History YMMV / TheSecretOfKells

* ViewerGenderConfusion: on [[https://resizing.flixster.com/WGbaNQkmvjDROUWyA2CfAnSMS04=/206x305/v2/https://resizing.flixster.com/-XZAfHZM39UwaGJIFWKAE8fS0ak=/v3/t/assets/p197798_p_v8_aa.jpg the original poster]], someone unfamiliar with the film my mistake Aisling for a boy as she's posed similarly to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Man the Green Man]], a male head made of/surrounded by leaves.

* {{Fanon}}: It was a fan theory that Aisling lost her human form completely, as [[spoiler: she only appears as a wolf to Brendan at the end]]. This might've been {{jossed}} in ''WesternAnimation/SongOfTheSea'' if [[spoiler:her cameo in the bus (where she is in her human form) is any indication]].

* {{Fanon}}: It was a fan theory that Aisling lost her human form completely, as [[spoiler: she only appears as a wolf to Brendan at the end]].

* ValuesDissonance: The designs for Tang and Assoua are drawn in a very stereotypical fashion, with the former being drawn with yellow skin and stereotypical Asian features, and the latter being drawn with [[BlackfaceStyleCaricature big red lips]]. Their designs have caused a bit of controversy in America, which tends to react very negatively to such portrayals due to their deep association with racism and racist imagery. Tomm Moore [[CreatorBacklash has since apologized for this and shown regret for how they were depicted in the film]], especially since he added them for greater inclusivity.

* ValuesDissonance: The designs for Tang and Assoua are drawn in a very stereotypical fashion, with the former being drawn with yellow skin and stereotypical Asian features, and the latter being drawn with [[BlackfaceStyleCaricature big red lips]]. Unsurprisingly, this caused a bit of controversy in America, which tends to react very negatively to such portrayals. Tomm Moore [[CreatorBacklash has since apologized for this and shown regret for how they were depicted in the film]], especially since he added them for greater inclusivity.

* {{Narm}}: For some people, it's hard to take the plot seriously when some of the dangerous events happened all because Brendan wanted to create a book.

* AnticlimaxBoss: [[spoiler:Crom Cruach. Despite being an ancient Celtic god who destroyed Aisling's entire family (and possibly species), it gets about a minute of screen time and is promptly defeated by ''a piece of chalk''.]]

* StrawmanHasAPoint: Abbot Cellach's obsession with building his wall over preserving the books and his decision to forbid Brendan to go to the forest are portrayed as well-intentioned but ultimately misguided. And there's no doubt that [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold he's not the best at expressing his affection towards Brendan]]. However, on the other hand, when Brendan does go into the forest, he's attacked by wolves and would have died if the local representative of the FairFolk didn't come to help him. So the abbot was perfectly justified. Cellach's decision to protect the present (with his wall) instead of the future (the books and their knowledge) can seem justified in a time of invasions. And it's worth mentioning that, had he not lived in a world where Northmen are apparently unstoppable subhuman monsters, an invading army would have thought twice before attacking a heavily fortified location.