1972-1997
Aardman was founded in 1972 as a low-budget project by Peter Lord and David Sproxton, who wanted to realise their dream of producing an animated motion picture. Clay animation, became what was the inspiration for creating Morph, a simple clay character. Aardman produced a number of shorts for Channel 4. 3 newcomers made their directorial debut at Aardman with the Lip Synch series. Of the five Lip Synch shorts two were directed by Peter Lord, one by Barry Purves, one by Richard Goleszowski and one by Nick Park.
Park's short, Creature Comforts, was the first Aardman production to win an Oscar. Park also developed the clay modelled shorts featuring the adventures of Wallace & Gromit, a comical pair of friends: Wallace being a naive English green-knitted-tank top-wearing inventor, and Gromit his best friend, the intelligent but silent dog. These films include A Grand Day Out (1989), The Wrong Trousers (1993) and A Close Shave (1995), the latter two winning Academy Awards.
Park's short, Creature Comforts, was the first Aardman production to win an Oscar. Park also developed the clay modelled shorts featuring the adventures of Wallace & Gromit, a comical pair of friends: Wallace being a naive English green-knitted-tank top-wearing inventor, and Gromit his best friend, the intelligent but silent dog. These films include A Grand Day Out (1989), The Wrong Trousers (1993) and A Close Shave (1995), the latter two winning Academy Awards.
1997-2006
In December 1997, Aardman and DreamWorks (later DreamWorks Animation) announced that their companies were teaming up to co-finance and distribute Chicken Run, Aardman's first feature film, which had already been in pre-production for a year.
In 2005, after ten years of absence, Wallace and Gromit returned in Academy awarded Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Next year followed Flushed Away, Aardman's first computer-animated feature.
The studio had another film in development, Crood Awakening, which had been announced in 2005, their contract with DreamWorks ended and the rights to the film went back to DreamWorks.( the film was made using computer-animation and now under the title "The Croods" and was released in early 2013.
"Flushed Away" (pictured below)
In 2005, after ten years of absence, Wallace and Gromit returned in Academy awarded Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Next year followed Flushed Away, Aardman's first computer-animated feature.
The studio had another film in development, Crood Awakening, which had been announced in 2005, their contract with DreamWorks ended and the rights to the film went back to DreamWorks.( the film was made using computer-animation and now under the title "The Croods" and was released in early 2013.
"Flushed Away" (pictured below)
the curse of the were-rabbit. (clip)
flushed away. (clip)
2007+
In April 2007 Aardman signed and in 2010 renewed a three-year deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment to finance, co-produce and distribute feature films.
In 2008 Aardman (without Sony) released a new Wallace and Gromit film, called A Matter of Loaf and Death. (this appeared Christmas day on BBC 1)
In 2008 Aardman (without Sony) released a new Wallace and Gromit film, called A Matter of Loaf and Death. (this appeared Christmas day on BBC 1)