Carlos and Jordi Grangel are two professionals from Barcelona in the world of animation. They founded Grangel Studio in 1995. They have worked with directors such as Steven Spielberg, Guillermo del Toro, or Tim Burton. But they had never played at home. Both are supporters of Barça. It was their grandmother Fina who first took them to see a training session of the team in 1974. “We saw Cholo Sotil and Cruyff. It was spectacular,” they recall. Children and grandchildren of Barça members, they enjoyed the games at the old Camp Nou and with the Dream Team led by their idol, Johan Cruyff. They would have liked Ronaldinho's smile to be eternal and for Leo Messi not to have left. They also love to see the success of the Women's Barça, a team that has captivated them. For all these reasons, when Barcelona asked them to create the mascot for the 125th anniversary, they didn't think twice. The result was CAT. A culé cat inspired by a wild and cheerful feline whose silhouette emerges from the blaugrana shield.
CAT, the mascot of FC Barcelona
The brothers welcome La Vanguardia to their studio, located very close to Spotify Camp Nou, to explain the creative process that has kept them busy for the last eight months. “David Carabén gave our name to Barça. We knew his wife, Flora Saura. She interviewed us for an article. The Barça Identity department contacted us. They sent us an email on January 25, 2024,” Carlos recounts as he shows us the place where everything was conceived. The walls showcase an international career working with DreamWorks, Warner Bros, Sony, or Universal Pictures. Creating major hits like Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, and Corpse Bride. Additionally, they have been awarded an Oscar for Pinocchio and an Annie for Spirit.
CAT at the Johan Cruyff Stadium
“I told Carlos, 'There is an email from Barça. How strange, right? That's not our field of action.' We checked if it was true. They said they wanted to collaborate with us and asked if we could talk. They came two weeks later to meet us in person. It was exciting because it's like playing at home, and that's something new,” Jordi adds.
All are praises from the brothers for the team of “Barça Identity” led by Paloma Mikadze. “They haven't imposed anything on us. They just asked us to make the mascot inclusive, modern, and gender-neutral,” says Jordi. “And even though Barça has obviously paid us, we don't do it for the money. What matters to us is that, whether it lives for a year or seven lifetimes, CAT will be part of Barça's history, and that is already a lot,” insists Carlos.
The cat is born from the Barça shield, which is the element that best defines the club
“We started working with the briefing provided by the club. Some documents that explained the history and values of the organization. They also gave us the Barça crest and a color guide. We searched for players, jerseys, colors, crests, the flag of Catalonia, special moments with Cruyff, current moments, future, past... everything,” recalls Jordi. “Until we asked ourselves who were the animals of Catalonia,” adds Carlos.
And Jordi did an internet search. “The Catalan donkey and shepherd, the Pyrenean newt, and also the wildcat came up. It is a protected species that lives in the Pyrenees, in Montseny, and in the Tortosa-Beceite mountain passes. It is also in danger of extinction,” Jordi recalls.
That was the first key. But how did they transform it? “We had the cat, yes. But we ran the risk of being told 'it looks like Garfield or Felix the Cat.' And we took the shield, which is the most emblematic symbol of Barça. It represents the legacy, history, and colors. We saw that the silhouette matched the possible head of the cat,” says Jordi. “You may like it or not. But no one can say that it's not the Barça cat,” they both insist. “Then we built the body, which took a little longer,” Jordi remembers. “We presented 100 pages of creations with up to 90 poses of the cat. And dressed in all the football kits, from the four sections and La Masia. It is a cat with many lives. The president, whom we met last year at the Barça-Real Sociedad match, loved it,” they recall.
CAT
CAT has been evolving. At first, it did not have the ball in its mouth. It was a heart. And the body was less stylized than it is now. To make it, the brothers found extra inspiration in the Barcelona Women's team. “Xavi's Barcelona was not quite working out. But the women's team was winning everything. We love Graham Hansen. She deserves more awards,” says Carlos. “CAT conveys all the joy of women's soccer,” they insist.
Whether it lasts a year or seven, CAT will be part of Barça's history and that is already a lot for us”
They worked throughout the month of August, also anticipating the agreement with Nike. The blaugrana mascot finished taking shape two days before the gala when the DDT studio, together with the Grangel, completed the costume. “We were nervous. But we believe that CAT has been well received,” the brothers say. “In the end, we enjoyed the Liceu gala. Flick is to our liking. And how great it was that Xavi and Koeman came. They are part of the history of this club,” they conclude.
Two months of production by DDT Efectes
The production of the mascot and those in charge of bringing it to life have been the company DDT Efectes Especials, founded by David Martí and Montse Ribé. This company has worked on major productions such as The Orphanage, The Skin I Live In, and A Monster Calls, among others. In 2007, they won one of the highest recognitions in the industry, an Oscar for their work on Pan's Labyrinth, directed by Guillermo del Toro. “It has been a pleasure to work with them,” say the Grangel brothers. “We started two months before the gala. It was important to choose materials that did not slip, that were visible and movable. Nothing is glued. It can be undressed. The equipment can be changed next year if it works and they wish to,” the brothers add. So far, CAT already has 183,000 followers on Instagram. It made its debut in Montjuïc with the men's soccer team in the match against Las Palmas. Also last Saturday at the Johan Cruyff Stadium in the Barcelona vs. Betis women's match, and at the Palau Blaugrana with handball, futsal, and roller hockey. Coming up, it will support basketball on December 13 and will close the year accompanying Barcelona Atlètic on December 22 in the match against Athletic Club.
