Aardman animations

Aardman animations

Aardman animations is the major world class studio that was behind films such as Chicken Run, Wallace and Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and The Pirates. It was started in 1972 by Peter Lord and David Sproxton who went on to create Morph for a childrens programme called Take Heart.

They met Nick Park at the National Film and Television School as he was working on his student film called A Grand Day Out, who then joined Aardman full time in 1985. In 1993, the second in the series of Wallace and Gromit, The Wrong Trousers, was Aardmans first 30 minute film. It won over thirty awards and has now become one of the most successful animated films ever. In 1995, the third in the series, A Close Shave, was produced and won another Oscar, which confirmed the studios reputation. Wallace and Gromits latest film was shown on Christmas day in 2008 and got a record audience of 16.15 million. A Mater of Loaf and Deaf won the BAFTA for best animated short film which means that every Wallace and Gromit film has now won a BAFTA.              http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnkqlNPDu1E

In 2000, Aardman released their first full length theatrical film, Chicken Run. It was funded by Dreamworks and was directed by both Peter Lord and Nick Park. It grossed over 220 million pounds at the worldwide box office and got excellent reviews. 

Shaun the Sheep, a Wallace and Gromit spin off that started in 2007, is a childrens programme that is based on the adventures of Wallace and Gromits friend, Shaun, that appeared in A Close Shave. It went on to be hugely successful and sold worldwide.

http://www.aardman.com/about-us/history/