GKIDS Acquires NA Rights To Cartoon Saloon’s ‘Julián,’ Sets March 2027 Theatrical Release

GKIDS has acquired North American distribution rights to Cartoon Saloon’s Julián and will give the 2D animated feature a theatrical run next year, starting March 26.

Along with the pickup announcement, the long-time Cartoon Saloon distributors also released the film’s first official trailer, seen below.

Gkids has previously released four of the Irish studio’s Oscar-nominated features: The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, The Breadwinner, and Wolfwalkers.

Directed by Oscar nominee Louise Bagnall (Late Afternoon), Julián is based on Jessica Love’s bestselling picture book Julián Is a Mermaid. The film follows a seven-year-old boy spending the summer with his grandmother in Brooklyn, where he discovers his family’s heritage, a welcoming community, and his own dream of becoming a mermaid. Knyght Darius Jack and Milcania Diaz-Rojas lead the voice cast, with Zoe Saldaña serving as an executive producer.

Production on the hand-drawn feature included input from more than 150 artists working across Ireland, Luxembourg, Denmark, and Canada. Cartoon Saloon and regular partner Melusine Studios handled animation production, along with Aircraft Pictures and Sun Creature.

Following festival screenings at Annecy and Toronto, Julián has also secured international distribution deals in Spain, Italy, Germany, Portugal, and Switzerland.