Cartoon Saloon Hosts 'Kilkenny Animated' Festival [Updated]

[Updated: Line-up revealed and Tickets On Sale]

The Irish city of Kilkenny is home to the twice (and potentially soon to be three times) Oscar-
nominated animation Studio Cartoon Saloon. It will now also be home to its own animation festival, hosted by the studio, it has been announced.

Kilkenny Animated's  inaugural edition will take place February  23-25,  described as "a festival of visual storytelling". It will include the hometown premiere Q&A screening of Nora Twomey's The Breadwinner, ahead of the Irish release on May 25. Tickets are now available on the website.

Friday, February 23

10.30am- 6pm Friday At The Exhibition Hub

2:00pm- 6:30pm The Kilkenny Graffiti Project

9:00pm-10.15pm Stand Up Comedy and Animation with Bec Hill and Howard Read

Saturday, February 24

10.30am- 8pm Saturday At The Exhibition Hub

10:00am- 6:00pm The Kilkenny Graffiti Project

12:00pm- 1:00 pm Wolfwalkers Walking and Sketching Tour

1:00pm- 1.25 Bandart- Dancing Graffiti

2:00pm-3:00pm Kids Stand Up Comedy and Animation with Bec Hill and Howard Read

4:00pm- 4:50 Ann Droid by Bandart

5:00pm- 6:00 pm Drawing History with Peter Diamond, Tomm Moore and special guests.

6:00pm -7:00pm Stand Up Comedy and Animation with Bec Hill and Howard Read.

8:00pm- 9:00pm An Hour With Matt Diffee

9:30pm- 10:30pm The Art of The New Yorker With Carter Goodrich and Peter de Seve

Sunday, February 25

10.00am- 6pm Sunday At The Exhibition Hub

10:00am- 6:00pm The Kilkenny Graffiti Project

12:00pm- 1:00 pm Wolfwalkers Walking and Sketching Tour

4:00pm- 4:50 Ann Droid by Bandart

6:00pm- 7:15pm Cul an Ti with Kila, Lisa Hannigan and Special Guests

7:00 pm -7:50pm Ann Droid By Bandart

8:00pm- 10:00 pm The Breadwinner Hometown Gala Premiere 

If it's a success, it is hoped that the event will become a regular fixture alongside fellow Irish animation events Animation Dingle and The Dublin Animation Festival.

The festival will feature screenings of shorts and features, workshops and exhibitions and even a stand-up comedy show with animation. Guests will be in attendance from the animation industry both from Ireland and from further afield. Kilkenny Animated is supported by Fáilte Ireland and Kilkenny County Council.

This looks like an exciting event, and another sign of how much Ireland's animation industry is booming right now. If you're in the area make sure you don't miss it!