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Animation Legends: From Plasticine Pals to Global Icons
23 Aug
Summary
- Co-founders Peter Lord and David Sproxton began animating as teenagers.
- Morph, a character made of Plasticine, was created accidentally.
- Aardman became employee-owned in 2018 to ensure independence.
Aardman Animations' co-founders, Peter Lord and David Sproxton, began their animation journey as teenagers, selling their first short to the BBC in 1972. They created the iconic character Morph in 1977 for the children's program Take Hart. Aardman later achieved adult audience success with Channel 4's Conversation Pieces, leading to Oscar-winning films like Wallace & Gromit.
Lord and Sproxton's partnership, forged in childhood, was built on complementary skills: Lord's artistic vision and Sproxton's practical, hands-on approach. They established Aardman with a shared ethos of prioritizing people and community over financial gain, a principle that guided their decision to make the studio employee-owned in 2018.
This employee ownership was designed to secure the company's independence. Both founders, who were knighted earlier this year, have expressed no desire for personal wealth such as owning a yacht, instead focusing on building a collaborative and ethical creative environment. Their enduring friendship and mutual support have been key to navigating the challenges of the animation industry.
