Rob Munday
Tom and Jerry, Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner, Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd, the world of animation has seen a number of rival pairs battling for dominance in their on-screen worlds. In India Barnardo’s playful seven-minute short Cat and Moth, an adorable fluffy feline fights it out with a turbo-charged moth for the prized spot on the sofa. It’s a classic premise given a modern spin thanks to its narrative twist and energetic production.
We’re first introduced to the short’s titular house pet after a bolt of electricity seems to spark it to life on a book case (a quick scan of the titles on show will not only give you a giggle, but provide an idea of the inspiration behind that aforementioned narrative twist). As the curious cat tests out a number of locations – a globe, a radiator, a tiny box – for a content little nap, once it finds the ideal spot, it soon discovers it has competition for its snuggly space. Cue the moth, who after dive bombing the cat, we discover also has a penchant for a little relaxing in a cosy corner.
With the opponents established and the arena set, Barnardo are her team bring this battle to life through an eye-catching blend of 2D and CG animation. Although it’s the 3D animation that makes up the majority of the film, it’s the 2D elements, and sequences, that make the short really standout. From the animated accents that amplify character movements and reactions, to the more abstract scenes where we follow the chase in a retro monochrome style, or get transported into a morphing world of sofas and scratch posts, you can’t help but smile as the contrasting styles seamlessly merge, immersing you its colourful world.
One of the more abstract moments in the film, where cat and moth journey through a distorting, disorienting world.
With the short propelled by a pitch-perfected jazzy score by composer Liv Muir Wilson, Cat and Moth truly is a joy to watch. Even with that lingering, thought-provoking detour at its finale, the feeling you leave with after watching the short is one of pure contentedness – just like Barnardo’s cat when it first snuggles down into it’s prized snoozing spot. However, there was one thing still puzzling me after watching the film…why a moth? Turns out the answer was quite simple, as like with most storylines, it was inspired by real life – the director’s own cats:
“When Leia wasn’t a fully grown fat black cat, as she mostly became, I used to be able to hold her in the palm of my hand and she loved to chase the moths that circled the lamp hanging from the ceiling at the end of my bed. She would munch the moths out of the air like Homer Simpson eating crisps in zero gravity.”
Now working on a music video, another CG short and some live-action experiments, Barnardo is also hoping to turn Cat and Moth into an episodic adventure.