The Puffin gang is back! Based on the Kidscreen Awards and Royal Television Award-winning Netflix preschool series Puffin Rock, Puffin Rock and the New Friends is the first animated feature film of the franchise. Song of the Sea and The Breadwinner collaborators WestEnd Films, Cartoon Saloon, and Dog Ears are teaming up once again for the first animated feature produced in Northern Ireland, which is now in post-production.
New Friends sees Oona, Baba, May and Mossy return, with new friends Isabelle, Phoenix and Marvin. 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. Chris O’Dowd (My Father’s Dragon) reprises his role as Narrator, with Amy Huberman (Derry Girls), Beth McCafferty, and Eva Whittaker (Wolfwalkers).
Northern Ireland Screen CEO, Richard Williams, remarked, “We are thrilled that the Puffins are migrating to the big screen. Northern Ireland Screen has long been enthusiastic supporters of Dog Ears, they are a hugely talented and highly driven team working at ease alongside major global names in children’s programming. It comes as no surprise that they are behind the first animated feature film to be made in Northern Ireland. This news speaks volumes for the growth and future potential of the animation sector here. We wish Dog Ears every success as they embark on this exciting project.”
The film is directed by Jeremy Purcell (Joe and Jack, The Secret of Kells), with a script by Puffin Rock’s Sara Daddy. Paul Young and Tomm Moore produce alongside Nora Twomey from Cartoon Saloon, with John McDaid and Fionnuala Deane from Dog Ears. New Friends is co-funded by Northern Ireland Screen, Screen Ireland, RTÉ, and BBC Alba.
A release date for the film has not yet been set.
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