Riverdance: The Animated Adventure, a Sky Original is coming exclusively to Sky Cinema and NOW on 28 May 2021
If you were swept away by the phenomenon that is celebrated by millions globally for its Grammy Award-winning music and its thrilling energy and passion of Irish and International dance, get ready for Riverdance: The Animated Adventure, a Sky Original – bringing the spirit and excitement of Irish dance to a new family audience this year.
Directed by Eamonn Butler and Dave Rosenbaum and featuring an original score from Grammy Award-winning composer Bill Whelan, Riverdance: The Animated Adventure stars an impressive Irish voice cast, including Pierce Bronson (Die Another Day, Mamma Mia!), John Kavanagh (Vikings, Alexander), Brendan Gleeson (Calvary, the Harry Potter series) and Aisling Bea (This Way Up, Living with Yourself).
Synopsis
Riverdance: The Animated Adventure follows an Irish boy named Keegan (Sam Hardy) and a Spanish girl named Moya (Hannah Herman Cortes) as they journey into the mythical world of the legendary Megaloceros Giganteus, who teach them to appreciate Riverdance as a celebration of life.
Review – contains spoilers
Keegan sets off on his journey with Moya as he has lost his way in life due to the death of his grandfather, who he was extremely close to, and the guardian of the light (in the lighthouse) to stop the darkness aka the Hunter crossing over.
When Keegan’s grandfather dies, he refuses to turn on the light and The Hunter does indeed come. What is the Hunter after? The magnificent antlers belong to Patrick, the Megaloceros Giganteus.
We are treated to emotional, moving and spectacular music throughout this movie, composed by Grammy award winner Bill Whelan. It is outstanding and brings home the culture and heritage of Ireland. Amazing to listen to.
We follow the children on a journey of dance, and it is rather something to watch animated Deer doing the Irish dance moves.
The Riverdance music comes into its own when there is an intense race between the herd and the Hunter, but poor Benny is just not in shape enough to keep up and the Hunter catches him. My son shouted out at this point, concerned that Benny was going to die. He doesn’t. The Hunter uses Benny as bait and it is Patrick, with his magnificent antlers, that comes to Benny’s aide, and it is Patrick who is killed.
This did not go down well at all with my 9-year-old animal-loving, sensitive child and could not comprehend why this man had killed the deer for his antlers. That was not a great situation to find ourselves in!
The movie takes a dark turn as the Hunter removes all the rivers and brings the darkness, but eventually, Keegan retrieves the Antlers and sends them off into the river. At this point, we were secretly hoping that this would bring Patrick back, but it didn’t.
Finally, everything works out, Benny gets to be King, Keegan’s faith is restored, and the town is back to dancing and the light is back on at the lighthouse.
The music is sensational, it is a good movie but will cause heartache for some.
“Loved it until Patrick got shot” – Max, Aged 9
The film also stars Lilly Singh (Bad Moms, Ice Age: Collision Course), Jermaine Fowler (Coming 2 America, Friends of the People) and Pauline McLynn (Father Ted, The Young Offenders) plus features a brand-new single by Ireland’s musical sensation, Lyra.
Animation, Fantasy | Ireland, 2021 | U | Sky Cinema | 28th May 2021 (UK) | Dir.Eamonn Butler, Dave Rosenbaum | Sam Hardy, Hannah Herman Cortes, Pierce Bronson, Brendan Gleeson, Lilly Singh
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