Aardman Animations, the Bristol-based studio behind beloved characters like Morph, Wallace and Gromit, and Shaun the Sheep, is marking its 50th birthday. The studio's creators have revealed surprising details about its journey, including early creative decisions and significant moments.
Animator Nick Park initially envisioned Gromit as a cat for A Grand Day Out, but switched to a dog due to the difficulty of modelling a cat. This decision contributed to the creation of Aardman's most famous characters, Wallace and Gromit, who were nominated for an Oscar in 1990 for A Grand Day Out.
Shaun the Sheep, a global star for the studio, was repeatedly urged by executives to have a voice for both his series and feature film. However, Aardman maintained Shaun's silent portrayal, believing it transcended borders and cultures. Shaun the Sheep has been sold into 170 countries and is particularly popular in Asia.
The studio's 1990s success with Wallace and Gromit led to a meeting with Steven Spielberg and DreamWorks chief executive Jeffrey Katzenberg, where they pitched Chicken Run. The film, which cost over £20m and was shot entirely in Bristol, became the highest-grossing stop-motion film ever made, taking over $220m (£165m) worldwide. Its success is credited with influencing the Academy to introduce the Best Animated Feature Oscar the following year.