Aardmans Animations

Introduction
In this report I will be covering information about Aardman Animations and what they do
and how the company works with film makers to produce films.
Aardman Animations, Ltd., also known as Aardman Studios, or simply as Aardman, is a
British animation studio based in Bristol. Aardman is known for films made using stopmotion clay animation techniques, particularly those featuring Plasticine characters Wallace
and Gromit.
About the founders
Peter Lord, CBE born 4 November 1953 is a British animator, film producer, director and cofounder 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. Peter Lord and David Sproxton began their animating partnership at
school. In 1972 they registered the name Aardman Animations. After graduating, they
moved to Bristol in 1976 where they produced their first professional production, creating
Morph for the childrens programme 'Take Hart'. Peter and David met Nick Park at the
National Film and Television School when he was working on his student film A Grand Day
Out. He joined Aardman full time in 1985.

History of Aardman
In the early 70s, schoolmates Peter Lord and David Sproxton start experimenting with
animation techniques. They decide they like clay model animation best and then still in their
teens, they are asked by the BBC to make short Claymation films for a children's program.
They started their first character which was Morph, who still appears in films. They start
Aardman in 1972 and move their company to Bristol in 1976. It becomes a fully operating
animation studio making TV series and films.

In 1989 the studio was again commissioned by Channel Four Television to create a series of
five 5-minute films was called Lip Synch. This series explored the world of animation based
on true characters and real voices and which went on to win the 1990 Academy Award for
Best Animated Short Film.
In 1995 Aardman produced Nick Park's third Oscar winning. Which was a massive success to
Nick and Aardman which confirmed the studios reputation. In 1996 the studio produced
Peter Lord's Oscar nominated 11-minute short film, Wat's Pig for Channel 4.
While they were creating these animations they produced many films which today are some
of the best animation films. Following the success of Chicken Run, DreamWorks and
Aardman signed a 3-picture deal, the first being seeing the return of Wallace and Gromit
after a ten year absence in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. The film took the next Academy
award for full-length animated film. In April 2007 Aardman signed a three-year deal with
Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Chicken Run was Aardmans first full-length theatre film to be funded by DreamWorks.
Directed by both Peter Lord and Nick Park it was released in June 2000 in the US and UK to
excellent reviews and outstanding box office receipts. Chicken Run has grossed over 220M
at the worldwide box office.

1972: David Sproxton and Peter Lord complete their first film, Aardman, for BBC Bristol.
1976: Founding Aardman Animation, Sproxton and Lord create new character, Morph, for
BBC's Vision On.
1978: Aardman receives commission for two Animated Conversation short films from
BBC.
1982: Animated Conversation concept is developed into series of five "Conversation
Pieces" for Channel Four.
1985: Nick Park joins Aardman.
1986: Aardman receives international acclaim for Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer" video.

1989: A Grand Day Out, the first film featuring Wallace and Gromit, directed by Nick Park,
is released.
1993: The second Wallace and Gromit film, the Oscar-winning The Wrong Trousers, is
released.
1995: Wallace and Gromit's third film, A Close Shave, also earns an Oscar.
1999: Aardman and DreamWorks sign 12-year, four-film deal for $150 million.
2000: The first Aardman feature film, Chicken Run, is released to critical and popular
success.
2003: Filming begins on first full-length Wallace and Gromit film, with a proposed release
date of
summer 2005.
Films
Films produced by Aardman
-

Shaun the Sheep Movie 2015

Directed by: Mark Burton, Richard Starzack

Cast: Justin Fletcher, John Sparkes
UK release: 6 February 2015

Directed by: Peter Lord, Jeff Newitt

Cast: Hugh Grant, Martin Freeman, Imelda Staunton, David Tennant, Jeremy Piven,
Salma Hayek, Lenny Henry, Brian Blessed
UK release: 28 March 2012

The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists 2012

Arthur Christmas 2011

Directed by: Sarah Smith
Written by: Peter Baynham, Sarah Smith
Cast: James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Bill Nighy, Jim Broadbent, Imelda Staunton, Ashley
Jensen, Ramona Marquez UK release: 11 November 2011

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit 2005

Directed by: Nick Park, Steve Box

Cast: Peter Sallis, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter

Chicken Run 2005

Directed by: Peter Lord, Nick Park

Written by: Peter Lord, Nick Park, Margaret French
Cast: Julia Sawalha, Mel Gibson, Timothy Spall, Phil Daniels, Jane Horrocks, Miranda
Richardson

Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers 1993

Directed by: Nick Park

Cast: Voice of Peter Sallis

Wallace & Gromit: A Grand Day Out 1989

Directed by: Nick Park
Cast: Peter Sallis

This is a selected list of commercials produced by Aaardman.

Lurpak (1986)
Hamlet (1987)
Domestos (1987)
Electricity Board's
Enterprise 64
Cadbury Creme Egg
Cadbury's Crunchie
Kellogg's Rice Krispies
British Telecom
BBC Three idents (20032008)
E4 Itchy Dog (2003)
Jacob's Cream Crackers
Kellogg's Fruit Twistables

Hubba Bubba
PG Tips "Moving-in Interview", "Cupboard" (2002-2005)
McDonald's Happy Meal (2013)
Bloo
Electrolux
Bristol Ageing Better (2015)
United Nations "We Have a Plan" (2015)

Financial
Aardman Animations headquarters is located in Bristol with and their headquarters value
worth 8,000,000. This is where clay animation and the recordings of the films are created
and handled. Currently they have 3 sectors: Media, Offices and Renewable/Sustainable
Energy. The company behind Wallace and Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and Morph has turned a
1.2million loss into a 2.1million profit after successes in its film and television divisions.
They plunged into the red in 2012 when they spent money on projects that never got past
the development stage. However, accounts just filed for the year to the end of 2013 show
that films The Pirates! In An Adventure With Scientists! Arthur Christmas and Wallace &
Gromit The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit contributed to its 18.7million turnover.
Aardman films have made 972.1 million worldwide and average 163 million per film. All of
their stop motion films are among the highest stop-motion films, with their debut, Chicken
Run, being their top-grossing film as well as the highest-grossing stop-motion film of all
time.
Technical Creation
Throughout the years Aardman is well known for their creations of Claymation films up to a
high standard. The method they use is called Stop motion animation which is an
animation technique that manipulates an object so that it appears to move on its own. The
object is moved in small sections between individually photographed frames, creating the
illusion of movement when the series of frames is played as a continuous sequence. Dolls
with movable joints or clay figures are often used in stop motion for their ease of
repositioning. A key member of the Aardman team is the animators. An animator is an artist
who creates multiple images, known as frames, which give an illusion of movement called
animation when displayed in rapid sequence.

Company Structure
Aardman animations had over 250 employees working for them to create films, advertise
and research for the company. The main people within Aardman are Peter Lord, David
Sproxton and Nick Parks. These 3 people are the founders of Aardman. Different types of
jobs are available at Aardman from creating the animations or creating apps and games for
the company.
Below is a list of Directors which work for Aardman
Asa Lucander
Bram Ttwheam
Darren Dubicki
Magdalena
Merlin Crossingham
Peter Peake
Sam Morrison
Steve Harding
White Robot
Nigel Davies
Sarah Cox