• Illustrated cover art for 'The Art of Cartoon Saloon: 25 Years' by Charles Solomon, featuring multiple stylized cartoon characters and abstract dark floral shapes on a black background.
  • A printed art book or magazine spread showing two illustrated panels: a large left panel with an anime-style character in white holding a staff in a surreal landscape, and a smaller right panel with six smaller illustrated scenes. No real person or environment is present; this is a clean shot of printed artwork rather than a lifestyle scene.
  • Collage of animated character illustrations with various settings and expressions.
  • A two-page spread of concept art or storyboard panels showing stylized fantasy scenes, including a large moonlit seascape on the left and multiple warm-toned scene tiles on the right, set against a black background.
  • Collage of various illustrations and artworks with people wearing headscarves.
  • A collage of forest-themed artwork and design panels, including many small green nature thumbnails, a large autumn forest scene with orange leaves, a misty green forest path, a character in a forest, and a bright glowing green light. The layout resembles a design board or concept sheet on a white background.
  • A printed or illustrated booklet/page spread titled 'THE SECRET OF KELL'S 2009' showing a large owl face hidden in yellow autumn leaves on the left and character concept art on the right, including figures in brown robes, a white cat, and red-haired characters.
  • A collage of illustrated artwork panels showing fantasy and character designs, including a seated figure in a tent, a circular stone structure, a tall obelisk-like form, a woman in a long gown, and several smaller character studies on a white background.
1 8
Guaranteed Authentic Secure Checkout

The Art of Cartoon Saloon: 25 Years: The Official Retrospective of the Award Winning Irish Animation Studio

The Art of Cartoon Saloon: 25 Years: The Official Retrospective of the Award Winning Irish Animation Studio

$90.00 CAD
$90.00 CAD
Sale Sold out
Shipping calculated at checkout.

📖 Book Overview & Summary

Cartoon Saloon, the legendary multi-Academy Award-nominated animation studio from Kilkenny, Ireland, is globally celebrated for keeping the magic of traditional hand-drawn 2D animation alive. Published by the premium art preservation curators at Abrams Books, The Art of Cartoon Saloon: 25 Years: The Official Retrospective is an expansive, definitive deluxe anniversary hardcover collection. This massive retrospective volume compiles the definitive behind-the-scenes concept art galleries, production layouts, and secret design masterclasses that shaped the studio's timeless, critically acclaimed visual masterpieces.
Spanning a monumental 304 pages of vivid, high-contrast visual layouts and heavyweight archival stock, this comprehensive chronicle presents an unmatched look behind the scenes of Cartoon Saloon’s legendary creative workspaces. Get an inside look at the making of these award-winning films packed with a wealth of production extras, including insight on historical Celtic layout art, character model sheets, and watercolor environmental design files. Follow cofounders Tomm Moore, Nora Twomey, and Paul Young from their humble roots in 1999 to their status as global storytelling giants, exploring how their artists engineered the breathtaking geometric magic of Wolfwalkers and the deep, ethereal ocean tones of Song of the Sea. Every portfolio page is packed with professional-grade production sketches, color scripts, background art boards, and insightful creator commentary.
Individual chapters compile spectacular visual layouts, character designs, and worldbuilding portfolios:
  • The Secret of Kells & Song of the Sea Galleries: Follow a curated, comprehensive collection of character concepts tracking Brendan, Aisling, Saoirse, and Ben alongside intricate medieval geometric margins and folklore layouts.
  • The Breadwinner & My Father's Dragon Records: Features coveted production breakdowns and software-assisted hand-drawn mechanics tracking how the development team balanced historical realism, harsh war-torn textures, and vibrant fantasy color keys.
  • Wolfwalkers & Puffin Rock Portfolios: A beautiful, fan-favorite behind-the-scenes breakdown displaying sweeping Irish wilderness background art boards, unique "wolf-vision" visual style boards, and stylized character model sheets.
Masterfully compiled by renowned animation historian Charles Solomon, with a wealth of exclusive text contributions from the studio's principal directors and visionary artistic staff, Animation Magazine’s rave review observed that Abrams and Cartoon Saloon "have raised the bar for movie tie-ins!" This essential reference manual is an absolute crown jewel addition for digital painters, storyboard artists, illustration historians, and dedicated collectors of premium animation art books.
View full details
📋 Product Specifications
  • Title: The Art of Cartoon Saloon: 25 Years: The Official Retrospective
  • Author & Lead Contributor: Charles Solomon (with Cartoon Saloon Creative Leadership)
  • Design Team: Cartoon Saloon Animation & Layout Development Studio
  • Publisher: Abrams Books (Official 25th Anniversary Commemorative Production Era)
  • Format: Heavyweight Deluxe Hardcover (HC) Film Art Book Anthology
  • Print Length: 304 Pages
  • Dimensions: Approx. 26.16 cm x 3.43 cm x 31.37 cm / 10.3" x 1.35" x 12.35" (Oversized Studio Scale)
  • Item Weight: Approx. 2.18 kg (4.8 lbs)
  • Language: English Text Release