NFB Profiles
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Barker Cordell
Born and raised in Winnipeg, Cordell Barker began an apprenticeship in animation in 1974, cutting his teeth on Sesame Street spots, K-Tel commercials and local and national ads. In 1982, he approached the NFB about making a film that eventually became The Cat Came Back a 7-minute animated folk song that received an Oscar nomination in 1989 and went on to garner 18 international awards.
Cordell has worked as an animator/director on numerous TV ads in Canada, the US and England for clients such as Energy, Mines, and Resources Canada; Benylin; Nike; Chili's Restaurant and Bell Canada. He continues to receive awards for his innovative animations.
Cordell is happily married and the father of ''three evil boys'' who provided the inspiration for his 2001 film Strange Invaders, about a strange child who suddenly appears one night to a childless couple.
His latest film for the NFB (2009) is Runaway, another zany animation.
