Celebrating 50 years of Aardman, this autumn there are two fantastic, and very different, experiences to enjoy in London. Firstly there’s Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends exhibition at the Young V&A, then there’s Larger Than Life: Starring Wallace & Gromit, Shaun and More at the Lightroom – two brilliant family-friendly events which will appeal to fans of all ages.
Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends
Inside Aardman, on show at the Young V&A, explores the creation of their characters and stories, from initial sketches to storyboards, models, puppets, props, sets and lighting. There’s also the opportunity for visitors to have a go at stop-motion animation.
“Coinciding with the studio’s 50th anniversary year, Inside Aardman explores the storytelling and craft that brings their familiar and fantastical worlds from the sketchbook to the screen. Moving through themed sections on concept development, model-making, filming and post-production, visitors will uncover the skills, tools and techniques behind the studio’s distinctive storytelling. Over 150 objects will be on show, including Aardman’s early character sketches, concept art, puppets, character ‘bibles’, props, set models, and optical illusion toys. Inside Aardman gives young visitors the opportunity to try their hand at different parts of stop-motion animation, guiding them on how to make their own at home using everyday materials and inspiration. Whether their characters are sailing on the high seas, adventuring to the moon, or escaping the chicken coop, Aardman have always drawn from the world around them when building new ones. While journeying through the exhibition, visitors can explore storyboarding, design characters, light sets, create Live Action Videos, touch samples of different puppet materials, and watch a selection of animations made by children.” Young V&A
Chief Curator of the Young V&A explains: “Aardman quite literally began on the kitchen table, when two young school friends started experimenting with animations at home. Even though Aardman is now one of the most successful animation studios in the world, its films still have the same handcrafted feel. It is this ‘thumbiness’, as they refer to it, that makes the films so charming and well loved. This is also what makes the story so great for children. While Aardman’s films are now made by large and highly skilled teams it’s also possible for anyone to have a go at making their own stop motion films at home with minimal equipment and experience.”
The exhibition will run until 15 November and tickets can be bought here.
Larger Than Life: Starring Wallace & Gromit, Shaun and More
From 14 October to 4 January, the Lightroom will stage a spectacular show of Aardman projections on its 4, 11 metre tall walls and floor. Lasting 50 minutes, it will include glimpses behind the scenes, videos from the archives, iconic segments and a fantastic new piece, created especially for the exhibition.
Peter Lord (Aardman co-founder) explains: “The magic of what we do at Aardman is not about making things move, it’s about making them live. It’s incredibly moving to see audiences experience our characters in new and innovative ways, honouring decades of storytelling while pushing the boundaries of how these tales can be told.”
Tickets can be secured here.
