There are various companies in the stop-motion industry that I truly admire, and the projects that are produced within these organisations are a great inspiration to me when looking toward a professional career within this sector.
Aardman, for me, are the reason I fell in love with the art form. Watching classic productions such as Wallace & Gromit is where I first noticed the beautiful, unique characters. It charmed me from an early age, intrigued and astounded in equal measure by the creativity being showcased on screen.
For some outside the industry, if you say 'Stop-Motion Animation', the response will often be 'Like Wallace & Gromit?'. That is the power of Aardman. It's uniqueness can define and represent a genre, yet it will continue to innovate and produce. Aardman have two studios in Bristol, and have been based in the city since their inception. In 2015, Aardman acquired a majority share in New York based studios 'Nathan Love' - therefore expanding their presence Stateside. Whilst it is known for it's films and TV projects, Aardman have a diverse portfolio including commercials, charity projects and many animated shorts. With may employees across a range of departments, Aardman truly are a big player in the stop-motion industry.
Aardman have been a staple of mainstream stop-motion animation since the 1980's, when the loveable Morph was introduced to us. The Eighties also gave us the first Wallace & Gromit feature, A Grand Day Out, bringing the synonymous duo onto our screens for the first time, as well as the debut of the 'Creature Comforts' series, another telling contribution that has stood the test of time and is revered in the modern day, three decades on.
As is prominent throughout this prose, Wallace & Gromit are a massive inspiration to me as a model maker, and it wouldn't be a bold claim to suggest that it is regarded as a much-loved and hugely iconic part of Great Britain's TV and Film industry over the last few decades. With five major adventures to their names, Wallace & Gromit truly are a national institution.
Despite seeming to strike upon a winning formula, Aardman haven't rested on their laurels. They have branched out into other feature films, putting their trademark design into different scenery and structures. With Chicken Run (2000), Flushed Away (2006), Arthur Christmas (2011), The Pirates! (2012) and Shaun The Sheep (2015) being some very good examples of their box office flexibility, and also allowing them to compete with other animation companies, from the world of stop-motion and even beyond.
I have been very fortunate to be lectured by Martin Adamson and Andy Shackleford over the last three years, who have both been involved in Aardman projects. Martin worked as a senior model maker on The Pirates! (2012), whilst Andy was an animator on Shaun the Sheep: The Farmer's Llamas (2015). Having these experiences close to hand has allowed me to appreciate Aardman productions even more, particularly Martin's experience as a model maker.
It would be a childhood dream to be involved in an Aardman project one day. I believe that my model making style has been greatly influenced by Aardman productions, and that the resources and materials available to a company of that magnitude would certainly allow me to expand and improve upon this existing skill set.
No comments:
Post a Comment