Song of the Sea

Song of the Sea

Tomm Moore

IE / LU / BE / FR / DK
2015
Animation film
93’
Film Education

A girl called Saoirse and her brother Ben can hear the sound of the sea in a magic shell left to them by their deceased mother. When Saoirse blows into the shell a magical melody can even be heard, and this sees a dreamlike and melancholy journey between different worlds begin. Saoirse is actually a selkie who lives on land, and who now plunges into a mythical world underwater – full of magic and fantastic creatures. In the end she has to decide: Does she want to live on land with her family, or return to the sea?

Using images greatly inspired by the art world, Tomm Moore delivers a tale based around the universal subjects of friendship, family and loss. The story of a missing parent and the growing connection between two siblings is told in classic fashion for young audiences, touchingly and taking its time. Deeper levels are conveyed by Moore as he draws out the emotional importance of the interweaving between reality and the legends of Irish myths. The animation is reminiscent of the colours familiar from Japanese animation studio Studio Ghibli, but Moore’s signature is very prominent, developed by him throughout his collaboration with Creative Director Adrien Merigeau.


Awards for ›Song of the Sea‹ (Selection)
Nominierung Best Animated Feature Film – The Oscars 2015 | Best European Animated Audience Award – Melbourne Film Festival 2015 | Best Animated Film – Shanghai Film Feature Film – European Film Awards 2015 Festival 2015 | Best Animated Film – Tokyo Anime Award 2015

Director

Tomm Moore

Script

Will Collins

Editing

Darragh Byrne

Music

Bruno Coulais

Production

Cartoon Saloon, Digital Graphics, Mélusine Productions, Studio 352, Super Productions, Big Farm

Contact

KSM Verleih

Tomm Moore

Born 1977 in Northern Ireland, Moore works as an illustrator, comic artist and film-maker. In 1998, he founded the animation studio Cartoon Saloon with Paul Young and Nora Twomey. His debut film The Secret of Kells and his second production Song of the Sea were both nominated for Oscars in the Best Animated Feature category. Both films premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.


Films by Tomm Moore
The Secret of Kells 2009 | The Prophet 2014