Over the last several years, many of our favorite animated flicks have one thing in common: the Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon. From The Secret of Kells to Wolfwalkers, the delightful storytelling and sublime animation style of this studio have us completely mesmerized. And for its latest film, My Father’s Dragon, Cartoon Saloon heads to Netflix. Based on the Newberry Honor-winning children’s book of the same name, the story follows a young boy who embarks on an adventure to a magical, mysterious island. Naturally, My Father’s Dragon‘s first image is as beautiful as we’ve come to expect from Cartoon Saloon.
Here’s the synopsis from Netflix:
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-honoured 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.
The film boasts a wickedly stacked cast. Jacob Tremblay and Stranger Things‘ Gaten Matarazzo lead the voice cast. Also starring in the film are 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, Whoopi Goldberg, and Ian McShane.
This cast list is a bit overwhelming, to say the least. From screen legends to clutch comedians and even a 2000s teen drama power couple, it really has everybody. Nora Twomey directs a script by Meg LeFauve. The movie’s story comes from LeFauve and John Morgan. Cartoon Saloon and Mockingbird Pictures are producing. Interestingly, the 1948 children’s book is the first in a trilogy by Ruth Stiles Gannett. The follow-ups are Elmer and the Dragon and The Dragons of Blueland. Could My Father’s Dragon be the first in a surely stunning film trilogy? Either way, we’re ready to learn more. And we especially can’t wait to see more of the stunning animation.
Netflix hasn’t set a release date for My Father’s Dragon just yet.