My Father’s Dragon – Pictures: Cartoon Saloon / Netflix
Oscar-nominated studio Cartoon Saloon is coming to Netflix soon with a brand new feature film adaptation project My father’s dragon. Emily Horgan, independent media consultant, takes us through everything we know so far from August 2022, with the film hitting our screens in November 2022.
My father’s dragon was announced by Netflix to animation fanfare in November 2018 and was initially targeted for a 2021 release (though more on that in a second).
There have been plenty of statements from creators and executives describing the film as “very ambitious,” so let’s review everything we know about it so far.
What is My father’s dragon regarding?
My Father’s Dragon iis based on a 1948 illustrated children’s book written by Ruth Stiles Gannett. He is the recipient of the prestigious Newbery Medal, which recognizes “outstanding contributions to American children’s literature.”
Interestingly, two more recent winners were also adapted into children’s films for Disney+, The only Ivan and Flora and Odysseus.
Who does My father’s dragon?
Cartoon Saloon is a small Irish animation studio based in Kilkenny. They rose to fame in 2010 when the film they produced, The Secret of Kells, unexpectedly received an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature.
Their track record has been consistent ever since, with every feature they’ve created enjoying an Academy nod. Werewolvestheir latest film was no exception, currently available on Apple TV+.
Cartoon Saloon Studio Picture
Who is behind My father’s dragon on Netflix?
The movie is directed by Cartoon Saloon’s Nora Toomey.
Toomey also directed their previous films Song of the Sea and The Breadwinner, produced by Angelina Jolie. She was vetted by Ted Sarandos on a recent Netflix earnings call as one of the world’s greatest animators.
The screenplay is by Pixar alum Meg Loffov, who serves as screenwriter From the inside out and The good dinosaur. her From the inside out co-star Ronnie Del Carmen also signed a joint deal with Netflix. Mockingbird Picture’s Bonnie Curtis and Julie Lynn, who boast working with a host of A-list Hollywood talent, serve as producers along with Cartoon Saloon’s Tom Moore.
What is the plot of My father’s dragon?
The summary of the novel is:
“A young boy runs away from home to rescue an abused baby dragon held captive to serve as a free 24-hour, seven-day-a-week ferry for the lazy wild animals living on Savage Island”
This is a fantasy tale set in the big wild island. In the 10 chapters, the main character, Elmer Elevator, meets an array of animals of different character, including a cat, tigers, gorilla and of course, a dragon. The appearance of the dragon is described in the book as follows:
“It has a long tail and yellow and blue stripes. His horn, eyes and lower legs are bright red and he has golden wings.
Based on the synopsis, the Netflix version sounds like it will stay pretty true to all of that:
“My Father’s Dragon tells the story of young fugitive Elmer Elevator, who searches for a captive dragon on Savage Island and finds much more than he could have bargained for.”
Calling everyone #artdirectors we are looking for you to join our team for our new feature – My Father’s Dragon. https://t.co/flKGAI56fD so please please please x infinity get in touch. #workfairy pic.twitter.com/y283qUKhQ0
— Cartoon Saloon (@CartoonSaloon) November 30, 2018
Who’s in the cast for My father’s dragon on Netflix?
Casting for the film was confirmed in early 2022, with an all-star cast (including many familiar faces to Netflix fans) assembled to provide voiceovers.
Here is a brief introduction of the cast members:
- Jacob Tremblay
- Gaten Matarazzo (Strange things)
- Golshifteh Farakhani
- Dianne Wiest (The birdcage)
- Rita Moreno
- Chris O’Dowd (The IT crowd)
- Judy Greer (13 going on 30)
- Alan Cumming
- Yara Shahidi
- Jackie Earle Haley
- Mary Kay Place
- Leighton Meester (Roommate)
- Spence Moore II
- Adam Brody
- Charlene Yee
- Maggie Lincoln
- Jack Smith
- Whoopi Goldberg (Star Trek)
- Ian McShane (Deadwood)
Netflix’s My Fathers Dragon streaming grid
Where is My Father’s Dragon produced? When will it be released on Netflix?
Although it was announced by Netflix in 2018, the development of the Cartoon Saloon movie can be traced back to 2016.
Key blurbs from the Studio mentioned it was “a few months” into production in January 2019.
This seems to be very much going on based on the current recruitment.
Cartoon Saloon are slated to supply a portion of the film for the preschool series Puffin Rock (also on Netflix) before that. According to insiders, the film will not be released in the originally planned 2021 slot, but in 2022, which was subsequently confirmed as part of Netflix’s 2022 film list.
The film will premiere at the 66th BFI London Film Festival in October 2022.
As part of a fall 2022 release schedule. Netflix has confirmed that the film will be released in November 2022. Additional, My father’s dragon will also receive a limited theatrical release in select theaters in November 2022.
Are you looking forward to watching My father’s dragon on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below.