This weekend in Derry, We premiered “Puffin Rock and the New Friends,” a new Irish animated feature film created by Us and our long-time animation friends Cartoon Saloon. We rolled out the red carpet at the Brunswick Moviebowl and featured all our Puffin Pals (and Bernie the crab of course!), With our Dublin Premiere featuring actors like Chris O’Dowd and Amy Huberman.
Based on the award-winning television series Puffin Rock, the film is the first animated feature to be produced in Northern Ireland.
“Puffin Rock and the New Friends” continues the adventures of beloved characters from the animated series, Oona, Baba, May, and Mossy, who are now joined by a fresh cast of characters on the island. This heartwarming, soft-education film celebrates Ireland’s breathtaking natural beauty and explores themes of belonging, bravery, and friendship. The storyline follows Oona and her newfound companions racing against time to safeguard the last egg of the season, all while facing the imminent threat of a storm that endangers Puffin Rock. Director Jeremy Purcell shared his enthusiasm for the project, saying:
The Puffin Rock TV series holds a special place in my professional heart. Returning to Puffin Rock for the feature film and narrating Isabelle’s journey as she adapts to this new environment and discovers the essence of home was a delightful experience.”
The screenplay for Puffin Rock and the New Friends was written by Sara Daddy, who was Head Writer on the original television series. The film is produced by Paul Young, Tomm Moore, Nora Twomey from Cartoon Saloon, and John McDaid and Fionnuala Deane from Dog Ears, with the support of Northern Ireland Screen, Screen Ireland, RTÉ, and BBC Alba.
For the first animated feature film from Northern Ireland to come out of Derry, it shows how much talent there is in the city and that it can become a real creative hub with the right support.”
Puffin Rock and The New Friends is in in cinemas in Ireland and the UK now!
