\n\tDescribed as an alternative Christmas Special, the family-friendly adventure comedy returns Cordell Barker to his signature style \u2013 humor and music-sluiced unpretentious 2D block-colored line animation and a subversive take on an institution held dear, after his anarchic visions of respectively pet care and parenting in \u201cThe Cat Came Back\u201d and \u201cStrange Invaders.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tThis allows Barker and partners Tonic DNA, the Montreal-based animation studio, and NFB to have their cake and eat it too: Enroll huge IP \u2013 Christmas, Santa Claus \u2013 but deliver a fresh take driven by the singularity of Cordell Barker\u2019s irreverent auteurist voice.<\/p>\n
\n\tHere, seething with envy at his counterpart in the North, Anta Claus sets out on a penguin-power journey to discover the secrets of a perfect Christmas. \u201cAlong the way, however, he learns that the true spirit of the holiday lies not in perfection but in the lovable community of oddballs he left behind,\u201d said a synopsis unveiled by the National Film Board of Canada on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\n\tThe lead character is voiced in English by acclaimed actor Tyrone Benskin (\u201cDebris,\u201d \u201cDan Brown\u2019s The Lost Symbol\u201d), an institution on Canada\u2019s theater, film and TV scene, and in French by comedian-actor Anthony Kavanagh (\u201cLes bogues de la vie\u201d). The score is composed by celebrated Montreal musician Martin L\u00e9on, known for his work on the Oscar-nominated \u201cMonsieur Lazhar.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cI\u2019ve wanted to make this film for a very long time. I love working with anti-hero characters. Anta Claus is spilling over with character flaws, idiosyncrasies, jealousy and frustration. All those imperfections and explosive behaviour come together to create a charmingly flawed individual \u2013 like all of us\u2013 that audiences will enjoy watching as he finds his place in the world,\u201d said Barker.<\/p>\n
\n\tA 24-minute TV special, \u201cThe Anta Claus\u201d targets families, 8-12 \u201cand anyone who enjoys a fresh and imaginative take on the classic tale of Santa Claus,\u201d the NFB added noting the film expand the Christmas universe featuring brand new characters and that the film, dedicated to Christmas misfits, will appeal to audiences of all ages with its message of embracing imperfections.<\/p>\n
\n\tHoward Huxham (Tonic DNA) and Christine No\u00ebl (NFB) serve as executive producers, Jocelyn Perrier (NFB) as producer. Distributed by the NFB, \u201cThe Anta Claus\u201d is currently attracting interest from international distributors, sales agents and broadcasters, the NFB noted Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cWhen Cordell Barker first pitched his vision for an alternative Christmas film, it immediately stood out as something very special. Seeing \u2018The Anta Claus of the South Pole\u2019 finally come to life is incredibly rewarding, especially as our first collaboration with the NFB. Beneath the humour and adventure is a heartfelt story about belonging, acceptance and finding your place in the world. We hope audiences welcome Anta Claus into their holiday traditions,\u201d said Huxham.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cThe NFB English Animation Unit is thrilled to be working with the team at Tonic DNA to produce this new project from filmmaker Cordell Barker,\u201d added No\u00ebl. \u201cThis collaboration brings together two of his long-standing partners, united by a relationship of trust and a wealth of shared creative experience. Together, they offer an unparalleled production environment to match Cordell\u2019s bold, signature vision \u2013 it\u2019s truly the best of both worlds.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tHow Cordell Barker Fits into NFB Strategy<\/p>\n
\n\tWhile animated short films remain at the core of the NFB\u2019s \u00a0production \u2013 it produces a majority of auteur\u2011driven animation \u2013 it is increasingly opening the door to new formats and expanding into more mainstream\u2011oriented titles: feature films, half\u2011hour television works, and series \u2014 to broaden the reach and impact of our creations. Extending a near 40-year partnership over five shorts, beginning with \u201cThe Cat Came Back,\u201d Cordell Barker is already highly popular. His fourth film, coming of age \u201cIf I Was God,\u201d has racked up 22 million views on The New Yorker\u2019s YouTube channel. <\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/variety.com\/wp-content\/themes\/pmc-variety-2020\/assets\/public\/lazyload-fallback.gif\")
<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\tThe elves\u2019 dinner in \u2018The Anta Claus of. the South Pole,\u2019 Cordell Barker\u2019s latest animated film<\/p>\n
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