Cartoon Saloon’s animated feature WOLFWALKERS is tipped by industry bible, Variety Magazine, to win an Oscar next year and now audiences are flocking to find out why with the film opening No. 1 at the Irish box office this weekend and 3rd overall in UK/Ireland.
It is the first Irish film since Black 47 in 2018 to reach the coveted top spot at the Irish box office and has been receiving rave reviews from Irish film critics and cinema audiences alike since Irish cinemas reopened last week.
WOLFWALKERS follows Robyn Goodfellowe, a young apprentice hunter who journeys to Ireland with her father in a time of superstition and magic to wipe out the last wolf pack. While exploring the forbidden lands outside the city walls, Robyn befriends a free-spirited girl, Mebh, a member of a mysterious tribe rumored to have the ability to transform into wolves by night. As they search for Mebh’s missing mother, Robyn uncovers a secret that draws her further into the enchanted world of the “Wolfwalkers” and risks turning into the very thing her father is tasked to destroy.
The Apple Original film is the third animated feature from two-time Academy Award-nominee Tomm Moore (The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea) and Ross Stewart. Kilkenny’s Cartoon Saloon was also responsible for the Oscar-nominated film The Breadwinner.
WOLFWALKERS had its world premiere at the 45th Toronto International Film Festival earlier this year and also screened at the prestigious BFI London Film Festival to great critical acclaim. It had a sold-out screening at the Cork International Film Festival earlier last month.
In cinemas now, the film features the song ‘Running With The Wolves’ from Norwegian artist AURORA and the voice talents of Sean Bean, Tommy Tiernan and Maria Doyle.
Speaking about the box office news, Patrick O’Neill, MD of Wildcard Distribution who are distributing the film in Ireland and the UK said: “It’s great to see Wolfwalkers being so warmly embraced by an Irish cinema audience and opening at No. 1 at the Box Office. It’s a stunning piece of work, and is rightly being tipped for an Oscar. Congratulations to directors Tomm and Ross, and everyone at Cartoon Saloon.”
