See the iconic, energetic art of Aardman Animations like never before! The Art of Aardman takes readers on an unforgettable, behind-the-scenes journey through the studio's archives. This collection features original character sketches and never-before-seen concept art, offering a unique look inside the studio that created Chicken Run, Morph, and, of course, Wallace & Gromit. Kicking things off with forewords from founders Peter Lord and David Sproxton, this celebration of all-things Aardman is a must-have for all animation fans.
The Aardman Studio in Bristol is one of the biggest successes in the new wave of British animation. This book sets Aardman's achievements and the history of the studio within the context of the tradition of 3-D animation. The studio's initial success with Morph was followed with an Oscar for Creature Comforts and nominations for Adam and A Grand Day Out. Nick Park at Aardman has received two Oscars for his Wallace and Gromit stories, The Wrong Trousers and A Close Shave.
The creators of Chicken Run and the Wallace & Gromit series share the inside story of their Oscar award-winning animation company. Aardman Animations was founded in 1972 by Peter Lord and David Sproxton. Joined by animator Nick Park in 1985, Aardman pioneered a quirky, lovable style of stop-motion animation and brought to life a string of unforgettable movies and television shows, including the highest-grossing stop-animated film of all time, Chicken Run. With A Grand Success!, Lord, Sproxton, and Park tell the 45-year history of Aardman. From their first short films, made on a lark on their kitchen table, to advertisements and music videos, A Grand Success! recounts the adventures and challenges of developing their own unique style, growing their business, working with famous actors, and conquering Hollywood, all while animating at 24 painstaking moves per second.
The Bristol-based animation company Aardman is best known for its most famous creations Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep. But despite the quintessentially British aesthetic and tone of its movies, this very British studio continues to enjoy international box office success with movies such as Shaun the Sheep Movie, Flushed Away and Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Aardman has always been closely linked with one of its key animators, Nick Park, and its stop motion, Plasticine-modelled family films, but it has more recently begun to experiment with modern digital filmmaking effects that either emulate 'Claymation' methods or form a hybrid animation style. This unique volume brings together leading film and animation scholars with children's media/animation professionals to explore the production practices behind Aardman's creativity, its history from its early shorts to contemporary hits, how its films fit within traditions of British animation, social realism and fantasy cinema, the key personalities who have formed its ethos, its representations of 'British-ness' on screen and the implications of traditional animation methods in a digital era.
The Bristol-based animation company Aardman is best known for its most famous creations Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep. But despite the quintessentially British aesthetic and tone of its movies, this very British studio continues to enjoy international box office success with movies such as Shaun the Sheep Movie, Flushed Away and Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Aardman has always been closely linked with one of its key animators, Nick Park, and its stop motion, Plasticine-modelled family films, but it has more recently begun to experiment with modern digital filmmaking effects that either emulate 'Claymation' methods or form a hybrid animation style. This unique volume brings together leading film and animation scholars with children's media/animation professionals to explore the production practices behind Aardman's creativity, its history from its early shorts to contemporary hits, how its films fit within traditions of British animation, social realism and fantasy cinema, the key personalities who have formed its ethos, its representations of 'British-ness' on screen and the implications of traditional animation methods in a digital era.
This instructional book is written in a simple and accessible style for experienced animators and novices alike. Its wonderful illustrations give a clear and inspiring view of the techniques of puppet animation.
The official novelization of the major stop-motion children's movie! Based on the hotly anticipated new stop-motion feature film Early Man, from director Nick Park (Shaun the Sheep, Wallace and Gromit, Chicken Run) and Aardman Animation, coming to U.S. theaters this February. Meet Dug, a scrawny but cheerful caveman who loves his valley and just wants the best for his tribe of misfits. Accompanied by his faithful pig sidekick Hognob, Dug is a dreamer—why settle for hunting rabbits when you can hunt a mammoth?! Then there’s Dug’s tribe, led by the cautious Chief Bobnar. Bobnar wants the best for the tribe, too, but he sees things a little differently from Dug. Then Dug meets the evil Lord Nooth. He’s the leader of the Bronze Age City. When the Bronze Age City invades the valley and the cavemen have to fight to save their home, Dug strikes a deal with Lord Nooth. The tribe can keep their valley if they beat the Bronze Agers at their own game: soccer! Can Dug and Hognob really unite a motley tribe of rabbit-hunters into a serious team? It’s the Stone Age versus the Bronze Age in the match of the millennium! Easy to read and side-splittingly funny, this story about cavemen with heart will appeal to young readers and their parents.
For over 40 years, Aardman has entertained and charmed the world, creating memorable stories and timeless animated characters that have gone on to become household names – including Wallace and Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and Morph. But how did two teenagers experimenting with animation on an old kitchen table go on to create a world-class studio that conquered Hollywood? This is an intimate, revealing and funny behind-the-scenes story of Aardman, told in their own words by co-founders Peter Lord and David Sproxton and featuring Nick Park. The colourful account follows Peter and David’s extraordinary journey from their humble beginnings as penniless students, teaching themselves the craft of animation, and recounts the key moments that defined their careers and shaped Aardman into the British success story it is today. THIS STORY INCLUDES: KEY MOMENTS THAT SHAPED AARDMAN – their first professional commissions, developing iconic TV commercials, creating the most-played music video of all time and delivering a pitch to Hollywood legend Steven Spielberg. HOLLYWOOD GLAMOUR – What’s it like to work with big stars like Mel Gibson, Hugh Grant and Eddie Redmayne, and what goes on behind the scenes at the Oscars®? HIGHS AND LOWS – Winning awards and recognition worldwide for their work, and dealing with the heartbreak of shutting down a production. INSIGHTS into how two men who freely admit they are not at all business-minded managed to build a multi-million pound business. CONTRIBUTIONS from Eddie Redmayne, Timothy Spall, Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Grant. Foreword by Matt Groening.
The fascinating and funny behind-the-scenes story of claymation experts Aardman Animations, from humble beginnings to Hollywood, told in their own words by Peter Lord, David Sproxton, Nick Park and Richard Starzak.
Robin Robin is a stunning picture book adaptation of the animation from Aardman and Netflix, perfect for Christmas and beyond! When an egg rolls out of its nest and into a rubbish dump, the little robin inside is discovered and raised by a loving family of burglar mice. As Robin grows up, her differences become more obvious and she starts to feel out of place in her mouse family. Not quite a bird and not quite a mouse, but full of determination. Robin sets out on an adventure to prove herself and – just maybe – get a sandwich. Robin Robin: The Official Book of the Film is based on the hit Netflix film from Aardman Animations, creators of Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and Morph. This heartwarming story features a cast of unforgettable characters including a treasure-hunting magpie (Richard E. Grant) and a thoroughly villainous cat (Gillian Anderson), and is full of excitement, daring escapades, and Christmas adventure. Featuring gorgeous artwork taken from the handcrafted stop-motion animation, and including lyrics to all the original songs, this charming, warm and witty story is perfect for picture book lovers and animation fans of all ages!
