The festival is hosted by twice-Academy Award nominated animation studio, Cartoon Saloon, and is set against - and inspired by - the backdrop of Kilkenny’s medieval streets and slipways at the heart of Ireland’s Ancient East.

Taking place from February 23-25, Kilkenny Animated will put an original twist on the festival experience. Among the events taking place across the weekend will be hilarious stand-up comedy with 2D animation from Bec Hill and Howard Read; spell-binding and award-winning dance with live animation from Hungarian group Bandart; the premiere of animated series Cul an Ti (TG4, Paper Panther, Cartoon Saloon) with live music from Kila, Lisa Hannigan and special guests; and the Hometown Gala Premiere of Cartoon Saloon’s Golden Globe-nominated feature The Breadwinner, with a special post-show interview with director, Nora Twomey.

There’s also an amazing programme of workshops, talks and slideshows from some of the world’s greatest character designers, illustrators, animators and cartoonists who, between them, are responsible for work at Disney, Dreamworks, Pixar, New Yorker magazine and much more. There'll be a huge exhibition of more than 200 pieces from these artists taking place over the weekend, while there will also be a spectacular exhibition of street art and graffiti in one of the old Smithwick’s Brewery buildings in the Abbey Quarter featuring local artists Mick Minogue and Dan Leo and and a sketching walking tour of historic sites in Kilkenny city that inspired and feature in the forthcoming Cartoon Saloon feature, Wolfwalkers.

For full details about the festival, see kilkennyanimated.com