Aardman

Animation StudiosBryn Hughes

Brief History

Aardman Animations, Ltd., also known as Aardman Studios, which was founded in 1972 by Peter Lord and David Sproxton, is a British animation studio based in Bristol, United Kingdom. The studio is known for films made using stop-motion clay animation techniques, particularly those featuring Plasticine characters Wallace and Gromit. However, it successfully entered the computer animation market with Flushed Away (2006).

Key Films / Creations - Wallace & Gromit's Cracking Contraptions

• Wallace & Gromit's Cracking Contraptions was released on 15th October 2002, directed by Loyd Price and Christopher Sadler, produced by Harry Linden and Peter Lord, written by Merlin Crossingham, Seamus Malone, Nick Park, Loyd Price, Christopher Sadler and Mike Salter and starring Peter Sallis as Wallace. Wallace, an absent-minded inventor living in Wigan, Lancashire, is a cheese enthusiast who is especially fond of Wensleydale. His companion, Gromit, is an anthropomorphic intelligent dog. Wallace is voiced by veteran actor Peter Sallis; Gromit remains silent, communicating only through facial expressions and body language.

Key Films / Creations - Shaun the Sheep

• Shaun the sheep was released on 5th March 2007, It was directed by Richard Goleszowski and Christopher Sadler, produced by David Sproxton, Peter Lord, Nick Park, Julie Lockhart and Gareth Owen, developed by Richard Goleszowski, Alison Snowden and David Fine and starring John Sparkes, Justin Fletcher, Kate Harbour, Richard Webber and Jo Allen. A premise of the series is that Shaun the sheep exhibits human intelligence, creativity, and behavior in a farm setting, which usually provides a situational comedy conflict which Shaun must resolve before the end of each episode. Recurring themes include the characters evading the sheepdog Bitzer and avoiding discovery by the Farmer.

Key Films / Creations – Angry kid• Angry kid was released on 1st January 1999, It was directed and created by

Darren Walsh, written by Darren Walsh and Mike Cooper and also starred Darren Walsh. Angry Kid is sitting in the back of Dad's car with a tissue. He then asks Dad, "Are we there yet?". "NO!", shouts the frustrated Dad. Angry Kid loudly blows his nose, saying that he's got "snot blocks". Annoyed, Dad tells Angry Kid to not push his luck, or he'll take him to the children's home. Angry Kid tells Dad that he doesn't love him. He says that it's not fair. "Shut up!", Dad angrily tells his son. Feeling bad, Angry Kid then whips Dad with the tissue. Dad eventually gives up and tells Angry Kid that he's taking him to the children's home. Scared, Angry Kid begs Dad not to. When Dad doesn't reassure him, Angry Kid ties the tissue around his mouth and writes on a piece of paper, "Help! Kidnap," and then shows it to a passing police car. When the police car starts honking its horn at Dad. Angry Kid then cackles evilly, thinking that his plan is going to work.

Key Films / Creations - The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists

• The Pirates was released on 28th March 2012, directed by Peter Lord and Jeff Newitt (co-director), produced by Julie Lockhart, Peter Lord, Carla Shelley and David Sproxton, written by Gideon Defoe and starring Hugh Grant, Salma Hayek, Jeremy Piven, Imelda Staunton and David Tennant. Not since "Moby-Dick,.".No, not since "Treasure Island,.". Actually, not since Jonah and the Whale has there been a sea saga to rival "The Pirates In an Adventure with Scientists," featuring the greatest sea-faring hero of all time, the immortal Pirate Captain, who, although he lives for months at a time at sea, somehow manages to keep his beard silky and in good condition.

Key Characters• Peter Lord (born 1953 in Bristol, United Kingdom) is a British film producer, director

and co-founder of the Academy award-winning Aardman Animations studio, an animation firm best known for its clay animated films and shorts, particularly those featuring plasticine duo Wallace & Gromit.

• David Sproxton is one of the co-founders (together with Peter Lord) of the Aardman Animations studio.David graduated from Collingwood College, University of Durham before starting as an animator, producing segments for the Vision On TV program, Sproxton and Lord created the character of Morph for Take Hart (which featured Tony Hart, the artist from Vision On).He is credited as the cinematographer for the BAFTA Award nominated War Story, and the Oscar nominated Adam, as well as the Oscar winning Creature Comforts directed by Nick Park.Other production credits include Chicken Run, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit and Arthur Christmas.In May 2006, Sproxton (along with Peter Lord) visited the "Aardman Exhibit" at the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan, where he met Hayao Miyazaki. Miyazaki has long been a fan of the Aardman Animation works.[1] Sproxton was created a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) on 17 June 2006.

Links / sources

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallace_%26_Gromit%27s_Cracking_Contraptions

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallace_and_Gromit

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaun_the_Sheep

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Kid• http://angrykid.wikia.com/wiki/Kidnap• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pirates!_In_

an_Adventure_with_Scientists_(film)#Home_media

• http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/225314.The_Pirates_In_an_Adventure_with_Scientists