Kilkenny, Ireland – Cartoon Saloon, a world renowned animation studio with five Academy Award® and two Golden Globe® nominations and many award wins including BAFTA® and Emmy® announces a licensing deal with leading premium stationery suppler Paperblanks, based on its Irish Folklore Trilogy,  Academy Award-nominated features “WolfWalkers,” “Song of the Sea” and “The Secret of Kells.”

The new Irish Folklore Trilogy range will be developed by Paperblanks in close partnership with Cartoon Saloon. The range will comprise of Journals, Book Marks, Canvas Bags and Puzzles and will be distributed through Paperblanks global distribution network with additional details to be announced.

“We are thrilled to partner with Paperblanks to further expand the captivating worlds of our Irish Folklore Trilogy”, commented Brian Tyrrell, General Manager of Cartoon Saloon Brand Development. “Fans constantly look for more ways to engage with their favorite characters from our amazing stories, and given how artistic led our movies are, it’s very much a natural fit to partner with Paperblanks whose attention to detail in the printing process and creativity is renowned worldwide”

“There is no doubt that the Irish Folklore Trilogy film series has touched many hearts through the powerful stories and mesmerizing animations, ours at Paperblanks included. We aimed to carry into our journals and accessories the sweetness, the excitement, and awe that we experienced watching these movies, always grateful for the creative spirits who blended the unique Irish legends with the emotional stories, scene after scene of beautiful colours and captivating narrative. Narrowing down the designs for the final products was a fun challenge to have and we hope the fans will enjoy them as much as we loved working on them, being transported into the wonderful imaginary world that Cartoon Saloon created.” – Adina Costiuc, Paperblanks Associate Art Director 

Announcing the debut of the Irish Folklore Trilogy brand over three years ago, Cartoon Saloon Brand Development continues to grow the brand with licensing partners. Partners currently include Little Brown Young Readers (Graphic Novels – global),  a special edition Blu-ray box set of the three films  across North American with partners GKids and Shout Factory and with Studio Canal Home Entertainment for Ireland and the U.K. and with Child Film/MidShip in Japan, GreenRe, for a line of kids sustainable stationery products with distribution across North America, the UK and Northern Ireland, and Australia and New Zealand; Snuggly Figs for an eco-friendly and socially responsible infant/children’s clothing line made of bamboo for North America; Value Add Games for a boardgame for the European Union; as well  Xist Publishing (beginner books – global); Pinfinity (AR Enamel Pin Sets – global); and Gallery Nucleus (pin sets), as well as Trends International for posters in North America. Last year, in addition to the above, a special edition trilogy designed range of mugs and apparel are available exclusively online at https://storecartoonsaloon.com/.

About WolfWalkers
Set in Kilkenny, Ireland in the mid-17th century, WolfWalkers tells the story of Robyn Goodfellow, a young apprentice hunter who comes to Ireland with her father to wipe out the last pack of wolves. Her life changes after she saves a native girl, Mebh, leading to her discovery of the WolfWalkers and her transformation into the very thing her father is tasked to destroy.  WolfWalkers  was co-produced with Luxembourg’s Melusine Productions and has won a raft of awards together with Academy Award®, Golden Globe® and BAFTA® nominations. WolfWalkers is currently available nearly worldwide on Apple TV+.

About Song of the Sea
Song of the Sea takes inspiration from the mythological Selkies of Irish folklore, who live as seals in the sea but become humans on land.  Song of the Sea was nominated for an Academy Award® in 2015 and was a co-production with Melusine Productions (Luxembourg), The Big Farm (Belgium), Nørlum (Denmark) and Superprod (France).

About The Secret of Kells
The Secret of Kells is a bewitching animated fairy-tale for children and adults alike that is a spirited retelling of the provenance of Ireland’s most cherished artefact, the Book of Kells.     The stunning artwork was influenced by Irish medieval illustrations and was Cartoon Saloon’s first feature film and nominated for an Academy Award® in 2010. The film was a co-production with Vivi Film (Belgium) and Les Armateurs (France).

About Cartoon Saloon
Cartoon Saloon, now in its 25th year, established in 1999 by Paul Young, Tomm Moore, and Nora Twomey, is a world renowned animation studio with five Academy Award® and two Golden Globe® nominations and many award wins including BAFTA® and Emmy®. From award-winning shorts (Cúilín Dualach, Late Afternoon) to feature films (The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, The Breadwinner, Wolfwalkers and My Father’s Dragon) and TV series (Puffin Rock, Dorg Van Dango, Viking Skool, Silly Sundays), Cartoon Saloon has carved a special place in the international Animation industry over 25 years. My Father’s Dragon, Cartoon Saloon’s fifth feature film, produced exclusively for Netflix premiered in 2022 and the Paul Young directed Emmy® award winning Screecher’s Reach, part of the Star Wars Visions Volume 2 premiered on May 04 last on Disney +. Silly Sundays, created and directed by Nuria Gonzalez Balance is currently rolling out on Cartoonito and RTÉ while Puffin Rock and the new Friends, the Puffin Rock movie directed by Jeremy Purcell is releasing theatrically across Europe and premiered online in North America on April 16th 2024.

About Cartoon Saloon Brand Development
Launched in 2019, Cartoon Saloon Brand Development is responsible for all licensing and merchandising activities for Cartoon Saloon, including licensing opportunities for their impressive library of features and TV  shows – The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, WolfWalkers, The Breadwinner, My Father’s Dragon and Puffin Rock, along with upcoming projects Puffin Rock and the New Friends, and the TV series Silly Sundays coming later this year. Cartoon Saloon works closely with licensees to ensure they have the necessary assets and access to creative teams to ensure that together we can provide high quality merchandise to fans across the globe. Cartoon Saloon Brand Development also manages direct-to-consumer online stores, including the company’s impressive Art Gallery with Limited Edition Fine Art Prints, Alternative Movie Posters, and unique art from artists within the Studio itself. In addition, Cartoon Saloon Brand Development creates, designs, and manufactures their own ethically sourced and sustainably produced merchandise to sit alongside that of Licensees.

About Paperblanks
At Paperblanks, we believe in the power of creativity and the infinite possibilities that start with a blank page. When you connect with a Paperblanks design and the story behind it, you find a trusted space for your thoughts and imagination. Your journal becomes a companion along life’s journey, inspiring you to write, sketch, remember, and dream, as you chronicle what matters most. Something magical happens when the joy of a blank page meets the individual beauty of your own potential. With Paperblanks, you can capture those special moments and tell your own story, from cover to cover. The story of Paperblanks begins in 1992. Driven by the desire to create the perfect notebook, we sought out iconic images from diverse artistic and cultural traditions for our journal covers. Today we continue to offer unparalleled art curated from unique points throughout history, each one selected to inspire your creativity and self-expression.