Who We Are

Cartoon Saloon began as an informal partnership between a group of animators brought together by Paul Young and Tomm Moore in 1999. Cartoon Saloon has since grown into a multi-award winning animation and illustration design studio.

Cartoon Saloon develops and produces feature film and TV series projects while producing award winning short films, television commercials, graphic novels and children’s books.

In addition to developing and producing Tomm Moore’s The Secret of Kells, The Saloon also successfully developed and produced its first TV series, the IFTA award winning Skunk Fu! Which has been sold to broadcasters in over 120 countries worldwide, including the BBC, Cartoon Network, Canal J, France 5, Super RTL Disney and ABC Australia.

The Saloon is in development of a number of new projects.

Three new feature film projects, Song of the Sea, Skunk Fu! The Movie and Bluebeard.

Childrens animated Tv series -Galaxy Boyz, Pirate Zoe and Puffins Rock are currently in development as  for the international market.

In September 2008 and 2009, Cartoon Saloon picked up the Producer of the year tribute at the Cartoon forum 2008 and Cartoon Movie 2009. Tomm Moore received the Directors Guild of Ireland and America finders series award 2008 and European Director of the Year at the Cartoon Movie in 2009.

Paul Young is a co-founder and CEO of Cartoon Saloon, Producer of the animated feature The Secret of Kells and Executive Producer of the animated children’s series Skunk Fu! which has sold globally to territories including the BBC, Super RTL, Kids WB and Cartoon Network in the US. Paul is also an award winning cartoonist and illustrator.

Paul travels a lot to spread the good word.

Did you know: People who have met Paul seldom realise that ‘Paul’ is the hat, the body underneath is just a drone who does the hat’s bidding.

Nora Twomey (not Tohey, Toomey or toothey, just Twomey) is a Creative Director at Cartoon Saloon.

Born in Ireland, a surprisingly short time ago, Nora studied fine art in Cork for a year before moving to Dublin where she attended Ballyfermot College to study animation. Having graduated in 1997 she worked in the industry for a year before becoming one of the founder members of the Cartoon Saloon.

She has directed three shorts with the company and as well as co directing on The Secret of Kells.

Nora isn’t seen very often outside, but that is only because she is a master of stealth and in fact joins Paul on every trip to markets, ready to pounce at the first sign of trouble.

Read Nora’s Blog.