The first teaser trailer has been released for animated feature ‘Song of the Sea’. The film is a co-production between Ireland, Luxembourg, Denmark, Belgium and France. It was produced by Kilkenny-based animation company Cartoon Saloon, with founder Tomm Moore directing.
Based on Irish folklore, ‘Song of the Sea’ sees Ben and his little sister Saoirse, the last ‘seal-child’, go on a journey to return to their home by the sea. It features the voices of Brendan Gleeson, Fionnula Flanagan, Pat Shortt, Lisa Hannigan and Moone Boy’s David Rawle. It received backing from the IFB, BAI and TG4 among other sources.
Cartoon Saloon co-produced the film with Belgian company The Big Farm, Melusine Productions from Luxembourg, Norlum from Denmark and Superprod from France. ‘Song of the Sea’ has been involved in distribution deals so far that include StudioCanal for the UK and Ireland, Haut et Court and Orange Cinéma Séries in France, O Brother Distribution in Benelux, Svensk Film for Sweden and Denmark, and G Kids for North America.
Director Tomm Moore is co-founder and creative director of animation studio Cartoon Saloon. The studio’s first feature-length animation was ‘The Secret of Kells’, which won Tomm both the Best Animation and Rising Star Award at the annual Irish Film & Television Awards (IFTAs), and the film was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards in 2010. Moore’s next feature is ‘The Prophet’, which recently went to Cannes.
The script for ‘Song of the Sea’ was developed by Moore and Irish screenwriter Will Collins (‘My Brothers’). The backgrounds were designed by French artistic director Adrien Merigeau.
See the trailer here: