Optimum to sing Song of the Sea

by Naman Ramachandran

15/03/2011 - Optimum Releasing has acquired UK and Ireland distribution rights for Tomm Moore’s Song of the Sea, his follow-up to the much applauded The Secret of Kells [trailer, film focus].

Song of the Sea follows Ben and Saoirse who are sent to live their grandmother after the disappearance of their mother. When they resolve to return to their home by the sea, their journey becomes a race against time as they are drawn into a world Ben knows only from his mother’s folktales.

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Directed and animated by Moore, Song of the Sea was co-written with William Collins (My Brothers). The film is currently in development and will be produced by the Kells team at Cartoon Saloon with the Kilkenny-based studio providing designs, layouts, backgrounds, the first 20 minutes of animation, storyboarding and scene illustrations.

It is to be co-produced by Noerlum Studios (Denmark) and Big Farm (Belgium) with post-production and music being completed by Super Productions (France). Song of the Sea also received funding from the Irish Film Board and the MEDIA Programme.

The Secret of Kells is one of the great success stories of European animation. Besides being nominated for an animation Oscar, the film won the Cartoon d’Or at the Cartoon Forum, Europe, and the Best Animation IFTA besides a host of other plaudits at festivals including Edinburgh, Annecy, Zagreb and Dublin.