blanket pulled up to your chin while mom or dad reads a bedtime tale. Read more

Boyd van Hoeij, Hollywood Reporter: Song of the Sea is another satisfying smack in the face of computer-generated 3D animation from Irish director Tomm Moore, after his earlier, Oscar-nominated The Secret of Kells. Read more

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: "Song of the Sea" is a wonder to behold. This visually stunning animation masterwork, steeped in Irish myth, folklore and legend, so adroitly mixes the magical and the everyday that to watch it is to be wholly immersed in an enchanted world. Read more

Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times: "Song of the Sea" moves delicately but purposefully from pain to contentment and from anger to love. Read more

Tirdad Derakhshani, Philadelphia Inquirer: A transcendent work from Ireland's Cartoon Saloon studio that's almost wasted on kids. Read more

Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times: "Song of the Sea" creates a magical world, one that pulls you in and leaves you, when it's over, feeling changed by the journey. Read more

Michael Ordona, San Francisco Chronicle: The filmmakers evoke earned emotion with gentle hands. Even the monstrous antagonist is presented in such an unadorned fashion as to make it almost normal - and therefore creepier. Read more

Kristin Tillotson, Minneapolis Star Tribune: It's a refreshing respite from popular kids' fare, an extended bedtime story that has its share of harrowing moments but gradually wraps the soul in a warm blankie. Read more

Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail: Inviting? Very much so. Read more

David Ehrlich, Time Out: Moore's film is so busy ladling on the sweet ethereal frosting of its world that Ben and Saoirse feel less like characters than they do ornamental toppings ... Read more

Sherilyn Connelly, Village Voice: The picture is beautifully rendered in pencils and watercolors, with some CG, giving it an appropriately timeless storybook look, even though it's set in a mostly modern world of buses and 3-D glasses. Read more

Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post: Enchants on every level: story, voice work, drawing and music. Read more