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Cartoon Saloon is an animation studio in Kilkenny, Ireland founded by Tomm Moore, Nora Twomey, and Paul Young. The studio's first feature The Secret of Kells was released in 2009 and was nominated for an Academy Award in 2010. Aisling, the white-haired fairy, was an animated presenter on the Oscar broadcast. I read about the movie in the ASIFA-SF newsletter written by Karl Cohen. I traveled one hour to see the movie in San Francisco and loved it. The protagonist Brendan is a young monk who wants to learn how to illuminate a book. He goes into the forest to seek red berries for ink, but soon runs into danger. The fairy Aisling appears skeptical, but helps him in his efforts.
When I looked up the Cartoon Saloon online shop one day in 2011, I found they were offering Tomm Moore watercolor commissions. In this first opportunity, they offered card-size pieces and I signed up for Brendan, Aisling, and the cat Pangur Ban. In the second opportunity, they offered larger pieces. I bought one for my niece and the other for myself. I was stunned by the very complete scene of Brendan at work under the guidance of Brother Aidan from Iona. In 2012, I placed a third order for two pieces and got the Aisling and wolves and a Song of the Sea painting.Leading up to SDCC 2014, my brother Stuart Ng said Tomm and Paul were going to do signing sessions for the new art book Designing the Secret of Kells at his SDCC booth and in Burbank after the con. Jamie Kezlarian Bolio is the US representative for Cartoon Saloon and escorted Tomm and Paul around San Diego and Los Angeles. She wrote this extensive piece on Cartoon Saloon hits SoCal with sneak peeks and book signings. Following the example of French artists, Tomm was doing nice drawings for everyone. After the Thursday session, Tomm came early on Friday and Saturday to get started on the drawings. It was one of the most exciting events ever at Stuart's booth.
After the con, Stuart and I went to Woodbury University to see Tomm and Paul present their Song of the Sea preview. Cartoon Saloon's second feature is a five studio co-production including Studio 352 (Luxembourg), Noerlum (Denmark), Digital Graphics (Belgium). and Superprod (France). The supervisors all came to Kilkenny to meet and plan with Tomm. The studios use a common system so work can be reviewed in Kilkenny. New completed work was added to the animatic daily.
Tomm was first inspired by a family vacation to the beach where they found many dead seals. A local woman said the fishermen killed them because fisheries were falling. There had been a historic respect for seals as folklore beliefs held seals were the reincarnation of lost sailors. Tomm named this movie's influences as the films My Neighbor Totoro, Into the West, The Jungle Book, and Irish storyteller Eddie Lenihan.
Glen Keane and Tomm Moore with San Francisco students
Cartoon Saloon podcasts: Tomm Moore talks to the studio staff
There are 12 Pieces of Art In This Gallery.
Art Details
| Artist: | Ross Stewart (All) |
| Media Type: | Mixed Media |
| Art Type: | Illustration |
| For Sale Status: | NFS |
| Views | 16 |
| Comments: | 1 |
| Added to Site: | 1/23/2026 |
About the Owner
| Steven Ng
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| Member Since: | July 2005 |
Girl with leaves by Ross Stewart
Artist: Ross Stewart (All)
16 Views, 1 Comment
Art Details
| Artist: | Nora Twomey (All) |
| Media Type: | Pen and Ink |
| Art Type: | Remarked Item |
| For Sale Status: | NFS |
| Views | 386 |
| Comments: | 0 |
| Added to Site: | 5/3/2023 |
About the Owner
| Steven Ng
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| Member Since: | July 2005 |
My Father’s Dragon by Nora Twomey 2023
Artist: Nora Twomey (All)
386 Views
Art Details
| Artist: | Amanda MacFarlane (All) |
| Media Type: | Paint - Watercolor |
| Art Type: | Commission |
| For Sale Status: | NFS |
| Views | 1282 |
| Comments: | 0 |
| Added to Site: | 3/4/2023 |
About the Owner
| Steven Ng
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| Member Since: | July 2005 |
Wolfwalkers Robyn Goodfellowe and Merlyn by Amanda MacFarlane
Artist: Amanda MacFarlane (All)
1282 Views
Art Details
| Artist: | Amanda MacFarlane (All) |
| Media Type: | Paint - Watercolor |
| Art Type: | Commission |
| For Sale Status: | NFS |
| Views | 1167 |
| Comments: | 1 |
| Added to Site: | 2/25/2023 |
About the Owner
| Steven Ng
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| Member Since: | July 2005 |
Wolfwalkers Mebh by Amanda MacFarlane
Artist: Amanda MacFarlane (All)
1167 Views, 1 Comment
Art Details
| Artist: | Frederik Villumsen (All) |
| Media Type: | Pen and Ink |
| Art Type: | Sketch Card |
| For Sale Status: | NFS |
| Views | 1137 |
| Comments: | 0 |
| Added to Site: | 8/9/2018 |
About the Owner
| Steven Ng
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| Member Since: | July 2005 |
Song of the Sea sketch by Frederik Villumsen
Artist: Frederik Villumsen (All)
1137 Views
Art Details
| Artist: | Tomm Moore (All) |
| Media Type: | Pen and Ink |
| Art Type: | Remarked Item |
| For Sale Status: | NFS |
| Views | 4929 |
| Comments: | 0 |
| Added to Site: | 12/12/2015 |
About the Owner
| Steven Ng
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| Member Since: | July 2005 |
Macha (Song of the Sea) by Tomm Moore, CTNX Burbank 2015
Artist: Tomm Moore (All)
4929 Views
Art Details
| Artist: | Ross Stewart (All) |
| Media Type: | Mixed Media |
| Art Type: | Illustration |
| For Sale Status: | NFS |
| Views | 1455 |
| Comments: | 0 |
| Added to Site: | 12/7/2015 |
About the Owner
| Steven Ng
|
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| Member Since: | July 2005 |
Nature does not hurry Inktober art by Ross Stewart 2015
Artist: Ross Stewart (All)
1455 Views
Art Details
| Artist: | Tomm Moore (All) Paul Young (All) |
| Media Type: | Pencil |
| Art Type: | Convention Sketch |
| For Sale Status: | NFS |
| Views | 2653 |
| Comments: | 0 |
| Added to Site: | 8/11/2014 |
About the Owner
| Steven Ng
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| Member Since: | July 2005 |
Designing the Secret of Kells sketches by Tomm Moore and Paul Young, San Diego 2014
Artist: Tomm Moore (All)
Paul Young (All)
2653 Views
Art Details
| Artist: | Tomm Moore (All) |
| Media Type: | Pen and Ink |
| Art Type: | Convention Sketch |
| For Sale Status: | NFS |
| Views | 2054 |
| Comments: | 0 |
| Added to Site: | 8/11/2014 |
About the Owner
| Steven Ng
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| Member Since: | July 2005 |
Aisling the fairy by Tomm Moore, San Diego 2014
Artist: Tomm Moore (All)
2054 Views
Art Details
| Artist: | Tomm Moore (All) |
| Media Type: | Paint - Watercolor |
| Art Type: | Commission |
| For Sale Status: | NFS |
| Views | 7264 |
| Comments: | 0 |
| Added to Site: | 10/11/2012 |
About the Owner
| Steven Ng
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| Member Since: | July 2005 |
Tomm Moore: Song of the Sea watercolor 2012
Artist: Tomm Moore (All)
7264 Views
Art Details
| Artist: | Tomm Moore (All) |
| Media Type: | Paint - Watercolor |
| Art Type: | Commission |
| For Sale Status: | NFS |
| Views | 12689 |
| Comments: | 10 |
| Added to Site: | 8/2/2012 |
About the Owner
| Steven Ng
|
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| Member Since: | July 2005 |
Tomm Moore: Aisling and wolves (The Secret of Kells) watercolor
Artist: Tomm Moore (All)
12689 Views, 10 Comments
Art Details
| Artist: | Tomm Moore (Painter) |
| Media Type: | Paint - Watercolor |
| Art Type: | Commission |
| For Sale Status: | NFS |
| Views | 9833 |
| Comments: | 0 |
| Added to Site: | 3/28/2011 |
About the Owner
| Steven Ng
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| Member Since: | July 2005 |
Tomm Moore: Brendan and Brother Aidan watercolor (The Secret of Kells) 2011
Artist: Tomm Moore (Painter)
9833 Views
There are 12 Pieces of Art In This Gallery.
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