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The omission of “My Father’s Dragon” from the 2023 Oscar nominations list for best animated feature sparked murmurings of disapproval from within the industry. The Netflix film — directed by Nora Twomey and a gorgeously hand-drawn adaptation of Ruth Stiles Gannett’s beloved children’s fantasy novel — had been lapped up by critics, many of whom assumed it would easily make the cut.

But the disquiet only served to showcase the astonishing track record of “My Father’s Dragon’s” Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon, which had earned an incredible four Oscar nominations from its first four features, starting with “The Secret of Kells” in 2009 and followed by “Song of the Sea,” “The Breadwinner” and “Wolfwalkers.”

For Tomm Moore, the lack of a nomination for “My Father’s Dragon” also highlighted just how far animation had come since he co-founded Cartoon Saloon in Kilkenny alongside Twomey and Paul Young back in 1999.

“It showed...

Struggling to cope after a move to the city with his mother, Elmer (Jacob Tremblay) runs away in search of Wild Island and a young dragon called Boris (Gaten Matarazzo) who waits to be rescued. Photo: Netflix Cartoon Saloon is undoubtedly one of the essential underdogs of modern animation studios,...

Exclusive: Directors Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey to re-team on children’s story; The Song Of The Sea secures China deal.

Director Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey, who previously teamed on Oscar-nominated animated feature The Secret Of Kells, are set to co-direct animated feature My Father’s Dragon.

Irish outfit Cartoon Saloon, the company Moore and Twomey founded with producer Paul Young, is developing the project together with Bonnie Curtis (Minority Report) and Julie Lynn’s (Albert Nobbs) Mockingbird Pictures in La.

The feature has been adapted by Inside Out co-writer Meg LeFauve and John Morgan from the well-received children’s books by Ruth Gannett Stiles about a young boy, Elmer Elevator, who runs away to Wild Island to rescue a baby Dragon.

The news was confirmed by Young in Annecy.

Meanwhile, in a ground-breaking move, Moore’s second Oscar-nominated feature Song Of The Sea has been picked up for distribution in China by Huahua Media. A winner...

Directors Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey to re-team on children’s story; The Song Of The Sea secures China deal.

Director Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey, who previously teamed on Oscar-nominated animated feature The Secret Of Kells, are set to co-direct animated feature My Father’s Dragon.

Irish outfit Cartoon Saloon, the company Moore and Twomey founded with producer Paul Young, is developing the project together with Bonnie Curtis (Minority Report) and Julie Lynn’s (Albert Nobbs) Mockingbird Pictures in La.

The feature has been adapted by Inside Out co-writer Meg LeFauve and John Morgan from the well-received children’s books by Ruth Gannett Stiles about a young boy, Elmer Elevator, who runs away to Wild Island to rescue a baby Dragon.

The news was confirmed by Young in Annecy.

Meanwhile, in a ground-breaking move, Moore’s second Oscar-nominated feature Song Of The Sea has been picked up for distribution in China by Huahua Media. A winner...