Beautifully Animated “Song of the Sea”: Oscar Bound? Review + contenders

This year’s best animated film category for the Oscars has five strong contenders. And somehow The Lego Movie didn’t even make the list! If you ask me, that’s one of the best animated films I’ve seen in a long time–in fact, we thought it would end up on the best feature film list not just best original song (for “Everything is Awesome.”) We also really enjoyed Book of Life which missed getting a nomination. Both films offer a great story. As a parent of an 11 year old son, I am grateful that there were so many great films to share as a family in 2014 and now in 2015.

• Big Hero 6 Don Hall, Chris Williams and Roy Conli View Trailer /▶ More Info
  The previews excited us but my 11 son was disappointed by this one; I look forward to watching it with him to find out more about why.
  
• The Boxtrolls Anthony Stacchi, Graham Annable and Travis Knight View Trailer /▶ More Info
  My 11 year old son saw this with my sister; he didn’t like it but I am sure he will watch it with me on DVD.
  
• How to Train Your Dragon 2 Dean DeBlois and Bonnie Arnold View Trailer /▶ More Info
  My son and his friends LOVED this. The rental we got was so messed up I had to bail but they perservered AND they’d all seen it at least once before. High praise.
  
• Song of the Sea Tomm Moore and Paul Young View Trailer /▶ More Info
  I wanted to see this in the theater on the big screen but it came and went before we got there. My family was not that interested but we all loved Secret of the Kells which was also nominated for an Academy Award back in 1999 in this category. If we can’t find it in the theaters, we will be watching at home! See review by Ron Wells below.
  
• The Tale of the Princess Kaguya Isao Takahata and Yoshiaki Nishimura View Trailer /▶ More Info
  Did this film ever come to town? Will it come to town? Fortunately, Ron Wells saw it and wrote his review here. I will keep an eye out for it at the $3 theater or to rent and watch on the laptop which, sad to say, is our only home theater option right now.
  

Song of the Sea: (Best Animation Nominee) Like this year’s Tale of Princess Kaguya, this hand drawn and watercolor painted film is a wonder to behold. Where Princess Kaguya was steeped in Japanese folklore, Song of the Sea abounds with Irish myth and folktales.

A young boy loses his mother on the day his baby sister is born. The girl cannot talk, but the boy eventually learns she may be a selkie, a magical combination of a seal and a human. He takes his sister on a journey to find a magic coat and with the help of a conch shell that does more than just let you hear the ocean when you put it up your ear, they attempt to help change the world which includes a wicked witch owl, as well as possibly find the truth about the young girl and their mother.

The adventure here captures the real world as well as a magical one in colors and beauty that are awe inspiring. Some of the story goes by a bit too quickly to have a full understanding of the folklore being presented, but all of the mysterious characters are fascinating to see. Primarily for those who love animation, adults, and older children, this is a pleasant addition to the nominations for best Animated Feature.

Review by Ron Wells