Aardman

More than 20 years have passed since the claymation magicians at Aardman Animations had the brainwave of relocating The Great Escape to a north of England chicken farm. The original Chicken Run remains a classic of family entertainment, unbeatable in its inventiveness, distinctive aesthetic and deliciously absurd humour. Disappointingly but perhaps not surprisingly, this sequel fails to match the original on any level whatsoever. It’s not bad exactly, although there’s a synthetic look to the colour palette that feels very…

After a weekend report that one of the most famous stop-motion animation houses in the world—Aardman, the team behind Chicken Run, Wallace and Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, and more—was on the verge of running out of the unique clay they use to craft their creations went viral, the studio has now spoken out to assuage fan concerns.Inspiration Behind the Reality-TV Style for The Hunger GamesA report by British newspaper The Telegraph went viral this weekend, after it claimed that Aardman only had enough supplies of modelling…

Stop-motion animation studio Aardman is running out of clay, it has emerged. According to a report in the Daily Telegraph, Aardman has been left with enough animation clay for one more feature film after the manufacturers of its favourite material closed down earlier this year.Newclay Products ceased trading in March, meaning that specialist animation clay Lewis Newplast is no longer available. The company was originally established by the Lewis family, art teachers who operated out of a garden shed in Chislehurst (and…

Image: Aardman Animations/NetflixAardman Animations has been defined by its clay animation techniques. Known as Newplast plasticine, it’s been used since the studio’s inception back in 1972, and have been used in all their productions, from the Wallace & Gromit shorts to more recent fare like Star Wars Visions and Shaun the Sheep. You know you’re watching an Aardman production when you see it, and it’s hard to imagine them not doing claymation.The Hunger Games Director Francis Lawrence on Adapting a PrequelBut…

Star Wars: Visions is returning for a second 'season,' this time with a more international scope — including a studio you might not have expected. Disney has announced that Star Wars: Visions Volume 2 will premiere May 4th (aka Star Wars Day) with shorts from nine countries, including one from UK stop-motion legend Aardman. Details of the project ("I Am Your Mother") aren't available, but it's directed by Wallace & Gromit veteran Magdalena Osinska. Other titles come from 88 Pictures (India), Cartoon Saloon (Ireland),…