An UNDERRATED Masterpiece (Grief and Song of the Sea) 

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i’m SO glad this movie is getting more recognition, it and everything by the studio is so beautiful.

Cartoon Saloon is a truly underrated studio. They do “family” movies that don’t talk down to their audience and acknowledge every emotion, good, bad, and ugly

I had my mom watch Song of the Sea with me for St. Patrick’s Day. Her initial reaction was “what an adorable movie!”. Her final reaction was sobbing loudly and scolding me for not telling her it wasn’t just a “cute kid’s movie”. Song of the Sea really is something special.

What I love about this group is that they are bringing the magic that Disney lost a while ago. 2D wasn't the issue, it was the story being told.

This movie is why my daughter named her rabbit Saoirse. This movie is one of my absolute favorites, i adore it so much!

It might be just me... but when you see the Grandma start opening her jar for her "medicine", it eerily resembles the witch sucking her own emotions... then there is the fact that the father looks similar to the petrified giant who also had to suffer through loss. When I first saw it... it really did sim to imitate the Wizard of Oz format that had at least the witch and the giant resemble the father and grandma by their visual design. The grandma even brings this parakeet around and there is a dog that is loyal to the dad that makes a long journey to retrieve the children. As for Sirsa , she might be acting as a reminder of the mother for Ben which increases the hurt Ben experiences for 6 years. This is my rant.

I watched Song of the sea as a kid. My mom died just a few years later when I was 10 and she really loved that movie so whenever I watch it I feel closer to her. I’m glad you loved it too. ❤️

Now you're REQUIRED to cover Cartoon Saloon's first animated film, The Secret of Kells, it's basically their Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

A little fun fact, Bronagh is voiced by Lisa Hannigan, the voice of Blue Diamond from SU. If anyone is into somber/calm music I'd highly recommend checking her out, she's one of my favorite musicians!

i absolutely love the song of the sea. when i was little, every friday we went to a video store to rent movies. one day i found this gem. and after that, i would always rent it. i couldnt get enough

Fun fact: Song of the Sea used to air on Netflix, but eventually, it got removed years ago. Luckily, you can still find the full movie available on RU-vid! :]

Back in college, I was lucky enough to interview Director/creative lead Tomm Moore and found out about Song of the Sea two years before it's release. He was such a cool guy and even showed me examples of his concept art for the Secret of Kells. It was amazing seeing Song of the Sea in theaters, and it's such a beautiful film💜

This movie is just...such a pure expression of passion and art. It fills me with the same wonder as the best of Ghibli. I'm so glad it's still being talked about

I ABSOLUTELY ADORE THIS MOVIE

IRELAND MENTION!!!🇮🇪🤩 I'm glad a beautifully animated film from my country got a mention on your channel.😊

I’m Irish, my other animator friends work at cartoon saloon and I deeply admire them…anyway… …I’m so happy to see Irish folklore getting more popular especially with cartoon saloon, I’ve seen the scenes that my friends work on and then I watch the movie and I’m in awe of how much in keeps the original folklore to heart, I freelance and just animate what I’m told if I’m hired but I’m considering moving to cartoon saloon and pitch movies with other Celtic stories, I’m happy to see my heritage being included in movies, especially in audiences and critics like them, especially if it’s recognised by the academy :) Thank you for listening to our stories :)

THANK YOU FOR TALKING ABOUT SONG OF THE SEA!! That movie is my whole reason and inspiration for even drawing and my fascination with my culture! (I'm from Ireland. I actually live near Cartoon Saloon :>)

I’ve never seen Song of the Sea, but I’m glad you took the chance to cover it. It seems like a *seriously* underrated movie.

"My son... I will always love you." And just like that, for the first time in my 23 years of life, a movie made me cry.

I rewatched this not too long ago and it felt like the film struck a chord as an Irish person. I was reminded of The Last Samurai whilst watching it, with it showing how we've lost a sense of our identity by embracing the modern world and forgetting our culture. In a way, Moore is like Algren begging to the Emperor with the sword; making a film that deals with Irish folklore to remind us of who we are and the stories passed down to teach us morals. Regarding the whole "grief theme", there's something that the film addresses about us. See, Irish people aren't very good at expressing emotions or opening up. Granny telling Ben to "cop on and have none of those tears in the car" is something that feels all too real, especially for those in the older generations. Watching how Song of the Sea plays out feels cathartic, allowing for all that pent-up emotion to come out. And of course, all the little details you can spot throughout, like the animation is used to show dual identities (Saoirse's shadow in the lighthouse resembling a seal shadow, or Conor drinking his pint mirroring Mac Lir's cliff), or how the film contrasts the lush coasts of Donegal (Pronounced "done-e-gall") to the grey, urban bleakness of Dublin city, as well as the use of lines to foreshadow events (Like the ferrymen calling Granny "an aul witch"). It's just insane the amount of detail they cram into everything. Not to mention, how the character names have thematic meaning in the story (Bronagh's name translates to "Sorrow", Saoirse's to "Freedom" etc). James Joyce once said that you could recreate a bombed-out Dublin using Ulysses as a guide. You could also use Song of the Sea as a guide on how to recreate a destroyed Ireland (God forbid), seeing as it captures all the little Irishisms (No joke, Granny's house in this is practically every old woman's house in this country). Some will pick The Wind That Shakes the Barley or Once as Ireland's greatest film. For me, Song of the Sea easily claims that honour.

SONG OF THE SEA WAS A PEAK MOVIE BRO i loved watching it as a little kid :D

Cartoon Saloon has made most of my favorite animated movies, such as The Breadwinner (which you should totally check out if you haven't already) and Wolfwalkers (Also check out). But Song of the sea will always be my favorite :)

OH MY GOD! THAT’S WHAT IT WAS! I have been searching for this movie for literal years, because I had seen it with my school when I was a kid and I absolutelly adored it, but I didn’t know the name. Thank you for reminding me of a nice childhood memory

I was fortunate enough to attend a workshop by the people who made this with my primary school class. I was too young to truly appreciate how beautiful a film it was, but I learned a little on how to draw the characters, and am retrospectively honoured about the whole affair.

Song of The Sea has been one of my favorite movies for as long as I can remember. I adore this movie, and the other movies made by the same people.

I remember my grandmother used to play this movie for both me and my brother, years later I wanted to watch it but never learned the name. Thank you for bringing back so much nostalgia from my childhood!

this was my FAVORITE movie as a kid, i watched it on kindle and it is probably the one thing that has influenced my writing and storytelling the most over the years. i'm so glad it's finally getting recognition because i LOVE the style of it

I remember watching this movie during the pandemic, back in 2020. When I first saw it with my brothers, I couldn't stop crying over the ending. And when I had my first semester of college, I knew I had to write an essay about the movie. That's how much of an impression it left me. I'm really happy that you reviewed a personal favorite movie of mine. Thank you, SaberSpark.

OH MY GOD SONG OF THE SEA MY CHILDHOOD MOVIE FINALLYYYYY

I really don't know how anyone with with a genuine love of art--especially of animation--could underrate Cartoon Saloon. I've been thoroughly captivated by their films since I watched Secret of Kells. So glad that someone else is giving them the admiration they deserve.

Fun Fact: Cu means "Hound" or "Dog" in Irish. Also, TOOK YOU LONG ENOUGH to review one of what I call the holy trinity of Irish folklore Cartoon Saloon movies. This movie was amazing.

The whole Tomm Moore's filmography (which is basically three movies) is nothing but masterpieces. Three outstanding hand-drawn stories where nature, tradition and magic are perfectly well suited. Just love them all!

I saw this in an art student cinema with my mom once, can confirm that the both of us bawled our eyes out at the ending. I bought the dvd immediately when I found it in a "nerd" store (sells books, comics, dvd and merch). Also bought secret of kells too soley cos its made by the same studio. Holy shit I adore cartoon saloons style of animation.

FINALLY you’ve watched this movie, im not kidding when i say I’ve waited YEARS to hear you talk abt it. Song of The Sea is genuinely so beautiful and one of my favorite movies this review was perfect!

I remember watching this in school (third grade) and I loved it. Thank you for reminding me of this masterpiece

So happy someone’s covering this movie! It (along with Wolfwalkers and the secret of kells, its partner movies) are very special to me, so I’m glad it’s getting the recognition it deserves :)

Yes! I adore Song of the Sea, it was the first movie from Cartoon Saloon I watched and it made me wanna seek out any new movie they've made since then! Another one of their films I'd highly recommend for those that haven't seen it is my personal favorite, The Breadwinner, it is so good!

I watched Song of the sea once when i was younger, and only once. The only thing i remembered from it was the grandma finding the girl in the Shower with the coat on, i know I loved the movie tho

Song of the Sea and Wolfwalkers are one of the most amazing and jaw-dropping films I've ever seen. I was shocked that they didn't win Best Animated Feature because they are the most deserving films in history and Cartoon Saloon rightfully deserves to be one of the greatest storytellers in animation with Pixar and Studio Ghibli. Hopefully, they'll rerelease their films in theaters so more people will acknowledge their existence and see that not every studio relies on sequels.

this studio is absolutely AMAZING. absolutely my fav artstyle in a movie for sure. Secret of Kells was the first one I saw and gosh it's mesmerizing. the way they play with perspective is beautiful. I wish more studios still made 2D movies :'(

This studio, Cartoon Saloon and flying bark, the studio that made rise of the TMNT make ART.

Ive seen this film twice, first time was before my dad died in the panemic, and the second time after. I was moved the first time, but the second time had me bawling my eyes out. It is such a beautiful and tender exploration of grief. It reminded me I have to feel my grief and not bottle it all up.

Bro not this movie. It is really sentimental to me. My mum was Irish and really proud of her heritage. She got cancer and was in end of life care. We found this movie and she promised to watch it with me in late 2015 so we ordered it... She never even saw it get delivered. It arrived the day after she fell into the death coma.... We received the news she had died when watching the movie. I watch it every year on the anniversary of her death. Being the second child, a daughter, with two brothers. It hit especially hard particularly because I got my mother's Irish curls and round face, I'm her spitting image although some of my family deny it I see the way they look at me. This movie is so beautiful however it absolutely kills me simultaneously. Stories my mother told me sprinkled in the movie. She wanted her childhood in Ireland to live through me as I was born and raised in rural England. Their childhood in the movie is similar to mine and my mothers. My mother would often sing old songs, I hate how I can't remember them. She would've loved this movie. At least she got to see the secret of kells before the cancer reached her brain so she could fully appreciate it :)

Couldn't even get past Saber describing the ending without getting teary eyed myself. :p A beautiful, emotional and delightful work of art. Can't recommend Song of the Sea more, and the Irish Folklore trilogy in general. Eager to see what Cartoon Saloon does next!

I watched this when I was a little kid! It’s an amazing movie with gorgeous animation and scenery. The songs and voice acting is just amazing! Especially for the Irish folklore as someone who is part Irish this movie is amazing for people who love Irish folklore it’s on point and makes sure to get it right! I highly recommend watching it!

It's moments like this that make me so proud to be half-Irish! 🍀🍀🍀

Just watching the goodbye scene here is enough for the memories & tears to come flooding back

Everything is right about this movie. The fantastical world, surrealism, emotion, artwork, sound design, metaphors, and voice acting. It doesnt pander to anyone. It treats the audience with respect while respecting their own identity. This movie is easily among my all time favourites. I've seen grown people cry watching this movie. This is what happens when you have people with passion and honesty express their collaborative art.

My So Happy that the Irish we have Cartoon Saloon like Disney but Ireland on how awesome stories like this to share around the world thanks to this Animation Studios located In Kilkenny Ireland 🇮🇪 🎊🥳♥️❤️💕

It's really nice to see my favorite childhood film being brought back up in a good light. I remember watching this for the first time and it made my tiny little child brain sad but also inspired. This movie is the main reason why I love the ocean and will always love seals

Song of the sea WAS my childhood, I absolutely loved the ending and the art style it kinda inspired me to start animating!

I love how saber does synopses of movies. It feels like a calm and enjoyable conversation but you can still hear the passion and storytelling in his voice

Cartoon Saloon is an amazing studio! My mom and I discovered them on complete accident with Secret of Kells. And Song of the Sea is my favorite film from their line up. And their watercolor backgrounds are just stunning♡

I own both Song of the Sea and Secret of Kells on DVD. These are classics, and highly respective masterpieces. In fact after seeing these films including Wolfwalkers I wanted to learn more about Irish folklore and the ancient religion of the island. This is what I want to see in a studio, preserving their culture and displaying it to the world through film. This is an emotional movie and I recommend it, also I have a tiny percent of Irish in my blood.

Listening to the soundtrack felt like a spiritual experience. Like you are transported to a simpler time and an open space with sparse houses, plenty of natural landscapes and a walking distance to the ocean.

When this movie came out I made sure to show it to my nieces and nephews. I had a cat at the time named Selkie and I felt that the movie would help them learn some of the lore behind her name. When we got her as a kitten she had the biggest eyes and such a round body she resembled a seal pup lol. I had her for 17 years before she passed away in 2019.

This is my Favourite film of ALL time. It was the film that began my hyper interest in animation as an art form! Did you know the mother's name Bronnah comes from Gaelic and means a sorrowful woman? There's so much depth and detail to this film it's just phenomenal!

I REMEMBER THIS MOVIE! IT'S A MASTERPIECE! (We watched it once in middle school and I tell you, half the class was crying)

When my sister showed me this as a child, I loved it. I have cried multiple times and I still listen to the music.

This movie is amazing; I've only watched it once, but it was a beautiful experience. The ending song is one I listen to often and usually get teary eyed while doing so.

I'm thrilled you're covering Cartoon Saloon's work. Tomm and his crew are dear friends of mine, so I'm pumped their work is getting talked about. Hope you can cover some of their other films/shows like The Secret of Kells in the future.

YESSSSS OMG I watched this on a train as a kid and it's changed me ever since. I couldn't remember exactly what it was about, I just know I've never been the same since. I am SO glad to see it brought up. Edit: I also remember that my sister became so upset watching it that I couldn't hum the main song because she'd start crying!! I'm going to rewatch the movie before seeing the video though, just because it's been that long. Wish me luck! Update: I watched it and it was so incredible!! I nearly cried but my sister's anticlimactic comments stopped me, which I somewhat appreciate and somewhat hate her for lol

Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, and Wolfwalkers are some of my favorite movies and I wish more people understood how powerful child media is. I feel more enriched having seen these and to see this one get the spotlight this time makes me so happy. Thanks for a wonderful review Saber!

I watched this movie a few years ago, and loved it so much, especially the music! I like to roleplay and write stories, and one of my characters is a mermaid. In the lore I have, each mermaid has their own song that is unique to them, and after watching this movie I made Song of the Sea her unique song.

Song of the Sea is definitely one of my favorites. And very underrated, for not only the art/animation, but the story telling as well. Thanks for covering this movie SaberSpark 👍🏽👍🏽

This movie means the world to me, I have a tattoo of Saoirsa on my arm. Hell I even did that thing where you scream and tense up in utter joy, I'm so happy you're looking at this movie

As an Irish person, it's great to see Cartoon Saloon getting recognized. This movie is absolutely beautiful and there are so many references to ancient Irish legends and Irish culture

I'm positively delighted that Cartoon Saloon is getting a spotlight! Their work inspired a deep respect for animation in me at a young age.

This is my favorite movie ever, and I’m so glad it’s getting the recognition it absolutely deserves

This movie and wolfwalkers are the reason why I'm hopeful for 2D animations

This movie is SO UNDER RATTED. It was my favourite movie in my childhood, and i used to watch it on repeat, and i re-watched it recently, and im back to watching it on repeat because its still good.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who was so moved by this movie. I was still emotional for a day or two after watching it. I'm so glad we have studios like Cartoon Saloon making such beautiful and imaginative films. I also enjoyed their contribution to Star Wars: Visions.

i remember watching this movie when i was around the age of 8 with my mom, and we just started absolutely tearing together, I've literally never forgotten about that moment, i even had dreams about the movie ever since, but could never find it again😭 thanks so much for talking about this movie I CAN FINALLY WATCH IT OMMGGGG

Omg I used to watch this movie on RU-vid, then years later I found the movie again and watched it fully and understood it. This is my absolute favourite movie ever.

This is my childhood film!! So glad it’s getting attention. This and Boy And The World were my top two as a kid.

This one is a childhood comfort movie. I have to keep myself from watching it too much so I don't dampen it's impact. I'll watch it once, maybe twice a year on a cold and stormy day, bundled up with some cocoa and it always makes me cry my eyes out.

I'm so glad more of you guys in America are getting to see these films by Cartoon Saloon, they're amazing and seriously want to one day work for them! Ireland's finest animation studio! Also.... those poor kids... having to live in DUBLIN of all places!

I was not expecting to see this precious movie again and being reviewed by Saberspark!

I’m so glad this movie is finally getting the recognition it deserves!!! It was a masterpiece in storytelling, music, and artistic visuals and it’s truly my favorite movie of all time!

I'm so glad that Song of the Sea is getting more love. I love Cartoon Saloon, they truly care about these stories and you can tell how much heart is put into each film in the trilogy of Irish folklore. One day I hope to be able to intern with them, genuinely re-ignited my spark for animation.

TYSM! I watched this years ago & loved it, but couldn't remember the name or find it again. My mother died on Easter, so finding this movie again on Easter Sunday feels like a gift.

Song of the sea was one of my favorite movies growing up, I remember watching it over and over because I loved the art style, story, music and characters. glad to see someone talk about it after so many years! Love your vids Saber!

OH MYGODDDDD I FREAKIN LOVED THIS MOVIE!! Thank you saber for bringing it into the spotlight it deserves❤❤❤

I internally shrieked when this showed up in my recommended. When I was younger and this movie came out I was obsessed with it, always got so excited when I saw it. Absolute favorite. Deserves all the recognition and more.

So glad you’re talking about this movie!! I watched it years ago for the first time and it’s been one of my favorites forever! I credit this movie (and the others by the studio) what got me to want to be an animator :] The parallels between each human character and their faerie counterpart is my favorite detail

Ah yes, one of mvies from category "I saw them once when I was younger and I completely forgot about it" New I need find that one movie animated like Pat & Mat about a boy who took a journey with samurai bug who was in reality his father Yeah also in the same category

0:39 I literally flipped when he mentioned wolfwalkers, it’s one of my favorite movies, and it’s criminally underrated. So glad it’s getting recognition!

I remember watching this movie and being in absolute awe at how pretty every scene was. It was incredibly interesting and heartfelt. Their style is so specifically distinct and beautiful

One of my favourite films of all time, I can't wait to watch this! Thank you for covering it

I love this movie!

Just seeing that clip of them talking and saying goodbye to Bronagh, even without the audio, always manages to make me tear up. This film is incredible, and I love it so, so much. It was also the first time I learned of some of the mythos involved, and I still remember the lullaby song that shares it's name with the film at random times.

I love this movie so much! It's one of my mom's all time favorites too. It tells such a beautiful story, bursting with creativity and immersion in every frame. Not to mention, the way the story just unfolds with no hand holding. There are ties between characters that are never pointed out with a, "Oh my gosh, that character is just like this one!" The movie knows we are smart enough to pick up the pieces, and lets their story tell itself. All the characters felt real, and had reasoning for what they did. Nothing ever felt forced. If you love WolfWalkers or Secret of the Kells, please, please watch this one, It's my favorite of the three, and one of my favorite movies of all time.

I wish more things like that were made You know‚ something that is about a heavy topic and with beautiful art style Like for example gris‚ a game with beautiful art about the five stage of grief

You must have caused it to pop back up in the algorithm or something. I got it recommended out of nowhere; had no clue what it was and had it sitting in my tabs open for the past week. Decided to finally watch it, and was not expecting to cry for just short of an hour straight. Didn't even know you reviewed it till after watching it, which I'm really glad ended up happening Was absolutely beautiful; the art, story, music everything just 10/10

This is my absolute favourite film. Thank you so much for this lovely review of it! It always makes me happy to see this film, and Cartoon Saloon as a whole, get the love and recognition it deserves. This film really holds a special place in my heart. Also, just a few additional fun facts - In folklore, it is said in folklore that Mac Lír actually became the Isle of Mann! The name Brónagh/Brónach means sorrow and the name Saoirse means Freedom, both of which are incredibly reflective of their respective characters and what roles they play in the story. An Mór Seanachaí, The Great Seanachaí, is actually also paralleled with a "human" counterpart, in this case, with the ferryman! To me, he represents the crossing over between two worlds, that on the main land and that on the island. Seanachaí is a sort of bridge between the human and Faerie worlds in the case of this film and for Ben, connecting his human life to the Sídhe (Shee) world of his mother and, by extension, sister. And also a crossing over of the process of grief, in both cases. Selkie folk are magical seals who can shed their skins and walk on land as humans for 7 years, traditionally, before having to return to the sea for 7 years. It is then they can repeat the cycle, however if he or, more often in the old stories, she (female selkies are described often as being more social and outgoing then their male counterparts, who are rather quite reserved and keep more to themselves), has their skin taken, they are bound to the person who steals it. Those who take the skins often do so as a result of being enchanted by the Selkie, though some stories to have conscious malicious intent behind the theft. The Selkie will always have a desperate desire to return to the sea while captive by the coat in the possession of the human who stole it. Should they be able to regain their coats, then and only then can they return to the sea. However, when they do, the Selkie becomes fully a seal and can no longer walk on land in a human form. If they do not retrieve their skins and return to the sea, they will die when the 7 years on land ends. Many old stories suggest that sailors who were lucky at sea had a Selkie for a grandmother! Aisling, the faerie girl from The Secret of Kells, can be seen riding the bus in Dublin when Ben and Saoirse get on it when escaping the city, a fun little cameo/reference!

AHHH FINALLY SEEING A FAVORITE MOVIE OF MINE WITH MY CULTURE!!

The Celtic trilogy is great

i watched this movie when i was about 7 and i remember just how magical it made me feel, and still now i feel entranced by it. it's genuinely some ghibli level stuff, i wish money was pumped into movies like this instead of disney trash

Watching Song of the Sea in the cinema with my mother will be a forever treaused memory of mine. She doesn't even really like to go to the cinema, especially not for animated movies, but for some reason she agreed to come with me. When the movie ended I asked her "how was it?". And she only said "beautiful". Then as we walked home discussed the details, that what we liked about it. Also this movie is the reason, why I named my first dnd character Saoirse (and how that dnd session changed my life but that's a different story).