WestEnd Films and Cartoon Saloon team up on Screen Ireland supported feature Puffin Rock and The New Friends
Posted: 13th February 2023
Following their successful collaboration on Oscar nominees Song of the Sea and The Breadwinner, WestEnd Films is teaming up again with Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon and Northern Ireland’s Dog Ears on Puffin Rock and the New Friends, the movie based on the acclaimed brand and award-winning TV series Puffin Rock. The film is proudly supported by Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland.
Puffin Rock and the New Friends sees the family favourites, Oona, Baba, May and Mossy joined by a new cast of characters, as Isabelle, Phoenix and Marvin arrive on the island. It's an action-packed story which celebrates our magnificent natural environment, and features themes of belonging, courage and friendship. When the last Little Egg of the season disappears under mysterious circumstances, Oona and her new friends race against time to bring the Little Egg home before a big storm hits Puffin Rock and puts the entire island in danger.
The film is directed by Jeremy Purcell who previously directed the animated TV series Joe and Jack and worked on the TV series Puffin Rock, as well as on Song of the Sea and The Secret of Kells.
Chris O'Dowd (Puffin Rock, My Father’s Dragon), Amy Huberman (A Cat Called Jam, Derry Girls), Beth McCafferty and Eva Whittaker (Wolfwalkers, Millie and Lou) lead the voice cast.
Director Jeremy Purcell said:
Puffin Rock is a wonderful place to live, but what if it just doesn't feel like your home. Sadly in the world we live in, more and more children are being forced to leave all they have known, and move somewhere new. Puffin Rock and the New Friends is a story of one little puffin's journey to making friends, finding happiness and, most importantly, making a new place a home.”
Sara Daddy, who was the Head Writer of the TV series, wrote the screenplay of Puffin Rock and the New Friends. The series has enjoyed worldwide success: it was nominated for an International Emmy, won two Kidscreen Awards and a Royal Television Award, and has been a huge hit worldwide with pre-school audiences. It has been acquired by various international broadcasters including a global deal with Netflix, and a Chinese acquisition by China Nebula Group (CNB) where it was broadcast on TenCent.
The film is produced by Paul Young, Tomm Moore, Nora Twomey from Cartoon Saloon and John McDaid and Fionnuala Deane from Dog Ears, with the feature film created by both studios. Other crew members include editor Sophie Borlée, assistant director Lorraine Lordan and art directors Fran Bravo and Stefano Scapolan. The score is composed by Eberg.
The Puffin Rock Movie will be the first animated feature produced in Northern Ireland and is co-funded by Northern Ireland Screen, Screen Ireland, RTÉ and BBC Alba. Wildcard Distribution will be releasing theatrically in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Irish outfit Cartoon Saloon has established itself as one of the world’s most consistently excellent animation studios, having received Oscar nominations across projects including Song of the Sea, The Secret of Kells, The Breadwinner and Wolfwalkers. The studio also produced My Father's Dragon, directed by Nora Twomey, which launched exclusively on Netflix in November 2022.
Paul Young, CEO of Cartoon Saloon, said:
“I'm very happy to announce our Puffin Rock feature with our brilliant partners Dog Ears, China Nebula Pictures and WestEnd Films. There are a lot of kids hungry for some more adventures with Oona, Baba and Friends and we don't want to let them down! Our movie has lots of laughs and thrills for younger viewers and for many we expect Puffin Rock and the New Friends will be their first cinema experience!”.
Dog Ears are co-owners of the underlying property and producers of the TV series together with Cartoon Saloon and Penguin Books. John McDaid, Creative Director, said:
“We’re delighted to announce Puffin Rock and the New Friends, a beautiful movie full of the fun and adventure our Puffin Rock fans have come to expect. I know families and kids have been looking forward to this new story, one where our little puffins make some new arrivals feel at home, and work together to protect their natural habitat, themes at the very heart of Puffin Rock.”
Puffin Rock and the New Friends is currently in post-production and WestEnd is revealing a first exclusive look at the film. WestEnd will be launching sales at the EFM where it will be showing buyers first footage of the film. Maya Amsellem, WestEndFilms' managing director, said:
We’re very proud and excited to continue our long-lasting collaboration with Cartoon Saloon, following The Breadwinner and Song of the Sea. Puffin Rock has already established itself as one of the best pre-school shows and we have no doubt the movie will resonate with families all over the world."
About WestEnd Films:
WestEnd Films is a dynamic London-based production, financing and international sales company for feature films and TV. It offers filmmakers finance, production and sales expertise as well as an extensive network of contacts across all sectors of the industry.
WestEnd’s EFM line-up also includes new political thriller Untitled Judo co-directed by Oscar winner Guy Nattiv and Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Woody Allen’s new film Coup de Chance, Israeli TV series Traitor from the writers and creators of Euphoria, False Flag and Valley of Tears (screening at Berlinale as part of the Series Market Selects label), Freud’s Last Session starring Anthony Hopkins, Reawakening starring Jared Harris, Four Quartets starring Ralph Fiennes, The Last Rifleman starring Pierce Brosnan; and Cottontail from Academy Award nominated producer Gabrielle Tana.
Find out more on their website.
About Cartoon Saloon:
Cartoon Saloon is a five-time Academy Award®, Golden Globe®, BAFTA and Emmy nominated animation studio helmed by directors Paul Young, Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey. 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), Cartoon Saloon has carved a special place in the international Animation industry, over 23 years.
Find out more on their website.
About Dog Ears:
Dog Ears is an Emmy nominated children’s media company based in Derry, Northern Ireland, who create content for TV, publishing and digital. Alongside the Puffin Rock movie they have co-produced two seasons of the TV show, and are in production on a major new animated series with partners Cartoon Saloon. Dog Ears is currently working on a slate of exciting new children’s IP, including Saturday Club (Hopster/Sandbox).
Find out more on their website.