A Salute to Cordell Barker

I remember when I was in my twenties, it seemed like everyone was getting engaged or getting married. Everyone was happily leaving that realm of singledom while I lingered behind the crowd. I was the last of my friends to take the marital plunge, but now that I am in my thirties, I find that many of my friends are having children at this point in their lives. Parenthood is that great new adventure that I haven't quite yet joined, but I enjoy hearing about the many blessings it can have. Often times, the stories that are shared with me are of simple moments - memories that warm the heart and bring a smile to your face. The sweet, sweet innocence of childhood.

My friend, Kristen, recently posted one such moment on her blog. The moment was just so precious that it made me remember a great animated short from my childhood. It was one of my all time favorite cartoons, and, now with the glorious age of the Internet, I am able to share it here with you:

The Cat Came Back

I did some research and found out that animator Cordell Barker was the genius behind this classic for me. His animation style is quirky and fun and nothing like the Disney phenomenon that many children hold dear to their hearts. It was his nitty gritty animation that made me want to recreate the cartoon for myself and come up with zany antics for my own comic book characters as child. If nothing else, it made me realize that drawings could be "unpolished" and still be great.

Thank you, Cordell Barker, for inspiring children in the 80's to laugh and be original. Cordell has recently completed work on his third animation, Runaway, which was featured at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2009. Yay! A new generation of children able to enjoy Barker's work.

My ode to Barker

"I never thought I would ever have a film in the Cannes Festival.
I’ve always assumed my stuff was too goof-ball for a place like this.
But then I got here and realized my stuff fits in rather nicely."
- Cordell Barker (on being at the Cannes Film Festival)