Kilkenny's Cartoon Saloon has produced yet another blazing masterpiece. It really will take your breath away.
Adapted from Ruth Stiles Gannett’s 1948 best-selling children’s novel, the animation studio's fifth offering following the success of The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, The Breadwinner and Wolfwalkers is a triumph of pure imagination.
Struggling to cope after a move to the city with his mother (Golshifteh Farahani) 10-year-old Elmer (Jacob Tremblay), runs away with a very chatty cat (Whoopi Goldberg) in search of a young dragon (Gaten Matarazzo), who waits to be rescued from a sinking island.
The magic of this poignant gem is propelled by the boundless imagination of writer Meg LeFauve (Inside Out). Much of what makes the film work rests in the combination of its subtle touches matched with its strong emotional base as it navigates themes of parenthood fears, childhood memory, and the importance of trust. It is charming as it is delicate.
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The beautifully rendered visuals are deceptively deep, effortlessly capturing the awe of sheer fantasy and innocence. The colours, textures and settings are all handsomely executed.
Oscar-nominated director Nora Twomey brings to life a breathtakingly beautiful world full of spellbinding characters, and, once again, produces a wondrous tapestry of artistic brilliance.
The vocal work is stellar across the board, most notably Gaten Matarazzo's (Stranger Things) mix of vulnerability and hidden strength. Boyle native Chris O'Dowd, Alan Cumming, Adam Brody and Whoopi Goldberg also contribute to making the 99-minute outing a roaring success.
My Father’s Dragon took five years to make - it really was worth the wait.
