The NFB is committed to respecting your privacy

We use cookies to ensure that our site works efficiently, as well as for advertising purposes.

If you do not wish to have your information used in this way, you can modify your browser settings before continuing your visit.

Learn more
Skip to content

Embed this code on your site

Video player width

by Reset

The Sparky Book

2006 13 min
Coming soon

In this live action/animated short, a talking goldfish recounts the story of Sparky the dog and his owner, a young girl named Brigitte who suffers from a serious illness. This moving film explores the bond between human and animal, and more importantly, the bond between friends.

Sorry this content is not available in your current location.
Your rental expires on
None
You've already purchased this film.
Download it from My purchases.
Not available
Campus
The Sparky Book

Details

In this live action/animated short, a talking goldfish recounts the story of Sparky the dog and his owner, a young girl named Brigitte who suffers from a serious illness. This moving film explores the bond between human and animal, and more importantly, the bond between friends.

Animals
All subjects
  • writer
    Mary Lewis
  • director
    Mary Lewis
  • animator
    Mary Lewis
    Anne MacLeod
    Mariana Sol Porta
    Chris Darlington
  • cast
    Gordon Pinsent
    Maggie Hickey
    Ruffy Nappo
    Joel Thomas Hynes
    Frances Knickle
    Kevin Lewis
    Patrick Hirtle-Lewis
    Petrina Bromley
    Sheila Abbott
    Christopher Nikolov
    Leah Lewis
  • producer
    Annette Clarke
    Michael Fukushima
  • director of photography
    Ellie Yonova
  • editor
    Lawrence Jackman
    Mary Lewis
  • sound recordist
    Harvey Hyslop
    Don Ellis
  • 1st assistant director
    Dana Warren
  • 2nd assistant director
    Kelly Stone
  • production manager
    Anna Petras
  • production assistant
    Lisa Clarke
  • wrangler
    Christopher Nikolov
  • 1st camera assistant
    Keith Burgess
  • gaffer
    Flora Planchat
  • grip
    Sean Doran
  • boom operator
    Brad Gover
  • art director
    Pam Hall
    Anne MacLeod
  • art director assistant
    Tony Butt
  • wardrobe
    Christine Kenny
  • makeup
    Dorothy Martin
  • still photographer
    Justin Hall
  • background performer
    Mary-Lynn Bernard
    Iliyana Boykov
    Lori Heath
    Paul Heneghan
    Stephen Lush
    Christine Peddle
    Mary Ann Rennie
    Harry Stone
    Pat Stone
  • painter
    Shelley Cornick
    Abe Hutton
    Mike Skiffington
  • consultant
    Peter Evans
    Bertrand Langlois
  • digital imaging specialist
    Susan Gourley
    Pierre Plouffe
  • original music composer
    Jeff Johnston
  • online editor
    Steve Cook
  • colourist
    Steve Cook
  • sound design
    Lori Clarke
  • post-production assistant
    Edward Tanasychuk
  • mixer
    Shelley Craig
  • production supervisor
    Patricia Coughran
  • studio administrator
    John William Lutz
    Gisèle Guilbault
  • production coordinator
    Stephanie Coolen
    Vanessa Larsen
  • marketing manager
    Amy Stewart Gallant
  • executive producer
    Kent Martin
    David Verrall

Enjoy the NFB experience on your favourite device. 

Roku Apple TV Fire TV Android TV Apple App Store Google Play Store

Education

Ages 9 to 17

Study Guide - Guide 1

English Language Arts - Children's Stories/Fables
Family Studies/Home Economics - Aging/Death and Dying

Ask the class if they have ever felt a pet has become as close as a family member. Students can answer the following question: Would the film have been this sad had the goldfish died? Why or why not? Have the class watch the movie Old Yeller and make a comparison between the two stories regarding the bond between human and animal.
The Sparky Book
Also available
DVD

Explore