This post was written by Hatchet Reporter Joshua Hock.

Landmark E Street Cinema (Not Rated; Animation)

Cartoons are a challenging medium: what is meant to enhance a cinematic experience very often distracts from it.  The animation for “The Secret of Kells” is simplistic, almost rudimentary; it is not nearly as spectacular as the work digital animators have turned out for recent epic cartoons like “Up” And “Wall-E.”

And yet, the film’s comparatively unsophisticated two dimensional layout complements its setting nicely; the artists for “The Secret of Kells” succeed in giving the film a medieval feel, helping to develop the dark-age setting of the film.  After all, the artists of Europe would still be struggling with the use of  graphical perspective as late as one thousand years after the period during which the plot unfolds.

“The Secret of Kells” is a fictional account of the creation of the Book of Kells, the antiquarian text famous for its beautiful illuminations.  The hero of the story is a young monk who becomes responsible for completing the text, which he and his fellow brethren hope will bring light to the age of darkness.  On a mission for his mentor, the young monk soon finds himself outside the walls of his abbey, where he must fight all manner of evil.

“The Secret of Kells” is really a creative version of the monomyth: it is replete with a call to adventure, a helper, a mentor, an abyss and a return.  The film succeeds in convincing its audience that this may very well have been a saga inscribed on the walls of ruins rather than a computer screen.

The film’s makers have still allowed contemporary, globalized culture to permeate the film, making the story inventive in its retelling.  For instance, the monestary of Kells includes a humorous composition of monks from a variety of racial backgrounds, including African, Asian and Hispanic.

Another interesting element is the elegant juxtaposition of pagan and Christian themes; the young monk’s helper is a sort of nymph, while his mentor is a Christian monk.

Certainly, this is a film that was conceived outside the abbey walls, if you will, and it is one that invites the audience to think similarly.  “The Secret of Kells” is a rare and refreshing presentation that does not depend on pomp and advanced technology to engage its viewers.

The film goes recommended to fans of “Mulan” and “The Fantastic Mr. Fox.”