Cartoon Saloon Puts a Twist on Irish Folktales
This Saint Patrick’s Day, rather than simply sporting green, hone in on the celebration with Cartoon Saloon, a remarkable Irish-owned animation studio based in Kilkenny, Ireland. Since their establishment in the late 90s, co-founders Tomm Moore, Paul Young, and Nora Twomey have used their platform to bring Irish folktales to life. Each of their dozens of projects combines compelling storylines and gorgeous art to shine a light on an important part of Irish culture with the rest of the world.
Dalia Puchalt / The Samohi
Some of the most culturally rich stories include Cartoon Saloon’s “The Secret of Kells”, “Song of the Sea” and “Wolfwalkers”. These films, which can be found on various streaming services, not only capture and portray significant Irish folklore with stories of mythological selkies and man-wolves of Ossory but do so in an easily digestible and entertaining way that makes learning about Irish culture fun. Each movie hones in on one central aspect of Irish mythology or history, though it doesn’t shy away from taking creative liberties within their interpretations. On the same note, many of their films address the complexities of Irish life, making every film flushed out and relatable for people from all walks of life.
While this article may be niche to some, Cartoon Saloon has been an integral part of my upbringing. My relationship with the studio initially began when I first watched “Song of the Sea,” as a young kid originally born in Ireland, desperate to learn anything and everything about Irish culture, I was hooked. Here stood an alluring movie that checked all the boxes of my four-year-old self. The animated scenes of rural Ireland reminded me of long train and car rides along the Irish countryside. What transfixed me most of all was the delicate art style and well-executed retelling of Irish folktales.
Though I am biased, I truly believe that Irish mythology is endlessly fascinating and appeals to all ages. A large percentage of my love for Cartoon Saloon’s work is nostalgia-based, with their TV show “Puffin Rock” being yet another childhood staple, I’ve still found their work stunning as I’ve revisited it as a teenager. The studio’s 2009 short film “Old Fangs” became a new personal favorite after stumbling across it through writing this article. This short film is fantastic because it weaves a heartbreaking narrative with very little dialogue and also takes an uncommon approach to animation by cutting from animated parts to live-action shots of scenery that give the whole film a very authentic touch. Cartoon Saloon has a plethora of watch-worthy pieces most of which address critical issues encased in riveting, touching tales.