Thomas "Tomm" Moore (born 7 January 1977) is an Irish filmmaker, animator, illustrator and

comics artist A cartoonist is a visual artist who specializes in both drawing and writing cartoons (individual images) or comics (sequential images). Cartoonists differ from comics writers or comics illustrators/artists in that they produce both the literar ...

. He co-founded Cartoon Saloon with

Nora Twomey Nora Twomey (born 31 October 1971) is an Irish people, Irish animator, director, screenwriter, producer and voice actress. She is best known as the co-founder of Cartoon Saloon, alongside Tomm Moore and Paul Young (producer), Paul Young, an anima ...

and Paul Young, an animation studio and production company based in

Kilkenny Kilkenny ( , meaning 'church of Cainnech of Aghaboe, Cainnech'). is a city in County Kilkenny, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is located in the South-East Region, Ireland, South-East Region and in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinst ...

, Ireland. His first three feature films, '' The Secret of Kells'' (2009), co-directed with

, '' Song of the Sea'' (2014) and '' Wolfwalkers'' (2020), co-directed with Ross Stewart, have received critical acclaim and were all nominated for the

Academy Award The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence ...

for Best Animated Feature.

Early life

Moore, the eldest of four children, was born in

Newry Newry (; ) is a City status in Ireland, city in Northern Ireland, standing on the Newry River, Clanrye river in counties County Down, Down and County Armagh, Armagh. It is near Republic of Ireland–United Kingdom border, the border with the ...

County Down County Down () is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland, one of the nine counties of Ulster and one of the traditional thirty-two counties of Ireland. It covers an area of and has a population of 552,261. It borders County Antrim to the ...

, Northern Ireland. At an early age, his family moved to

in the

Republic of Ireland Ireland ( ), also known as the Republic of Ireland (), is a country in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe consisting of 26 of the 32 Counties of Ireland, counties of the island of Ireland, with a population of about 5.4 million. ...

where his father worked as an engineer. During his early to mid-teens, Moore joined the Young Irish Film Makers in Kilkenny, where he grew his knowledge and passion for film and animation. After leaving St Kieran's College secondary school, he studied classical animation at Ballyfermot College of Further Education in Dublin.

Career

During his final year at Ballyfermot in 1999, Moore co-founded the Cartoon Saloon animation studio with Paul Young and

. Initially they set up studio alongside Moore's alma mater Young Irish Film Makers, but the studio soon outgrew the premises. The studio created the television series '' Skunk Fu!''. Moore's first animated feature film, which he co-directed with

, is '' The Secret of Kells'' (2009), written by

Fabrice Ziolkowski Fabrice Ziolkowski (born January 28, 1954) is a French-born screenwriter, best known for writing Cartoon Saloon's debut Oscar-nominated film '' The Secret of Kells'', the animated series '' Gawayn'', and directing and producing the avant-garde d ...

from a story by Moore and Aidan Harte. It is a co-production by the Cartoon Saloon, Les Armateurs, Vivi Film and France 2 Cinéma. The film is a hand-drawn animation, set in 9th century Ireland, and partially based on and inspired by

early Christian Early Christianity, otherwise called the Early Church or Paleo-Christianity, describes the historical era of the Christian religion up to the First Council of Nicaea in 325. Christianity spread from the Levant, across the Roman Empire, and be ...

history and legend. It premiered on 8 February 2009, at the

Berlin International Film Festival The Berlin International Film Festival (), usually called the Berlinale (), is an annual film festival held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the festival has been held every February since 1978 and is one of Europ ...

. It went into wide release in Belgium and France on 11 February, and in the

on 3 March. On 2 February 2010, it was announced that the film had been nominated for an

for Best Animated Feature Film. In 2014, Moore completed his second feature film, entitled '' Song of the Sea'' (2014). Like ''The Secret of Kells'', it is traditionally animated and is based on Irish folklore, specifically

selkies Selkies are mythology, mythological creatures that can shapeshifting, shapeshift between pinniped, seal and human forms by removing or putting on their seal skin. They feature prominently in the oral traditions and mythology of various cultur ...

. The film was a major critical success and was also nominated for the

Academy Award for Best Animated Feature The Academy Award for Best Animated Feature is an Academy Awards, Academy Award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) for the best animation, animated feature film. An animated feature is defined by the a ...

. Also in 2014, Moore co-directed a segment of the

Salma Hayek Salma Valgarma Hayek Pinault ( , ; ; born September 2, 1966) is a Mexican and American actress and film producer. She began her career in Mexico with starring roles in the telenovela ''Teresa (1989 TV series), Teresa'' (1989–1991) as well a ...

produced film '' The Prophet'' with Ross Stewart, adapted from

Kahlil Gibran Gibran Khalil Gibran (January 6, 1883 – April 10, 1931), usually referred to in English as Kahlil Gibran, was a Lebanese-American writer, poet and Visual arts, visual artist; he was also considered a philosopher, although he himself reject ...

's book of prose poetry essays of the same name. The production consisted of different directors for each of the film's collective essays, with

animation director An animation director is the director in charge of all aspects of the animation process during the production of an animated or television film, or an animated segment for a live-action film or television show. Alternatively, the animation direct ...

Roger Allers Roger Allers (born June 29, 1949) is an American film director, screenwriter, animator, storyboard artist, and playwright. He is best known for co-directing Walt Disney Animation Studios, Disney's ''The Lion King'' (1994), the highest-grossing t ...

supervising and credited as

screenwriter A screenwriter (also called scriptwriter, scribe, or scenarist) is a person who practices the craft of writing for visual mass media, known as screenwriting. These can include short films, feature-length films, television programs, television ...

. Both of Moore's 2014 films received their world premiere at the

2014 Toronto International Film Festival The 39th annual Toronto International Film Festival, the 39th event in the Toronto International Film Festival series, was held in Canada from 4–14 September 2014. David Dobkin (director), David Dobkin's film ''The Judge (2014 film), The Judg ...

. Moore's third directorial feature film (co-directed with Ross Stewart), '' Wolfwalkers'', was released in 2020 on

Apple TV+ Apple TV+ is an American subscription over-the-top streaming service owned by Apple. The service launched on November 1, 2019, and it offers a selection of original production film and television series called Apple Originals. The service w ...

. The film is the final installment in Moore's "Irish Folklore trilogy", comprising ''Wolfwalkers'', ''Song of the Sea'', and ''The Secret of Kells''.

Comics

Moore has drawn two

Irish language Irish (Standard Irish: ), also known as Irish Gaelic or simply Gaelic ( ), is a Celtic language of the Indo-European language family. It is a member of the Goidelic languages of the Insular Celtic sub branch of the family and is indigenous ...

graphic novels, ''An Sclábhaí'' ("the slave", 2001) and ''An Teachtaire'' ("the messenger", 2003), telling the story of St. Patrick. Both were written by Colmán Ó Raghallaigh and published in Ireland by Cló Mhaigh Eo. He has also created a two-volume graphic novel adaptation of ''The Secret of Kells'', published in French as ''Brendan et le secret de Kells''.

Personal life

Moore is a nephew of the singer/songwriter Kieran Goss. He has been in a relationship with his wife Liselott Olofsson, a ceramicist, since the mid-1990s, and they have an adult son, Ben (the namesake of the main character of ''Song of the Sea''). He has been a

vegetarian Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the Eating, consumption of meat (red meat, poultry, seafood, insects as food, insects, and the flesh of any other animal). It may also include abstaining from eating all by-products of animal slau ...

since childhood and is now

vegan Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products and the consumption of animal source foods, and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. A person who practices veganism is known as a ve ...

Filmography

Films

Television

Awards and nominations

For '' The Secret of Kells'' *2008: ''Directors Finders Award'' at the Directors Finders Series in Ireland (won) *2009: ''Audience Award'' at the

Annecy International Animated Film Festival The Annecy International Animation Film Festival (, officially abbreviated in English as the Annecy Festival, or simply Annecy) was created in 1960 and takes place at the beginning of June in the town of Annecy, France. Initially occurring ever ...

(won) *2009: ''Audience Award'' at the

Edinburgh International Film Festival The Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF), established in 1947, is the world's oldest continually running film festival. EIFF presents both UK and international films (all titles are World, international, European or UK Premieres), in al ...

(won) *2009: ''Roy E. Disney Award'' at Seattle's 2D Or Not 2D Film Festival (won) *2009: ''Kecskemét City Award'' at the 6th Festival of European Animated Feature Films and TV Specials (won) *2009: ''Grand Prix'' Award for Best Film in the

(nominated) *2009: ''Best Animated Film'' at the

European Film Awards The European Film Awards (or European Film Academy Awards) have been presented annually since 1988 by the European Film Academy to recognize excellence in European cinematic achievements. The awards are given in 19 categories, of which the mos ...

(nominated) *2009:

Annie Award The Annie Awards are accolades which the Los Angeles branch of the International Animated Film Association, ASIFA-Hollywood, has presented each year since 1972 to recognize excellence in animation shown in American cinema and television. Origina ...

for ''Best Animated Feature'' (nominated) *2010: ''Best Animation'' award at the 7th Irish Film and Television Awards (won) *2010: ''Rising Star Award, sponsored by Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the

Irish Film Board Not to be confused with Northern Ireland Screen. Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland, formerly known as Bord Scannán na hÉireann or the Irish Film Board, is Republic of Ireland, Ireland's state development agency for the Irish film, television an ...

'' at the 7th Irish Film and Television Awards (won) *2010: ''European Animated Feature Award'' at the British Animation Awards (won) *2010:

Irish Film and Television Awards The Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) is an all-Ireland organisation focused on film and television. It has about 1000 members, and is based in Dublin, with branches in London and Los Angeles. The IFTA now holds separate ceremonies for the ...

for ''Best Film'' (nominated) *2010:

for Best Animated Feature Film (nominated) *2010:

National Cartoonist Society The National Cartoonists Society (NCS) is an organization of professional cartoonists in the United States. It presents the National Cartoonists Society Awards. The Society was born in 1946 when groups of cartoonists got together to entertain the ...

Reuben Award for Feature Animation (nominated) For '' Song of the Sea'' *2014: ''Prix Spécial du Jury'' at Festival International des Voix du Cinéma d'Animation, Port Leucate,

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

(won) *2014:

for Directing in an Animated Feature Production (nominated) *2014:

for Best Animated Feature (nominated) *2014:

for Character Design in an Animated Feature Production with Marie Thorhauge, Sandra Anderson and Rosa Ballester Cabo (nominated) *2015:

for Best Animated Feature Film with Paul Young (nominated) *2015:

César Award Cesar or César may refer to: Arts and entertainment * César (film), ''César'' (film), a 1936 French romantic drama * César (film), ''César'' (play), a play by Marcel Pagnolt Places * Cesar, Portugal * Cesar Department, Colombia * Cesar R ...

for Best Animated Feature Film (nominated) *2015:

Satellite Award The Satellite Awards are annual awards given by the International Press Academy that are commonly noted in entertainment industry journals and blogs. The awards were originally known as the Golden Satellite Awards. The award ceremonies take place ...

for Best Animated Feature Film (won) *2015:

for ''Best Film'' (won) *2015:

National Cartoonists Society The National Cartoonists Society (NCS) is an organization of professional cartoonists in the United States. It presents the National Cartoonists Society Awards. The Society was born in 1946 when groups of cartoonists got together to entertain the ...

Reuben Award for Feature Animation (won) For '' Wolfwalkers'' *2020: AFI Festival for ''Narrative Feature'' with Ross Stewart (won) *2020: Chicago Film Critics Association Awards for Best Animated Film with Ross Stewart,

and Paul Young (won) *2020: Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards for Best Animated Film with Ross Stewart (''runner-up'') *2020: Florida Film Critics Circle Awards for Best Animated Film with Ross Stewart (nominated) *2020:

Gotham Awards The Gotham Awards () are American film awards, presented annually to the makers of independent films at a ceremony in New York City, the city first nicknamed "Gotham" by native son Washington Irving, in an issue of ''Salmagundi'', published on ...

for Best International Feature with Ross Stewart (nominated) *2020:

Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards The Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA) is an American film critic organization founded in 1975. Background Its membership comprises film critics from Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List ...

for Best Animated Film with Ross Stewart (won) *2020: Music City Film Critics Association Awards for ''Best Animated Film'' with Ross Stewart,

, Paul Young and Stéphan Roelants (nominated) *2020:

New York Film Critics Circle Awards The New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC) is an American film critic organization founded in 1935 by Wanda Hale from the New York ''Daily News''. Its membership includes over 30 film critics from New York–based daily and weekly newspapers, ma ...

for Best Animated Film with Ross Stewart (won) *2020:

Online Film Critics Society Awards The Online Film Critics Society (OFCS) is an international professional association of online film journalists, historians and scholars who publish their work on the World Wide Web. The organization was founded in January 1997 by Harvey S. Karten ...

for Best Animated Film with Ross Stewart (nominated) *2020: San Diego Film Critics Society Awards for Best Animated Film with Ross Stewart (won) *2020: San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Awards for Best Animated Feature with Ross Stewart (nominated) *2020: Seattle Film Critics Society Awards for Best Animated Feature with Ross Stewart (won) *2020: St. Louis Film Critics Association Awards for Best Animated Film with Ross Stewart (nominated) *2020: Toronto Film Critics Association Awards for Best Animated Film with Ross Stewart (won) *2020: Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards for Best Animated Feature with Ross Stewart (nominated) *2020: London Film Critics Circle Awards for Technical Achievement of the Year with Ross Stewart (nominated) *2021:

for Best Animated Feature Film with Ross Stewart (won) *2021:

Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are awards presented for excellence in both international film and television. It is an annual award ceremony held since 1944 to honor artists and professionals and their work. The ceremony is normally held every Janua ...

for Best Animated Feature Film with Ross Stewart (nominated) *2021: Hollywood Critics Association for ''Best Animated Film'' with Ross Stewart (won) *2021:

Producers Guild Award The Producers Guild of America Awards were originally established in 1990 by the Producers Guild of America (PGA) as the Golden Laurel Awards, created by PGA Treasurer Joel Freeman with the support of Guild President Leonard B. Stern, Leonard St ...

for Best Animated Motion Picture with Paul Young,

and Stéphan Roelants (nominated) *2021: Art Directors Guild Award for Production Design in an Animated Film with Ross Stewart and María Pareja (nominated) *2021:

BAFTA Award The British Academy Film Awards, more commonly known as the BAFTAs or BAFTA Awards, is an annual film award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) to honour the best British and international contributions to f ...

for Best Animated Film with Ross Stewart and Paul Young (nominated) *2021:

for Best Animated Feature – Independent (won) *2021:

for Directing in an Animated Feature Production with Ross Stewart (won) *2021:

for Production Design in an Animated Feature Production with Ross Stewart and María Pareja (won) *2021:

for Best Animated Feature Film with Ross Stewart, Paul Young and Stéphan Roelants (nominated) For '' Belle'' *2022:

for Production Design in an Animated Feature Production with Ross Stewart, Alice Dieudonné, Almu Redondo and Maria Pareja (nominated)