The Mousehole Cat

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A 25-minute animated film based on the award-winning picture book by Antonia Barber, illustrated by Nicola Bayley. A five-minute documentary at the end, The Making of the Mousehole Cat, features Antonia Barber, Nicola Bayley and Chris Prior (the Art Director). It explains how the book came to be written and illustrated and shows how the original illustrations were brought to life by computer animation.

The Mousehole Cat is based on an old Cornish legend. It tells the story of Tom Bawcock through the eyes of his cat, Mowzer. One winter, the great Storm Cat comes snarling and leaping at the harbour walls so that no boat can go out to fish. When all the food in the village is gone, Tom decides he must brave the terrible weather. As they sail into the mountainous seas, Mowzer sings a lullaby to calm the great Storm Cat of the sea. Tom catches enough fish to feed the entire village. And to this day the people of Mousehole hold a procession and feast every Christmas in memory of brave Tom Bawcock.

Ages 4 and upwards

"A modern masterpiece" Evening Standard

"A balm to the spirits" Observer

Narrated by Siân Phillips
Music by Ian Hughes
Animation by The Red Green & Blue Company
Written by Nicola Bayley
Film Sequences by Cathy Collis
Adapted and Produced by Joy Whitby
 

First shown on Channel 4