Canadian animator Cordell Barker, creator of the Oscar-nominated short films, “The Cat Came Back” and “Strange Invaders,” is now in production on “The Anta Claus of the South Pole.” Release is scheduled for 2026.

The Tonic DNA/National Film Board of Canada co-production is produced in association with Crave, a division of Bell Media Inc., with the participation of the Canada Media Fund.

Described as an alternative Christmas Special, the family-friendly adventure comedy returns Cordell Barker to his signature style – 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 “The Cat Came Back” and “Strange Invaders.”

This allows Barker and partners Tonic DNA, the Montreal-based animation studio, and NFB to have their cake and eat it too: Enroll huge IP – Christmas, Santa Claus – but deliver a fresh take driven by the singularity of Cordell Barker’s irreverent auteurist voice.

Here, 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. “Along 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,” said a synopsis unveiled by the National Film Board of Canada on Tuesday.

The lead character is voiced in English by acclaimed actor Tyrone Benskin (“Debris,” “Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol”), an institution on Canada’s theater, film and TV scene, and in French by comedian-actor Anthony Kavanagh (“Les bogues de la vie”). The score is composed by celebrated Montreal musician Martin Léon, known for his work on the Oscar-nominated “Monsieur Lazhar.”

“I’ve 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 – like all of us– that audiences will enjoy watching as he finds his place in the world,” said Barker.

A 24-minute TV special, “The Anta Claus” targets families, 8-12 “and anyone who enjoys a fresh and imaginative take on the classic tale of Santa Claus,” 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.

Howard Huxham (Tonic DNA) and Christine Noël (NFB) serve as executive producers, Jocelyn Perrier (NFB) as producer. Distributed by the NFB, “The Anta Claus” is currently attracting interest from international distributors, sales agents and broadcasters, the NFB noted Tuesday.

“When Cordell Barker first pitched his vision for an alternative Christmas film, it immediately stood out as something very special. Seeing ‘The Anta Claus of the South Pole’ 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,” said Huxham.

“The NFB English Animation Unit is thrilled to be working with the team at Tonic DNA to produce this new project from filmmaker Cordell Barker,” added Noël. “This 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’s bold, signature vision – it’s truly the best of both worlds.”

How Cordell Barker Fits into NFB Strategy

While animated short films remain at the core of the NFB’s  production – it produces a majority of auteur‑driven animation – it is increasingly opening the door to new formats and expanding into more mainstream‑oriented titles: feature films, half‑hour television works, and series — to broaden the reach and impact of our creations. Extending a near 40-year partnership over five shorts, beginning with “The Cat Came Back,” Cordell Barker is already highly popular. His fourth film, coming of age “If I Was God,” has racked up 22 million views on The New Yorker’s YouTube channel.