Canadian animator Cordell Barker, creator of the Oscar-nominated short films “The Cat Came Back” and “Strange Invaders,” is currently working on “The Anta Claus of the South Pole.” Release is scheduled for 2026.
A co-production between Tonic DNA and the National Film Board of Canada, it is produced in collaboration with Crave, a division of Bell Media, Inc., with participation from the Canada Media Foundation.
Billed as another Christmas special, this family adventure comedy sees Cordell Barker return to his signature style of unpretentious 2D block-color line animation and subversive takes on cherished institutions, punctuated with humor and music, after his anarchic visions of pet care and parenting in The Cat Returns and Strange Invasion, respectively.
This also allows Barker and his partners, Montreal-based animation studio Tonic DNA and NFB, to have their cake and eat it too. While registering huge IPs like Christmas and Santa Claus, the uniqueness of Cordell Barker’s irreverent, self-respecting voice allows him to deliver a fresh take.
Here, filled with envy towards her northern counterpart, Anta Klaus sets out on a penguin-assisted journey to discover the secret of the perfect Christmas. “Along the way, however, he discovers that the true spirit of the holiday lies not in perfection, but in the community of endearing eccentrics he leaves behind,” says the synopsis released by the National Film Board of Canada on Tuesday.
The main character is voiced in English by well-known Canadian theater, film, and television actor Tyrone Benskin (Debris, Dan Brown’s Lost Symbol), and in French by comedian Anthony Kavanagh (Dan Brown). The music was composed by Martin Leon, a prominent Montreal musician known for his Oscar-nominated work on Monsieur Lazare.
“I’ve wanted to make this movie for a long time. I love working with antihero characters. Antaklaus is full of character flaws, idiosyncrasies, jealousies, and frustrations. All those imperfections and explosive actions come together to create a fascinating flawed character, just like all of us. Audiences will enjoy watching him find his place in the world,” Barker said.
The 24-minute TV special “Unta Claus” is targeted at families aged eight to 12 and “those who enjoy a fresh and imaginative take on the classic Santa Claus story,” NFB added, adding that the film expands on the Christmas world featuring brand new characters and that the film, dedicated to Christmas misfits, will appeal to viewers of all ages with its message of embracing imperfection.
Howard Hassam (Tonic DNA) and Christine Noel (NFB) will serve as executive producers, and Jocelyn Perrier (NFB) will serve as producer. NFB-distributed “Antaklaus” is currently receiving interest from overseas distributors, sales agents and broadcasters, NFB announced on Tuesday.
“When director Cordell Barker first pitched his vision for an alternative Christmas movie, it immediately stood out as something very special. To see Antaclaus finally come to fruition is incredible, especially as our first collaboration with NFB. “At the heart of the humor and adventure is a heartfelt story about belonging, acceptance, and finding your place in the world. We hope audiences will embrace Antaklaus into their holiday traditions.”
“NFB’s English Animation Unit is excited to work with the team at Tonic DNA to produce this new project from filmmaker Cordell Barker,” Noel added. “This collaboration brings together two of his long-time partners, united by a trusted relationship and a wealth of shared creative experience. Both companies offer an unparalleled production environment to match Cordell’s bold and distinctive vision. This is truly the best of both worlds.”
How Cordell Barker fits into the NFB strategy
Although animated short films remain the core of NFB’s production, and NFB produces the majority of its author-driven animation, we are increasingly opening the door to new formats and expanding into more mainstream-oriented titles such as feature films, half-hour television productions, and series, broadening the scope and impact of our work. Extending a nearly 40-year partnership across five short films, including “The Cat Came Back,” Cordell Barker is already a huge hit. His fourth coming-of-age film, If I Was God, received 22 million views on The New Yorker’s YouTube channel.
“Dinner for the Elves of Antaklaus”. ‘Antarctica’, the latest animated film directed by Cordell Barker
