Netflix has shared a trailer and key art for its highly anticipated upcoming 2D animated feature, My Father’s Dragon, inspired by Ruth Stiles Gannett’s Newbery-honored children’s book of the same name, and directed by Academy Award-nominated director Nora Twomey (The Breadwinner). The film hits the streamer on 11 November.
In the film, a young boy, Elmer, struggling to cope after a move to the city with his mother, runs away in search of Wild Island and a young dragon who waits to be rescued. Elmer’s adventures introduce him to ferocious beasts, a mysterious island, and the friendship of a lifetime.
“Our actors, animators and artists at Cartoon Saloon and Mockingbird Pictures have worked together to craft this film, inspired by Ruth Stiles Gannett’s amazing book,” shared Twomey. “We were drawn together by a desire to tell a very special tale of friendship, adventure, and true bravery. I fell in love with storytelling as a child, and Netflix excels at celebrating all kinds of stories through different styles and distinct voices. When Netflix came on board with this film, before we even had a script, it was to encourage us to make the best film we possibly could. Our crew created a beautiful, animated lens to look through, and I can’t wait to share the view with audiences around the world.”
The voice cast features Jacob Tremblay; Gaten Matarazzo; Golshifteh Farahani; Dianne Wiest; Rita Moreno; Chris O’Dowd; Judy Greer; Alan Cumming; Yara Shahidi; Jackie Earle Haley; Mary Kay Place; Leighton Meester; Spence Moore II; Adam Brody; Charlyne Yi; Maggie Lincoln Jack Smith; Whoopi Goldberg; and Ian McShane.
Produced by the Academy Award-nominated animation studio Cartoon Saloon (The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, Wolfwalkers), My Father’s Dragon is directed by Twomey and written by Meg LeFauve, with Bonnie Curtis, Julie Lynn, and Paul Young serving as producers. Executive producers include LeFauve, John Morgan, Tomm Moore, Gerry Shirren, Ruth Coady, and Alan Moloney.