Please Note: The screen shots used here are taken from the DVD portion of Song of the Sea.

The Movie:

For animated film as an immersive, indescribably beautiful experience, look no further than Song of the Sea. This Academy Award-nominated tale follows 2009's The Secret of Kells as stylized, modern-yet-traditional entertainment from the studios of Irish animation director Tomm Moore. As imaginative as Kells was, Song of the Sea takes that whole Celtic-mysticism thing and pushes it up a notch, its whimsical imagery grounded in a contemporary (well, '80s) sibling rivalry story that's a hundred times more compelling than Disney's blockbuster Frozen.

Make no mistake - while Song of the Sea's dazzling visuals look great on Universal's Blu Ray edition, the fact that this story seamlessly mixes witchy Celtic folklore with a solid family-centered tale (along with a dash of ambiguity, rare in a kiddie flick) makes this movie a real keeper. Set along Ireland's coast in 1987, the story centers on Conor (voiced by Brendan Gleeson) a reticent, burly lighthouse keeper making his way with his two young children after the prolonged absence of his ethereal wife, Bronach (Lisa Hannigan). Lacking a mom affected the kids in different ways - while fragile little sister Saoirse (Lucy O'Connell) has been traumatized into muteness, self-centered older son Ben (David Rawle) is resentful at the girl for destroying what was once a harmonious family. As Conor's domineering mother (Fionnula Flanagan) arrives on Halloween to take the children away to live with her further inland, Ben resourcefully plots an escape back to the lighthouse to reunite with his faithful dog, Cu. In the process, he learns that Saoirse's odd behavior is due to her being descended from Selkies - nurturing females of Celtic folklore with the mystical ability to transform into seals while submerged in water with the aid of a magic coat. The girl's power is sought after by a soul-stealing owl witch, Matcha (also voiced by Flanagan), prompting the children to embark on a race against time that involves conquering their deepest fears.

Although the plot description makes this movie sound like it ought to be called My Sister Is an Alien, Song of the Sea's folkloric elements are incorporated into the plot in an organic, intoxicating way. Beginning with a gorgeous watercolor-dappled prologue with the pregnant mom explaining the legend of the Selkies to an astonished Ben, the story unfolds in a detailed, realized visual style that meshes traditional Celtic motifs with an abstract, stylized aesthetic that owes a lot to mid-century modernism (I could definitely see the influence of wildlife illustrator Charley Harper on the owls and other animals). There are so many scenes here which look like perfect little pieces of art. All those traits, combined with fluid, expressive hand-drawn animation, makes this one of the better animated films of recent years. If there's a slight flaw, it might be that the dialogue is a little bland and lacking the spark commonly found in mainstream American animation (Kells had that problem, as well). Despite that, the gentle story's accent on Ben and Saorsie realizing the value of their relationship gives it an accessibility for kids dealing with an annoying sibling. As for the sublime, gorgeous imagery, that's something which everyone will enjoy.

As an admirer of The Secret of Kells, the arrival of Song of the Sea came as highly anticipated. I wasn't disappointed - the opposite, in fact. Based on the creative progression across these two films, Tomm Moore could even be viewed as the heir apparent to Hayao Miyazaki. Here's hoping that he stays true to his vision and doesn't sell out.

The Blu Ray:

Universal's multi-format home video release of Song of the Sea houses a Blu Ray and DVD disc in a standard Blu-sized snap case. It also contains an insert with code to watch the Ultraviolet digital edition online or on a mobile device.

Video

For its Blu Ray edition, Song of the Sea's beautiful imagery receives a suitably lush and sumptuous treatment in 1.85:1 widescreen. Incredible detail (those background textures!) and vivid colors are the picture's most prominent qualities, although overall the disc sports a richly calibrated picture with an especially satisfying richness on the darker end. The only debit to this hyper-detailed transfer: the fine lines on the edges of the characters tend to look pixelated, even at 1080p resolution.

Audio

The disc's atmospheric soundtrack is done in an excellent 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio mix that uses the multi-channel format to its fullest. While the recording fidelity sounds as crystal clear as can be - with a lovely balance of voices, music and effects - what truly impresses is the use of the surround mix. The movie contains many examples where sound effects whoosh from side to side, or the sound mixing aptly conveys a chaotic atmosphere (the scene where Ben and Cu follow the abducted Saoirse through a traffic-congested street springs to mind). An impressive mix.

Extras

The full slate of bonus features are duplicated on Song of the Sea's Blu Ray and DVD editions.

• A feature-length Audio Commentary has director Tomm Moore enthusiastically discussing the film's conception, visual design, the casting of the voice actors, various influences (including one I spotted, The Night of the Hunter), and many other aspects of the production. An interesting track.
• Behind the Scenes (2:52). A too-brief montage comparing concept art and animatics with corresponding scenes from the final film, along with behind-the-scenes footage at recordings sessions. Comes with a musical soundtrack, or Moore's commentary.
• Animation Tests (7:48). Comes with the corresponding music and dialogue track, or Moore's commentary.
• The Art of Song of the Sea (7:26). A montage showing concept art and character model sheets from various points in the production process. Ranging from rough pencil sketches to gorgeously rendered digital art, this segment includes lots of early pieces with a visual style very different from what ended up in the final film. While I wish this was done as a more comprehensive click-through gallery, it's a fascinating piece.
• A Conceptual Trailer (1:00), showing an embryonic version of the story, and two U.S. Trailers (2:43) round out the extras.

Final Thoughts

Blimey! Transporting, visually ambitious movies like Song of the Sea tend to look puny on home video, yet this acclaimed animated wonder arrives on disc with its awe-inspiring wonder intact. Concerning an adventurous boy and his put-upon yet magically gifted little sis, this mystical Irish tale comes especially recommended for Disney-fatigued parents. Highly Recommended.

Matt Hinrichs is a designer, artist, film critic and jack-of-all-trades in Phoenix, Arizona. Since 2000, he has been blogging at Scrubbles.net. 4 Color Cowboy is his repository of Western-kitsch imagery, while other films he's experienced are logged at Letterboxd. He also welcomes friends on Twitter @4colorcowboy.