81
Metascore
20 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 90Village VoiceVillage VoiceGorgeously mounted tale of enlightenment through art and courage.
- 90SalonAndrew O'HehirSalonAndrew O'HehirA gorgeous transcription of medieval decorative art and its themes into a contemporary animated narrative, one that should enthrall children older than 8 or so, along with the adults lucky enough to watch with them.
- 90The New York TimesA.O. ScottThe New York TimesA.O. ScottIt is only fitting that a movie concerned with the power and beauty of drawing -- the almost sacred magic of color and line -- should be so gorgeously and intricately drawn.
- 88New York PostLou LumenickNew York PostLou LumenickQuite unlike anything I've ever seen before.
- 85NPRBob MondelloNPRBob MondelloThere's something kind of captivating about a film that's been painstakingly drawn to glorify the craft of illustration, and that's comfortable using retro techniques. Because after all, what else makes sense for bringing to life the gold and scarlet ornamentation in ancient manuscripts?
- 80VarietyVarietyWith its jewel-bright colors and intricate use of lines, the result is absolutely luscious to behold.
- 80Time OutJoshua RothkopfTime OutJoshua RothkopfThe movie isn’t quite suitable for the extremely young, but its apocalyptic tint may be catnip for smart preteens. They’ll breathe in the chilly air of a mysterious forest--the way forests should be.
- 80The Hollywood ReporterMichael RechtshaffenThe Hollywood ReporterMichael RechtshaffenKells proves that in the increasingly high-tech world of feature animation, there still can be a place for old-time tradition.
- 50Entertainment WeeklyOwen GleibermanEntertainment WeeklyOwen GleibermanRegrettably, the film's story is so busy yet flat that the effect isn't magical -- it's more like watching the tale of some very enchanted wallpaper.