Created by Oscar-nominated producer Nuria González Blanco (Late Afternoon), the new Cartoon Saloon feel-good animated series Silly Sundays follows cousins Sonia, Hugo and Mel on fun, unexpected adventures at their family get-togethers - watch now, via RTÉ Player.
We talked to Nuria about Silly Sundays and her career in animation to date...
Tell us a bit about your background...
Born and raised in Spain, I grew up in a very traditional environment with strong family values. I remember the summer holidays when the whole family would re unite for a couple of months in the little Mediterranean village my parents grew up in.
I have precious memories of playing football with my cousins at sunset until we could see the ball no more; memories of helping my Granny to prepare the table for 20 and eating all the bread before the meal even started; getting sticky eating watermelon at the beach; the chaos of getting ready to go to bed and even more chaos getting ready to go out in the morning…! These memories, as small as they might seem, are a huge part of me growing up, and have helped shaped the person I am today.
Was animation always a passion?
I've been passionate about animation since I can remember. Being a child in the 80s and the start of the 90s in Spain had many benefits, like watching cartoons in most TV channels three times a day! Before school, at lunchtime, and after school, I would tune in to watch my favourite animated shows and movies (and somehow we would still have time to do our homework and play outside with our friends!). I loved how stories were told through animation and I was very curious about how these characters were coming to life, it was magical! As I grew older, I got more and more fascinated with the craft until I finally decided to pursue a career in animation. Being part of this magic was a dream as a child, and I’m so grateful that the dream has come true!
How did you end up finding your way to Kilkenny?
While studying animation at Edinburgh College of Art in Scotland, I discovered the work that Cartoon Saloon was doing. I was a fan of the studio and when I graduated, I came across the opportunity of doing an internship with them. I applied and got the placement! That was the beginning of my animation career and my exciting journey to Ireland. Kilkenny has been my home for the last ten years, I’m now as much a fan of camogie and hurling as I am of football!
Tell us about some of your other projects...
I have worked across the full spectrum of animation production roles in children’s television, advertising and film. I’ve enjoyed every project I’ve been part of, to mention a few: the short film Violet, directed by Maurice Joyce and winner of The James Horgan Award for Best Short Animation at the Galway Film Fleadh in 2015; the Golden Globe and Oscar-nominated feature The Breadwinner, directed by Nora Twomey; the Oscar-nominated short film Late Afternoon, directed by Louise Bagnall; and the preschool series (which is very close to my heart) Puffin Rock, directed by Maurice Joyce and created by Lily Bernard, Tomm Moore and Paul Young. Puffin Rock was nominated for an International Emmy Kids Award in 2018 and I’d like take the opportunity to spread the exciting news that the feature film Puffin Rock and the New Friends, directed by Jeremy Purcell, will be showing in cinemas from July 14th, don’t miss it!
What inspired you to create Silly Sundays?
I’ve always been passionate about the theme of family, and I feel lucky I’ve been able to experience and observe a diverse range of family dynamics. Spending time with family and friends inspires me, as every situation brings something different. Within all the joy, the laughter and of course, the mayhem, I find a common denominator I love exploring: connection.
Connection and playtime in the life of a family are a source of much joy, bonding and creative expression and learning. For children, spending time playing with their parents is especially important because it helps build a stable, nurturing relationship and social-emotional resilience that will carry them throughout life. Play helps to nurture imagination and give a child a sense of adventure - through play, children learn essential skills such as problem solving, collaboration with others, sharing, communication skills and much more.
In Silly Sundays we’ve had the pleasure of working closely with Aya Caspi, a specialist in non-violent communication. There is a balanced power dynamic between all members of the family, the rich learning flows from the play in an organic way and laughter is the key ingredient! Laughter helps build relationships and creates meaningful memories.
Some of my most precious memories come from those family summer holidays I enjoyed so much as a child. These memories would make me smile every time and I wondered if by sharing a little piece of my experiences, other families would remember their joyful moments together too. I hope they do, and that while watching Silly Sundays, they also feel like they’re on holidays, wherever they are.
Silly Sundays is now on RTÉjr and RTÉ Player
