^{Credit: Julián (Cartoon Saloon, GKIDS)}

Cartoon Saloon’s Julián, which premiered at Annecy this past June, has qualified for consideration at the 99th Academy Awards. Cartoon Contender has reached out to a source at Cartoon Saloon, who confirmed that Julián will be eligible to compete for the 2026 Best Animated Feature Oscar. Recently, GKIDS announced it would distribute Julián in the U.S., with a March 26, 2027 release date. This isn’t surprising, as GKIDS has released multiple Cartoon Saloon films. Their partnership started with Cartoon Saloon’s first feature, The Secret of Kells, which scored a Best Animated Feature nomination back in 2010. 

With GKIDS releasing Julián in March 2027, it was unclear if the film would instead compete for the 100th Academy Awards. With its eligibility for the 99th Oscars now verified, we can expect to see Julián on the Best Animated Feature submission list within the following weeks. Based on Jessica Love’s children’s book, Julián Is a Mermaid, Louise Bagnall’s film tells a sweet coming-of-age story overflowing with culture, colors, and LGBTQIA+ themes. Julián stands out from some other Cartoon Saloon productions with its American backdrop, painting a diverse portrait of New York. In addition to Cartoon Saloon, the film is a co-production between Melusine Studio, Aircraft Pictures, and Sun Creature. 

Based on fifteen reviews, Julián currently sits at 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. In Cartoon Contender’s review, we wrote, “The film as a whole is wonderful.” We also spoke with Louise Bagnall, who told us about adapting Love’s book, crafting the vibrant animation, and the film’s central message of acceptance. Bagnall previously received an Oscar nomination for her animated short, Late Afternoon. If Julián can get a Best Animated Feature nomination, it’ll be the Cartoon Saloon’s fifth film to do so after The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, The Breadwinner, and Wolfwalkers. Whether or not Julián can get a nomination as well, it's great that more American audiences will soon have a chance to dive in. 

Nick Spake is the Author of Bright & Shiny: A History of Animation at Award Shows Volumes 1, 2, and 3. Available Now!