Irish studio Cartoon Saloon has hired Aircraft Pictures co-founder Anthony Leo (pictured) as its new CEO to oversee growth in challenging times. 

Leo, who is relocating from Toronto to Kilkenny, is a seasoned producer who has already worked with Cartoon Saloon for over a decade. Their first project together was The Breadwinner, a 2D-animated feature film they co-produced with Melusine Studios. It went on to be nominated for a Best Animated Feature Oscar in 2018.

In his new role, Leo is replacing Cartoon Saloon’s managing director Gerry Shirren (who retired at the end of 2025 after 12 years with the studio), and he will work closely with studio co-founders Tomm Moore, Nora Twomey and Paul Young.

Moore, Twomey and Young primarily function as directors now, and they needed to bring in a seasoned executive capable of handling the business side of Cartoon Saloon’s operations so that they can continue to focus on creative output. With his experience in production, international co-financing and global distribution—as well as his industry connections and “the nimble thinking of a live-action producer”—Leo is a great fit to help the 27-year-old company navigate in a rapidly changing industry, says Twomey. 

Leo will head up Cartoon Saloon’s production and administration teams, and his first priority will be to help finalize financing for projects that are in development or early pre-production. Then he’ll tackle building up the studio’s slate and mapping out a long-term online strategy.

“I’ve come to count [Moore, Twomey and Young] as friends, and so the opportunity to collaborate with great people while expanding my horizons in animation proved too good an opportunity to pass up,” Leo tells Kidscreen.  

In December, Leo transitioned from co-president of Aircraft to instead serve as the chairman of its board, a role he’ll continue to play as he settles in at Cartoon Saloon. Jake Yanowski (Youngblood) is leading Aircraft now as president, and the studio Leo co-founded “could not be in more capable hands,” he says. 

Titles Leo worked on during his tenure at Aircraft include live-action Netflix series Geek Girl, the live-action tween/teen hockey feature film Youngblood (which premieres this Friday), and an upcoming 2D-animated feature called Julián that’s also a co-pro with Cartoon Saloon, Melusine Studios and Sun Creature. 

Moore is at Cartoon Movie this week pitching Cartoon Saloon’s latest film concept, Kindred Spirits. This 90-minute 2D-animated family film is about a young Irish refugee who’s accompanied by the ghost of his brother and a Choctaw man as they search for a place to call home in 1800s New York. Moore is directing the film, which is a co-production with Folivari in France. 

Twomey adds: “We also have a whole new development slate, including my next feature, our brand development strategies and a number of beautiful projects at different stages of fruition with old and new partnerships. Anthony has a full schedule already!” 

Image courtesy of Anthony Leo.