wallace & Gromit Exhibition Launches in London,Celebrating Aardman‘s Legacy
LONDON – A major exhibition celebrating the work of Aardman Animations,the studio behind Wallace & Gromit,Morph,and Creature Comforts,has opened at the Science Museum in London. The display charts the studio’s history from its humble beginnings to its international acclaim, showcasing original sets, props, and artwork.
Founded in 1976 by Peter Lord and David Sproxton, Aardman rose to prominence with its distinctive stop-motion animation style. The studio’s breakthrough came in 1989 with A grand Day Out, introducing the cheese-loving inventor Wallace and his clever dog, Gromit, to a wider audience. This exhibition offers a comprehensive look at the studio’s evolution, highlighting its four Academy Awards and ventures into video games, while also acknowledging the studio’s unique employee-ownership structure established in 2018.
One of Aardman’s earliest successes was Morph,a stop-motion character featured on the children’s program Take Hart. The studio also contributed to Peter Gabriel’s iconic “Sledgehammer” music video and produced numerous commercials in the 1990s following the oscar win for Creature Comforts.
Nick Park, who directed A Grand Day out, attributed the enduring popularity of Wallace & Gromit to their distinctly British character and the subtle emotional range conveyed through their plasticine faces. “the fact they’re made from plasticine means their faces can convey emotions vrey subtly,” Park said in a 2009 interview. “Gromit says a lot just by raising one sardonic eyebrow.”
In 2018, Lord and Sproxton transferred a 75% stake in Aardman to its 140 employees via a trust, mirroring the John Lewis partnership model, to ensure the studio’s continued independence. The exhibition provides insight into this unique ownership structure and Aardman’s commitment to its creative team.
