r/CartoonSaloon

I know Parvana's stories aren't realistic, but if you hear someone say "The Breadwinner is too realistic," send them this, hehe.

Got it last month! Just thought to post it here

Hi cartoon saloon fans!

I just wanted to share my honest thoughts on Julián. Don't get me wrong, it is a very good movie, but I can't shake the feeling that it stands a bit in the shadow of Cartoon Saloon's past masterpieces.

First, let's talk about the positives: the animation is absolutely gorgeous. Turning Jessica Love's children's book into a feature film was no easy task, and giving Louise Bagnall her feature directorial debut was a genuinely innovative choice for the studio. She brings a beautifully poetic, unique vision to the screen.

However, when you look at the studio's overall catalog, it feels like it falls short compared to the raw emotional depth of The Breadwinner or the absolute heights of the Irish Folklore Trilogy (The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, and Wolfwalkers). It is a lovely, refreshing project, but maybe lacking the high-stakes narrative power we are used to from the studio.

Because of this, I think Julián is going to have a very hard time getting an Academy Award nomination. The competition this season is fierce:

• Mu Yi (from Studio La Cachette, the brilliant minds behind Primal and Love, Death & Robots) is gaining a ton of traction with its sweeping historical fantasy.
• Iron Boy (Le Corset) by Louis Clichy has already been making giant waves, taking home major praise and awards at both Cannes and Annecy.

With these two powerhouses in the mix, Cartoon Saloon might miss out on the Oscars this time around. What do you all think? Did Julián live up to your expectations, or do you agree that it feels like a slight step back for the studio's catalog?

Source: https://www.tcd.ie/news_events/articles/2026/cartoon-saloon/

Which one do you think would be the best choice for the studio's mascot? (I posted that thing about Julian so people know which movie it's from and the horse is from kindred spirits)