Animation nation: The Irish creators making their mark on Hollywood

They’ve been nominated for an Oscar, but before they head for LA, the people behind Cartoon Saloon will celebrate Ireland’s booming animation industry at a festival this weekend. Esther McCarthy reports.

Next month, Cork animator Nora Twomey and Cartoon Saloon, the studio she co-founded, will take on some of the world’s biggest studios at the Oscars. Her film The Breadwinner, about a young Afghan girl who disguises herself as a boy to provide for her family, is nominated for Best Animated Film alongside giants such as Pixar and 20th Century Fox.