Five-time Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA and Emmy-nominated animation studio, Cartoon Saloon announces a development deal with leading game publisher Asmodee to create a new game for kids based on its Irish Folklore Trilogy, including Academy Award-nominated features WolfWalkers, Song of the Sea and The Secret of Kells.
The new Irish Folklore Trilogy game will be developed under Asmodee’s successful UNLOCK! Game series’ UNLOCK! Kids, which debuted last year and is for young players and their families to test their problem-solving skills in a series of escape games. This game comes with three stories that feature two adventures each. Unlike previous Unlock! games, this game does not require an app to play. The game also comes with a tutorial to help beginners pick up the mechanics. The game will be distributed through Asmodee’s global distribution network with additional details to be announced soon.
“We are thrilled to partner with Asmodee to expand the amazing worlds explored in our Irish Folklore Trilogy into a truly immersive gaming experience for kids and families,” commented Brian Tyrrell, General Manager of Cartoon Saloon Brand Development. “With broad global awareness and demand from fans for more ways to engage with their favorite stories and characters, we are excited to work with our new partners to create fresh, engaging and immersive experiences. We’re looking forward to attending Licensing Expo to continue to build the retail offering, and in particular, we are looking to develop new categories, including Games, Apps, Apparel, Homewares and more.”
“As a huge fan of Tomm Moore’s creativity, it is a privilege to collaborate with Cartoon Saloon on these three wonderful award-winning movies,” said Benoit Forget, Head of Space Cowboy (Asmodee).
Since announcing the debut of the Irish Folklore Trilogy brand nearly two years ago, Cartoon Saloon Brand Development continues to build the brand with licensing partners and at retail. Current partners include the recently announced GreenRe, for a line of sustainable stationery products with distribution across North America, the UK and Northern Ireland, and Australia and New Zealand; Snuggly Figs for an eco-friendly and socially responsible children’s clothing line made of bamboo for North America; Value Add Games for an educational boardgame for the European Union; as well as Little Brown Books for Young Readers (graphic novels – global); Xist Publishing (beginner books – global); Pinfinity (AR Enamel Pin Sets – global); and Gallery Nucleus (pin sets), as well as Trends International for posters in North America. Last year a special edition Blu-ray box set of the three films also debuted North American with partners GKids and Shout Factory and with Studio Canal Home Entertainment for Ireland and the U.K. and with Child Film/MidShip in Japan. The box set will launch in Japan in the summer. Additionally, a special edition trilogy designed range of apparel and mugs are available exclusively online at https://storecartoonsaloon.com/, with a number of other Trilogy branded product licenses under discussion.