Julián, the Summer of a Boy Who Wants to Become a Mermaid… Coming to U.S. Theaters in March 2027

Cartoon Saloon’s animated feature Julián follows a seven-year-old spending a formative summer in Brooklyn with his grandmother. GKIDS will release the film theatrically in the United States on March 2

Cartoon Saloon’s feature-length animated film *Julián* will open in U.S. theaters on March 26, 2027. GKIDS has secured the U.S. distribution rights to the film, which is Louise Bagnall’s feature directorial debut. The film is based on Jessica Love’s picture book *Julián Is a Mermaid*, with Night Darius Jack voicing the protagonist, Julián.

A Summer Beginning in Brooklyn

Seven-year-old Julián spends the summer in Brooklyn with his grandmother Abuela, whom he barely knows. As he explores his grandmother’s apartment and the neighborhood, he encounters his Caribbean roots in a new way and joins children preparing for Coney Island’s Mermaid Parade. Julián’s clearest desire is to become a mermaid.

A Story Shared by Grandmother and Grandson

Abuela is played by Milcania Díaz-Rojas. The film centers on Julián’s journey to find a language for expressing himself through new friends, music, and family memories. It was co-produced by Cartoon Saloon, Melusine Productions, Aircrafters Pictures, and Sun Creature, and completed as an 85-minute animated feature.

Alongside its U.S. release, Elevation Pictures will distribute the film in Canada, Anime Ltd. in the United Kingdom, and Wildcard Distribution in Ireland. With this GKIDS deal, *Julián* now has a concrete release schedule for meeting U.S. theater audiences beyond the festival circuit.