PODCAST | Matt Micucci interviews Tomm Moore, director of the film The Secret of Kells.
A conversation with influential animation filmmaker Tomm Moore, who is also the co-founder of Irish-based animation studio Cartoon Saloon. Here, we talk about his 2009 Oscar-nominated feature, The Secret of Kells, to mark its inclusion within the European Film Factory initiative, a brand new EU-supported online film literacy platform launched by the French Institute. Aside from talking about this film, Moore shares stories about the origins of his interest in animation, a short history of Cartoon Saloon and some of the things that influence the studio’s distinctive and eclectic style.
The Secret of Kells: In the remote Irish woods, Cellach (Brendan Gleeson) prepares a fortress for an impending attack by a Viking war party. Unbeknown to Cellach, his young nephew Brendan (Evan McGuire) — who has no taste for battle — works secretly as an apprentice in the scriptorium of the local monastery, learning the ancient art of calligraphy. As the Vikings approach, revered illuminator Aidan (Mick Lally) arrives at the monastery and recruits Brendan to complete a series of dangerous, magical tasks.
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