Eclectic Micks

 The Eclectic Micks have invited me to join their merry band.
They are a group of talented Irish comic book artists who post daily sketches.
An honour indeed to be posting along side them.
This week they have a "Secret of Kells" theme-I made this tribute to Klimt as my first post on the blog.

http://eclecticmicks.blogspot.com/

Roger Eberts 2010 list of best animated films

http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2011/01/the_best_animated_films_of_201.html

Rte Christmas day

This Christmas day just after your dinner
you cab settle down and watch The Secret of Kells
on RTE.
Hooray.

Christmas Present idea!

http://shop.cartoonsaloon.ie/

Why not buy a DVD from our online shop?
I will do you a little painting and dedicate it to you or whoever you want.
We can source US , French, Flemish or Australian versions of the DVD as well as the Irish version if there is a demand for them!

Home again

Thanks to everyone who came to our screenngs n Tokyo , always glad to see
a full house!
The supefans who already knew about the film
were such a boost! Thank you all for coming and waiting to chat.

I had time too for a lovely visit to the ghibli museum and
to see some of Tokyo... An amazing place!

Osaka Screening Sold out

Hooray, thanks all who came along! The signing session was fun too, lovely to meet you all.
I was impressed with how many people had already heard of our film, especially the guy who had bought
the book from France!

Japanese Screenings

Well here I am with young Ben in Osaka Japan. We have some screenings here as part of the European Film festival. We've never been to Japan before it was as amazing and overwhelming as I expected yesterday , walking around with jetlag!
Luckily we hooked up with an old Ballyfermot college pal - Dave "Yer man in Japan" McDermott who was a able to give us a fascinating insight into the place as we walked around the Osaka castle and city centre.
He is a fluent speaker of Japanese and  had an interesting insight into the difference between cultures because of language. He feels Japanese people think much more visually because their language is pictorial . It would explain the fact that comics and animation are so much more part of mainstream culture here .

We have the first Japanese screening that I've been aware of today, I hope we get a good crowd and that they enjoy the film. Having been compared to Japanese animation so often in the States it will be interesting to see what Anime fans make of it here!

If there were no books....

All knowledge would be lost for eternity.

heres Kilkenny county library mobile unit , bringing books to the people...so they may have hope.
and its got a nice decoration on it now too ;)

Happy halloween

My thanks to Jamie and Rodolphe for showing me this cool Aisling Pumpkin . I think its from a pumpkin carving show in Dreamworks.

Aisling in Empires Top 50

 Just found out that Aisling made Empires Top 50 animated characters list! :)


 The nice thing about the list is teh artwork they used to illustrate it is often not screenshots.
Coraline is represented by a modelsheet drawing by Shane Prigmore for example
and Aisling has a nice rough modelsheet drawn by Barry Reynolds.


http://www.empireonline.com/features/50-greatest-animated-characters/default.asp?film=45


http://www.empireonline.com/features/50-greatest-animated-characters/default.asp?film=45

New Thief line tests

http://hand-drawn-animation.blogspot.com/2010/10/thief-cobler-layout-tests-and-pencil.html

Well new to me anyway. This stuff blew my mind in college. Still does.

Two years!

Since we wrapped and still I'm enjoying Reading reviews abd tweets, blogs and
mentions from people discovering thus film fir the first time.
I bought empire yesteday and there was the review on paper in the magazine
I always read.And The DVD release in the uk is very soon actually.
I think the us DVD bluray and especially netflix (number one for instant streaming the day it was released!)release has allowed more people
than ever before see the film. That's what it's all about really.
It was slow to finance, slow to make and slow to find a large audience but I feel like we are getting there the same way , slow and steady. Maybe it's good this way , it all lasts longer and doesn't fizzle out so fast.

Back on the auld sod

Many thanks to everyone in sf Portland and NYC who cane along to the screenings and the panel in nycomicon ! I had a great time ,but glad to be home.

NY ComicCon

Wow an amazing day , I have never been to a ComicCon on that scale before. Its quite surreal and intense.
Thousands and thousands of serious comics, anime and cartoon fans in all sorts of get ups.
If any of you readers are here in NYC tmrw please do come along to our panel and we'll be selling comics, books and DVDs afterward with sketches too!

Uk website

http://www.thesecretofkells-movie.co.uk/

UK reviews

Hey there,


I agree with those of you who contacted me saying they felt the movie was not "strictly for kids" kind of a strange review, although positive they seemed to miss some of the denser layers of meaning I guess.
Anyway I'm still pretty happy with the general press response in the UK. A friend told me yesterday that theres something in Sight and Sound this month too, so I'm looking forward to picking up a copy of that too when I get home.

Uk poster

And don't forget to if your in the US you can buy the DVd or bluray in your local Target, Best Buy or Barnes and Noble tommorow!

Uk reviews summary

October 01, 2010, Daily Mirror - Ticket, David Edwards, 4 star review


“Old school and proud of it, it's no surprise this toon earned an Oscar nomination earlier in the year...Strike a blow for tradition and see it”



October 01, 2010, The Times - Arts and Entertainment, Kate Muir, 4 star review

"...THE SECRET OF KELLS is a hand-drawn Celtic extravaganza....Take a child to see the inspiring KELLS rather than Garfield's Pet Force 3D"



October 01, 2010, The Guardian, Peter Bradshaw – 3 star review

“A low key pleasure.”



October 01, 2010, Daily Telegraph, Tim Robey, 4 star review



"...The look of the film is simply ravishing. The highly stylised images...are all realised with a gorgeous intricacy".



October 01, 2010, Daily Star - Big Screen, Alan Frank, 6/10

"This Irish animated feature looks great. But it's strictly for kids"



October 01, 2010, Metro - Life, Angie Errigo, 3 Stars

"The artistry is beautiful, the tale of courageous quest affecting. But children addicted to showier...3D might chafe at something of subtler (although frequently scary) style"



Fri 1st, The Evening Standard, 3 star review

“It is the original animation that draws you into the film which parents may take their children to without fear of adult boredom.”



Sat 2nd, The Times, Kate Muir 4 star review

“A compelling animated film for children – and an artistic delight for adults.”



Sat 2nd, The Guardian (Guide), “Out Now”

“Irish animation whose vibrant, intricate aesthetic is in tune with its monks and illuminated manuscripts.”



Sat 2nd, The Daily Telegraph (Review), Tim Robey 4 star review

“Intricately gorgeously drawn, the story of Ireland’s medieval Book of Kells is a complete and magical delight.”



Sun 3rd, The Sunday Times (Culture), 3 star review

“It’s handsomely done and serves a decent story.”



Sun 3rd, The Sunday Telegraph (Seven), Jenny McCartney – 4 star review

“The quirky style of animation echoes the drawings and calligraphy of the Book of Kells itself, while the mesmeric tale weaves myth and magic together with the historical miracle of the book’s own survival through fierce and freezing times.”



Sun 3rd, The Observer (Review), Philip French – no star rating

“It’s about the creation of that which endures and asserts both man’s faith in the spirit and his celebration of the beauty of this world.”



Sun 3rd, Mail on Sunday, Jason Solomons 3 star review

“The story is certainly enchanting and should appeal to smart children.”



Sun 3rd, The Independent on Sunday, Nicholas Barber - no star rating

“The film is still a treat, thanks to its stylised, kaleidoscopic artwork.”

US DVD release

 http://www.comixology.com/digital/4523/The-Secret-of-Kells-Prequel-1

Check out the Kells graphic novels on line at comixology -

I also saw a cool Secret of Kells viewmaster today in the offices of New Video our DVD distributors.
I'm looking forward to the panel at the NY ComicCon this weekend .

Mr.David O'Reilly just buzzed into NYC tonight too, looking forward to hooking up with the original inspiration for Brendan's design in person again .

Noo yawk noo yawk

Saturday & Sunday, Oct 2 & 3 at 11am
IFC Center, 323 6th Ave (at West 3rd Street)
Q&A with Tomm Moore(me!) and free Kells DVD for every household!

Advance tickets are strongly recommended,
and available from www.gkids.tv/intheaters