I still remember the first time I sat down to watch the Song of the Sea movie. Honestly, I wasn't prepared for how much it would hurt. In a good way, I mean. It’s one of those rare films that feels less like a product from a studio and more like a story whispered by a grandparent by the fireplace.
Tomm Moore and the folks over at Cartoon Saloon didn't just make a cartoon. They basically bottled Irish grief and wonder and turned it into a 93-minute masterpiece.
Most animated films these days are loud. They're bright, frantic, and desperately trying to keep your kids from looking at a second screen. But Song of the Sea movie is quiet. It breathes. It understands that sometimes the scariest thing in the world isn't a monster under the bed, but the silence of a father who has forgotten how to speak because his heart is broken.
The Myth of the Selkie and What We Get Wrong
You've probably heard of selkies. Or maybe you haven't. They’re these creatures from Celtic and Norse mythology—seals in the water, humans on land. Basically, they shed their skins to walk among us.
In the film, Saoirse is a young girl who hasn't spoken a word. She’s six. Her brother Ben blames her for the disappearance of their mother, Bronagh. It’s heavy stuff for a "family film." But here is the thing: the movie uses the selkie myth not just as a cool fantasy trope, but as a massive metaphor for neurodiversity and the way children process loss.
When Saoirse finally finds her coat and enters the ocean, it’s not just a "magic moment." It’s a reclamation of her identity. If you look at the folklore collected by people like Eddie Lenihan, these stories were never just about magic. They were ways for coastal communities to explain the inexplicable—the sea's cruelty, the birth of children who were "different," and the deep, aching longing for a home that doesn't quite exist on land.
Hand-Drawn Art in a CGI World
Let's talk about the visuals because, wow.
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We live in an era where Disney and Pixar have perfected the art of making things look real. Every strand of hair on a character's head is rendered with $10^{6}$ pixels of accuracy. It's impressive, sure. But Song of the Sea movie goes the other way. It embraces 2D geometry.
The frames look like illuminated manuscripts. Think Book of Kells vibes.
The circles are perfect. The spirals represent life and movement. There’s a scene where the characters travel through the Irish countryside, and the background looks like a watercolor painting that hasn't quite dried yet. It’s intentional. It’s a rejection of the "uncanny valley" in favor of something that feels tactile and human.
Why the 2D Style Matters
- Symbolism over Realism: The shapes tell the story. Macha the Owl Witch is all circles and softness, hiding her predatory nature.
- Cultural Heritage: By using traditional art styles, Cartoon Saloon preserves Irish visual history.
- Emotional Weight: The flatness of the images actually creates a sense of depth in the storytelling. It feels like a storybook coming to life.
The Music: Why You Can't Stop Humming the Tune
Lisa Hannigan’s voice is a literal instrument. She voices the mother, and she sings the titular song. The soundtrack, composed by Bruno Coulais in collaboration with the Irish band Kíla, is the heartbeat of the film.
It’s not just background noise. The music is a plot point.
Without the song, the selkie dies. Without the song, the spirits stay turned to stone. It’s a literal representation of how art and expression keep our souls alive. If you listen closely to the instrumentation, you'll hear the tin whistle, the uilleann pipes, and the bodhrán. It’s authentic. It’s not a Hollywood orchestra trying to "sound" Irish; it’s the real deal.
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A Story About Not Turning to Stone
Macha, the supposed villain, is fascinating. She’s not "evil" in the way Maleficent is. She’s a mother who couldn't stand to see her son, the giant Mac Lir, suffer. So, she took his feelings away. She turned him to stone.
She tries to do the same to Ben and Saoirse.
"I can take away the pain," she basically says. It’s a tempting offer, isn't it? We’ve all been there. Life gets hard, someone dies, a relationship ends, and you just want to go numb. You want to be a rock.
But the Song of the Sea movie argues that the pain is the point. If you take away the sadness, you take away the love. You take away the color. By the end of the film, when the stone shells shatter, it’s a relief not because the "bad guy" was defeated, but because everyone is finally allowed to feel again. Even the father, Conor, who has been a walking statue for years.
The Real Locations Behind the Magic
If you’re ever in Ireland, you can actually visit the places that inspired the film.
- The Great Sugar Loaf: This mountain in County Wicklow is the inspiration for the sleeping giants.
- Howth Head: You can see the cliffs and the lighthouses that look exactly like the one Ben and Saoirse call home.
- Dublin City: The gritty, gray depiction of the city in the film captures that specific 1980s Irish urban atmosphere perfectly.
The film is set roughly in the late 80s. You see it in the little details—the old-school buses, the clothes, the lack of smartphones. It places the story in a "liminal space." It’s a bridge between the ancient world of legends and the modern world of concrete.
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Misconceptions People Have About the Ending
Some people find the ending of the Song of the Sea movie a bit of a letdown. "Why couldn't she stay?" they ask.
Well, that’s the nature of folk tales. Folklore isn't about getting everything you want. It’s about balance. If Saoirse stayed as a selkie, she wouldn't truly belong to either world. By choosing to stay as a human (and losing her coat), she makes a sacrifice. It’s a bittersweet ending. It teaches kids that growing up often means leaving something beautiful behind so you can keep the people you love close.
It’s a tough lesson. It’s also a necessary one.
How to Experience Song of the Sea Today
If you haven't seen it, or if you only saw it once years ago, go back to it. But do it right.
Turn off the lights. Put away your phone. If you have a decent sound system or a good pair of headphones, use them. The foley work in this movie—the sound of the waves, the rustle of the wind, the clinking of the jars—is incredibly immersive.
Actionable Steps for Fans of Irish Animation
- Watch the Irish Folklore Trilogy in order: Start with The Secret of Kells, move to Song of the Sea, and finish with Wolfwalkers. You’ll see the evolution of the studio's style and themes.
- Check out the "Art of" book: If you're an aspiring artist, the Art of Song of the Sea is like a Bible for 2D animation.
- Listen to the Soundtrack: Specifically the tracks "The Song" and "The Dunes." It’s perfect for focusing or just decompressing.
- Explore actual Selkie legends: Read The People of the Sea by David Thomson. It’s one of the best collections of authentic selkie lore ever written.
The Song of the Sea movie isn't just a flick you put on to distract the kids while you make dinner. It’s a piece of cultural heritage. It’s a reminder that we are all made of stories, and sometimes, the only way to heal is to find your voice and sing.