“One minute you’re making cartoons in Kilkenny, the next you’re chatting with Quentin Tarantino over champagne.”

This week on the podcast, we’re joined by Paul Young of Cartoon Saloon — producer, director, co-founder, accidental salesman, and possibly the only man in animation whose career began with Greek beach caricatures and illegal late-night sandwich sales.

Paul chats to Julian about building Cartoon Saloon from a scrappy Kilkenny startup into one of the most admired studios in the world, why some of the best industry deals happen after midnight, and how a studio can still make world-class animation while letting people go home at 5pm.

It’s a funny, honest and quietly inspiring conversation about creativity, persistence, and making beautiful 2D films in a 3D world.

Perfect listening for anyone recovering from Animation Dingle this weekend — or anyone who’s ever wondered how sandwiches, cartoons, Oscar nominations and beatboxing somehow end up in the same career.

With immense thanks to Paul for his time and candidness and, as always, to the fantastic Julian Scott for hosting and the rock that is Janet Balmforth at Liberi Consulting.