These few words alone could summarize the five films Cordell Barker made at the NFB. Five characters who aren\u2019t always the protagonists, but who invariably act as disruptive factors, setting things in motion and sometimes serving as a point of contrast. Let\u2019s take a closer look.<\/p>\n
A cat<\/strong><\/p>\n The Cat Came Back<\/em><\/strong> (1988) tells the story of old Mr. Johnson, who one day opens the door to find a tiny yellow cat in a pretty basket on his stoop. Little does he suspect how his life is about to change. At first, he\u2019s completely taken with the adorable kitty. But the charm soon wears off when the cat breaks his favourite rattle, and he promptly decides it can\u2019t stay. The cat, however, has other ideas. Despite the old man\u2019s increasingly desperate efforts to rid himself of his furry problem, it just keeps coming back\u2014hence the film\u2019s title. This gives us our first example of a character whose role is to set the plot in motion.<\/p>\n Inspired by a folk tune whose catchy refrain you\u2019re sure to find yourself humming after the film, Barker\u2019s first animated short was a huge hit with audiences and critics alike. It picked up more than 15 awards in Canada and abroad, including an Oscar nomination, and quickly became a classic in our collection. Not bad for a self-taught filmmaker who was convinced his film was terrible and that he\u2019d soon be heading back to construction work! The film effectively launched Barker\u2019s career as an animator. A Winnipeg native, he got his start at Kenn Perkins Animation before joining the animation unit at the NFB\u2019s Winnipeg Studio in 1982.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/dkyhanv6paotz.cloudfront.net\/medias\/nfb_tube\/dyn_page_imgs\/2019\/The_Cat_Came_Back_XL_8t7u1pJ.jpg\"\/)
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