My Father’s Dragon, now streaming on Netflix, is a charming 2D animated fantasy inspired by Ruth Stiles Gannett’s 1948 children’s book of the same name, with illustrations by Ruth Chrisman Gannett. The film features the voices of Jacob Tremblay (Luca, Wonder) as Elmer Elevator and Gaten Matarazzo (Stranger Things) as Boris the Dragon. Originally slated to debut in 2021, the movie’s release was postponed and eventually premiered on November 11, 2022.
The 103-minute feature is a collaboration between Netflix Animation, Mockingbird Pictures, and Cartoon Saloon. Nora Twomey, who directed The Breadwinner, helmed the film, while Meg LeFauve, known for her work on Inside Out, wrote the screenplay. Executive producers included Ruth Coady, Meg LeFauve, Alan Moloney, and Gerry Shirren, with production credits going to Bonnie Curtis, Julie Lynn, Tomm Moore, and Paul Young. The voice cast also includes Judy Greer (Archer) as Soda the whale, Charlyne Yi (Steven Universe) as Magda, Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl) as Sasha, Mary Kay Place (Girl, Interrupted) as the narrator, Golshifteh Farahani (Extraction) as Elmer’s mother, Dela Elevator, and Whoopi Goldberg (Sister Act) as Cat.
The story is told through the voice of an elderly woman (Place) who narrates her father Elmer Elevator’s (Tremblay) childhood adventures. After Elmer and his mother relocate to a new town following the closure of their candy shop—prompted by the town’s decline—they struggle to get by. Despite his mother’s disapproval, Elmer befriends a stray cat (Goldberg). When he runs off to the docks, the cat surprisingly speaks to him, revealing the existence of a mysterious island where a dragon named Boris (Matarazzo) might be able to help save Elmer’s family. With the aid of Soda, a helpful whale voiced by Greer, Elmer journeys to Wild Island, a magical place inhabited by strange creatures. There, he finds Boris, who is trapped and working to prevent the island from sinking. Together, they form a pact: Boris will assist Elmer in raising money to reopen the family store, and Elmer will help Boris gain his freedom.
Director Nora Twomey shared that she was captivated by the book’s depth from the very first pages. She wanted to explore the complex emotional layers beneath the story’s imaginative surface, asking what challenges the mother faced that made small moments significant, and what Elmer felt when seeing his mother’s anger. Twomey explained that this film is not a straightforward adaptation but rather inspired by Gannett’s work, focusing heavily on Elmer’s emotional journey to fit the film’s format.
Ruth Stiles Gannett, who turned 99 recently, and her daughter Louise appreciated this emotional focus. Louise noted that the screenplay added contemporary elements like vulnerability, fear of change, poverty, and single-parent struggles, making the story relevant for modern children worldwide.
Twomey contrasted My Father’s Dragon with her previous film, The Breadwinner, stating that while the latter was based on a harsh real-world setting, this project allowed her to explore a more imaginative, introspective realm.
The voice actors shared genuine moments of fun in the studio. Twomey recalled how Tremblay and Matarazzo’s playful antics, including making silly noises to gross each other out, produced authentic laughter that was included in the final film, enhancing its natural charm.
When production was approved, Twomey visited Ruth Stiles Gannett in her home village of Trumansburg, New York. She was inspired by Gannett’s thoughts on Elmer’s independence and imagination, which remain central themes in the movie—highlighting the power of creativity not only for children but for everyone involved in the storytelling process.
