The last few years have proved Irish animators are undoubtedly some of the best in the world, with major awards popping up left, right and centre.

Cartoon Saloon is the Kilkenny based animation company that brought the world Academy Award nominated flicks 'The Secret of Kells' and 'Song of The Sea', and have just announced they have recruited Hollywood A-lister Angelina Jolie as an executive producer on their next feature film.

Jolie and her production company Jolie Pas Productions have joined forces with Cartoon Saloon for the upcoming animated feature 'The Breadwinner', based on an internationally acclaimed young adult novel of the same name by Canadian author Deborah Ellis.

It follows the story of Parvana, who is "a young girl living under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, who must disguise herself as a boy and become the breadwinner of the family when her father is unfairly imprisoned."

Angelina said; “Millions of young girls like Parvana are growing up today under oppression or conflict, and helping their families to survive in those conditions. This story is a reminder of the immense value of their contribution.

"I am delighted to be working with a talented team of artists who I know will do justice to the richness, creativity and strength of Afghan culture and to little girls like Parvana."