Last week a hilarious new animated film opened too quietly in theaters. Aardman Animations’ Shaun the Sheep deserves audiences of all ages…especially adults and that is why we asked two animation experts to review it for us elsewhere in this issue.
These are the creative people who brought us Wallace and Gromit, Chicken Run, Angry Kid and Flushed Away. We thought that you’d enjoy seeing a few samples of their short films spanning the company’s history.
Founded in 1972 by Peter Lord and Davis Sproxton, the British studio was creating stop motion animation using clay for a children’s TV series and were invited to provide the animation for Peter Gabriel’s Sledgehammer (1986) music video —it was a mind-blower in 1986 and it still is.
Then they produced the delightfully unexpected video for Nina Simone’s “My Baby Just Cares for Me” (1987).
Nick Park won their first Oscar© with Creature Comforts (1989) and developed the adventure films of Wallace and Gromit.
The popular and the very adult Angry Kid shorts played on BBC Four (1999-2007), recently returning due to popular demand. We have a classic
plus a brand new episode.
In addition to features and shorts they do commercials and public service announcements such as the funny Change 4 Life series that tells the story of mankind’s epic journey to obesity with tongue lodged firmly in cheek, using laughter instead of lectures to educate and motivate viewers to move away from the “hidden nasties” in everyday food.
A short film on the making of Wallace & Gromit’s most recent A Matter of Loaf and Death.
Aardman offers lessons on creating your own animated cleverness. Here is a sample.
“How to make a friend’s head spin all the way around.”
An excellent conversation with lead animator Merlin Crossingham.
If you happen to be in Paris by August 30, you are in luck as there is a terrific Aardman exhibit at Art Ludique.
To own your own Aardman books, videos, and action figures, click here.
Learn more about Aardman:
eatdrinkfilms.com 