Canadian Animated Films - The Cat Came Back

Oscar-nominated Animator Cordell Barker Revisits Classic Feline Tale

Nov 5, 2009

Barker's take on the legendary tale of an adorable little kitty cat who stubbornly refuses to abandon her new owner.

Who wouldn't love to find a cute little kitty cat dressed up in a over-sized pink bow-tie gazing innocently into the eyes of its reluctant new owner?

Cordell Barker's The Cat Came Back follows the trials and tribulations of one such owner whose wild trombone-playing lifestyle comes to an untimely end after his new feral companion decides to do more than rip apart home and hearth.

A funny cartoon? How about wild, manic and just plain cute. Cordell's Barker's version of this unforgettable tale is filled with unexpected gags, mayhem and a lovable but mischievous feline that would win over the hearts and minds of any proud owner-to-be.

What Makes Cordell's Version so Funny?

Most hilarious, quirky characters with big ping pong eyes and a predilection for wild, manic behaviour are bound to transform the simplest of tales into a mad rush of comedic mishaps and bizarre situations. Cordell doesn't miss an opportunity to infuse his version of this tale with every bit of possible absurdity.

Expect to see a school of bulging-eyed fish harassing poor Old Man Johnson while trapped underwater or witness a harrowing railway chase along tracks crowded with damsels-in-distress. The Cat Came Back is a wild and fun adventure, worthy of its place along similar versions of a tale told throughout modern history.

The original The Cat Came Back was written by Harry S. Miller in 1893. Since then, artists have revisited this work through a wide range of works including songs, animation and literature. Lyrics to the poem or song has changed somewhat over the decades, but the basic story remains - a cat appears on the front doorstep and turns Old Man's Johnson's life upside down despite his many desperate attempts to escape the coming misadventures.

Who is Cordell Barker?

Cordell Barker was born in the late fifties in Winnipeg, Canada. His animation career began in his teens and has since earned him two Oscar nominations for his shorts, The Cat Came Back (1988) and Strange Invaders (2002). His third film, Runaway, is set to be released in 2009. Despite the many offers to work beyond Canadian borders, Cordell has chosen to work on his home turf, Canada.

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