Home / Arts and Entertainment / From Plasticine Dreams to Global Stars: Aardman Turns 50
From Plasticine Dreams to Global Stars: Aardman Turns 50
4 Sep
Summary
- Gromit was nearly a cat before becoming a beloved dog character.
- Chicken Run's success led to the creation of the Best Animated Feature Oscar.
- Shaun the Sheep, despite industry pressure, remains a silent global phenomenon.
Aardman Animations, founded in 1976 by school friends Sir Peter Lord and Sir David Sproxton, is celebrating its 50th anniversary with revelations about its iconic characters. Early in development, Gromit was conceived as a cat by animator Nick Park, but the character proved difficult to model, leading to the switch to a dog. This creative partnership between Park and Aardman produced "A Grand Day Out," which was nominated for an Oscar in 1990.
The studio's groundbreaking stop-motion feature, "Chicken Run," released in 2000 with a budget exceeding £20 million, became the world's highest-grossing stop-motion film, earning over $220 million globally. Its critical success and lack of an Oscar win prompted the Academy to establish the Best Animated Feature category the following year. Later, "Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" secured an Oscar in this new category.
Shaun the Sheep, first appearing in 1995, has become a global star, sold in 170 countries, particularly popular in Asia. Despite consistent pressure from executives to give Shaun a voice, Aardman maintained the character's silent nature, a decision that proved to be creatively sound and commercially successful. This adherence to artistic integrity highlights Aardman's journey from humble beginnings with plasticine to an internationally acclaimed animation powerhouse.
