DkIT Research on Animated Film Featured in International Journal
Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) are delighted to report that one of their researchers Luke Malone has published an article on the internationally acclaimed films of Irish studio Cartoon Saloon in the recent issue of the international peer-reviewed academic journal the Quarterly Review of Film and Video. Sinead McKenna <[email protected]>
Luke who hails from Oldcastle, Co Meath has credited much of his research inspiration to growing up in such a historical place, near the ancient site of Loughcrew and not far from Newgrange and Tara.
His article entitled ‘Old Faces, New Perspectives: A Critical Examination of the Mother and Crone in Cartoon Saloon’s Irish Folklore Trilogy’, Luke’s article explores the mythology of monsters, gods, and sídhe, examining how women and female characters reflect a range of character types that exist but are often ignored in international folklore. Luke examines the crone and the mother character types, demonstrating how Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon has represented and reworked them. Luke focuses on the studio’s Irish folklore trilogy consisting of The Secret of Kells (2009), Song of the Sea (2014), and Wolfwalkers (2020).
The Quarterly Review of Film and Video publishes critical, historical, and theoretical essays, book reviews, and interviews in the area of moving image studies including film, video, and digital imagery studies. Other authors in this issue come from India, the UK and USA and reflect dynamic engagement with film that incorporates an interdisciplinary approach.
Luke Malone recently completed his PhD in Film at Dundalk Institute of Technology, working under the supervision of Dr Daithí Kearney and Dr Kelly McErlean. His thesis focuses on how Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon has reworked elements of Irish mythology and folklore to tackle themes of contemporary resonance, specifically otherness. He is particularly interested in how the trilogy and wider Irish cinema engage with folkloric tropes to depict women, the clash between communities, and humanity’s relationship with nature. He is a filmmaker and video editor, having assisted with community film projects, professional shoots, and indie documentaries.
