Wallace & Gromit team up with Sony Pictures
Last Updated: Monday, April 2, 2007 | 12:59 PM ET
CBC Arts
The award-winning U.K. animation studio behind the popular Claymation characters Wallace & Gromit has found a new partner in Hollywood, executives announced Monday.
Bristol-based Aardman Features has entered into a three-year deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment. The Hollywood studio has been seeking to expand its family-friendly offerings after its animation arm saw its first release — Open Season — hit theatres in 2006.
Oscar-winning Aardman animator Nick Park poses with cartoon figures of Wallace & Gromit while promoting the 2005 film Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.
(Marco Ugarte/Associated Press)
"We believe that [Aardman's] strength is their unique storytelling humour, sensibility and style," Michael Lynton, chair and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment, said in a statement.
"We plan to bring their distinctive animated voice to theatres for a long time to come."
David Spoxton, who co-founded the British studio and serves as its executive chair, added that "we create our best work when we do it from our home base here in Bristol, using first-class talent from the nation and around the world. It is Aardman's intention to expand this community to produce more world-class animation films."
Aardman executives also announced a series of goals for the company: expand its development slate, increase production and introduce "new technical capabilities at our facility in Bristol."
The British studio parted ways with DreamWorks in January, just two films into what was originally a five-film deal.
Aardman films include Flushed Away and Chicken Run, but it is perhaps best known for multiple Oscar-winning animator Nick Park's Wallace & Gromit characters, last seen in Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.
That film, the first full-length feature starring the bumbling inventor and his silent but brilliant canine sidekick, won the 2005 Oscar for best animated feature. Two previous Wallace & Gromit short films — The Wrong Trousers and A Close Shave — also picked up Oscars in 1993 and 1995, respectively.
While Aardman and Sony have not yet decided on their first joint endeavour, executives for the British studio said they are in the midst of developing four scripts, including a new Wallace & Gromit project.
Share Tools
FILM REVIEW: Men in Black 3 by Eli Glasner May. 25, 2012 11:40 AM Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are back in the action sequel Men in Black 3, a third instalment of a series now 15 years old. Though new addition Josh Brolin manages some amazing mimicry as a younger version of Jones, the story doesn't measure up to the weird and wonderful charms of the original, says film reviewer Eli Glasner.
Top News Headlines
- Everest victim's husband says family not seeking government help
- The husband of a Toronto woman who died trying to climb Mt. Everest on Saturday says his family is not seeking government help to cover the cost of bringing his wife's body home. more »
- B.C. premier unhappy with disgraced Mountie's transfer
- B.C. Premier Christy Clark says she is not happy with the RCMP decision to transfer a disgraced Alberta Mountie to the West Coast. more »
- Henrique's OT goal sends Devils into Stanley Cup final
- The New Jersey Devils will vie for a potential fourth Stanley Cup in franchise history after defeating the New York Rangers in six games in the Eastern final, courtesy of rookie Adam Henrique's goal early in overtime. more »
- Employment Insurance review boards to be scrapped
- The federal government is scrapping two review boards used by people appealing decisions made about their employment insurance. more »
Latest Arts & Entertainment News Headlines
- Modern and traditional art scores at Joyner auction
- Both traditional and modern works fared well at Joyner Waddington's spring art auction in Toronto, with buyers snapping up lots by Group of Seven members as well as more contemporary artists. more »
- Prophetic Cosmopolis premieres at Cannes
- David Cronenberg says he didn't anticipate the Occupy Wall Street movement as he prepared to shoot Cosmopolis, his new film which made its world premiere Friday at the Cannes Film Festival in southern France. more »
- Jennifer Egan's newest story debuts on Twitter
- The latest short story from Pulitzer-winning writer Jennifer Egan is emerging 140 characters at a time via Twitter. more »
- Miller Brittain sketches restored by museum
- Canadian artist and social satirist Miller Brittain's larger than life chalk drawings may once again hang in Saint John. more »
Q Blog
Toni Morrison on her two selves May. 25, 2012 5:57 PM Jian speaks with the celebrated African American author and academic about her two conflicting selves, and her new novel, Home.
CBC Books
Talking about war May. 25, 2012 4:57 PM The public conversation around war has always been complex and thorny. How does Canada's military approach differ from that of other countries? Are we a society of peacekeepers or warriors? These are some of the questions that Noah Richler explores in his new book What We Talk About When We Talk About War.
- Aylmer triple stabbing leads to first-degree murder charges
- Everest victim's husband says family not seeking government help
- B.C. premier unhappy with disgraced Mountie's transfer
- What a Greek euro exit could mean for Canada
- Third B.C. salmon farm quarantined
- Reclaiming the dead on Mt. Everest
- Canada ending 'Buffalo shuffle' for visas, closing consulate
- Employment Insurance review boards to be scrapped
- Brave cat makes epic leap of faith
