First Look At Cartoon Saloon’s My Father’s Dragon

In celebration of World Book Day this Saturday, Netflix unveiled the first look and cast of  Cartoon Saloon co-founder Nora Twomey’s upcoming animated feature My Father’s Dragon.

The film is inspired by the Newbery honoured book of the same title by Ruth Stiles Gannett.

Netflix have also announced the film’s voice cast Jacob Tremblay, Gaten Matarazzo, 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.

When it comes to animation studios, the likes of Disney, Pixar, Ghibli are the studios that always seem get the limelight. Ireland’s Cartoon Saloon deserves that recognition the aforementioned studios gets and virtually every film they have released has found awards recognition.

Here’s the official Synopsis:
From five-time Academy Award®-nominated animation studio Cartoon Saloon (The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, Wolfwalkers) and Academy Award®-nominated director Nora Twomey (The Breadwinner), comes an exquisite film inspired by the Newbery-honored children’s book from author Ruth Stiles Gannett. Struggling to cope after a move to the city with his mother, Elmer runs away in search of Wild Island and a young dragon who waits to be rescued. Elmer’s adventures introduce him to ferocious beasts, a mysterious island and the friendship of a lifetime.

“Our actors, animators and artists at Cartoon Saloon have worked together to craft this film, inspired by Ruth Stiles Gannett’s amazing book” said director Nora Twomey “We were drawn together by a desire to tell a very special tale of friendship, adventure, and true bravery. I fell in love with storytelling as a child and Netflix excels at celebrating all kinds of stories, through different styles and distinct voices. This has given me the opportunity to look through a beautiful lens and I am excited to share what I see with our audience around the world.”

You have to admit the streaming giants have been creating a fantastic slate of animated features. Including Academy Award nominated The Mitchell’s vs the Machines, Aardman‘s Robin Robin, Klaus, The Willoughbys, Over the Moon; as well as Richard Linklater’s Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood. There is also a host of other features still to come like The Sea Beast, Wendell & Wild, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, The Magician’s Elephant, The Witch Boy, and Aardman sequel Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget.

Netflix haven’t officially mentioned any potential release dates for My Father’s Dragon. If it hopes to release in time for 2023 Oscars don’t be surprised we see this released for late 2022, if not 2023.