Song of the Sea
2014 · Directed by Tomm Moore
Original language: English
- family
- animation
- fantasy
The story
The story of the last Seal Child’s journey home. After their mother’s disappearance, Ben and Saoirse are sent to live with Granny in the city. When they resolve to return to their home by the sea, their journey becomes a race against time as they are drawn into a world Ben knows only from his mother’s folktales. But this is no bedtime story; these fairy folk have been in our world far too long. It soon becomes clear to Ben that Saoirse is the key to their survival.
What it’s like
Hand-drawn and painterly, with flat, watercolour-soft backgrounds in deep blues, greens and bruised greys that give way to glowing ochre interiors and moonlit sea. Its lighting is candlelit and lamplit indoors and cool silver-blue outdoors, and its compositions are often framed like storybook illustrations, with the sea, the cliffs and the rolling Irish hills held in long, calm shots. The score leans on Irish folk instruments and sung airs, with a sparse, wistful melody that swells gently into lilting singing. Its vibe is wistful and enchanted, a quiet mix of grief and wonder that suits a rainy Sunday, a comfort rewatch, or an evening with the family. The pacing is unhurried, with lyrical stretches that let images breathe between brisk adventure beats. Its emotional register is tender and bittersweet, following a grieving brother and sister slowly finding their way back to each other and to a sense of belonging. Intensity is low: there is some peril and a few tense, eerie moments involving sinister creatures, but no gore and no graphic violence, and the fear stays gentle. It suits families, young children, and adults who want folklore told with warmth and visual tenderness.
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