Hollywood’s biggest stars have signed up for a new Oscar-nominated Cartoon Saloon animated film – unveiled today (Wednesday).
The production from the Kilkenny-based animation studio is set to join the ranks of original films made for Netflix.
Led by Nora Twomey, the voice cast includes a who’s who of top young theater talent and legends – Jacob Tremblay (Room), Gaten Matarazzo (Stranger Things), Golshifteh Farahani, Dianne Wiest, Rita Moreno, Chris O’Dowd, Judy Greer , Alan Cumming, Yara Shahidi, Jackie Earle Haley, Mary Kay Place, Leighton Meester, Spence Moore II, Adam Brody, Charlyne Yi, Maggie Lincoln, Jack Smith with Whoopi Goldberg and Ian McShane.
My Father’s Dragon is inspired by the book of the same title by Ruth Stiles Gannett. It will be produced by Mockingbird Pictures and Cartoon Saloon, and broadcast by Netflix.
From the five-time Oscar®-nominated animation studio Cartoon Saloon (The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, Wolfwalkers) and Oscar®-nominated director Nora Twomey (The Breadwinner), comes an exquisite film inspired by the Newbery-honored children’s book by author Ruth Stiles Gannett. Struggling to cope after a move to town with his mother, Elmer flees in search of Wild Island and a young dragon waiting to be rescued. Elmer’s adventures introduce him to ferocious beasts, a mysterious island and the friendship of a lifetime.
Director Nora Twomey said: “Our Cartoon Saloon actors, animators and artists worked together to create this film, inspired by the amazing book by Ruth Stiles Gannett. We were brought together by the desire to tell a very special story of friendship, adventure and true bravery. I fell in love with storytelling as a kid, and Netflix excels at celebrating all kinds of stories, through different styles and distinct voices. It gave me the opportunity to look through a beautiful lens and I’m excited to share what I see with our audience around the world.
My Father’s Dragon is part of Netflix’s original slate of animated features, which includes Oscar-nominated The Mitchell’s vs the Machines, Aardman’s Robin Robin, Klaus, Kris Pearn’s The Willoughbys, Over the Moon by Oscar winner Glen Keane; as well as the comedy Back to the Outback directed by Clare Knight and Harry Cripps, Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood by Richard Linklater, The Sea Beast by Chris Williams, Wendell & Wild by Henry Selick, Pinocchio by Guillermo del Toro, The Magician’s by Wendy Rogers Elephant, The Witch Boy by Minkyu Lee and the sequel to Aardman Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget.
