Key facts
- Aardman Animations, founded in 1976, is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
- Creator Nick Park revealed Gromit was initially planned as a cat.
- Shaun the Sheep was also nearly given a voice.
- The studio's successes include 'Chicken Run' and 'Wallace & Gromit' specials.
- Aardman models are being auctioned to celebrate the anniversary.
- Proceeds from the auction will fund talent development initiatives.
As Aardman Animations celebrates its 50th anniversary, co-creator Nick Park has revealed that the beloved stop-motion dog Gromit was originally conceived as a cat. Park, who joined the studio in 1985, found modeling a cat difficult and opted for a dog instead, a decision that led to the creation of one of animation's most famous duos.
Another surprising revelation from Aardman's managing director, Sean Clarke, is that Shaun the Sheep was nearly given a voice, despite the character's success as a silent comedy figure. The studio, founded in 1976 by Peter Lord and David Sproxton, has produced numerous successful projects including 'Chicken Run,' 'Early Man,' and 'Flushed Away.'
'Chicken Run' achieved the distinction of being the highest-grossing stop-motion film of all time, while 'Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl' recently became one of the BBC’s most-watched scripted shows in two decades. The studio's journey began with the character Morph, who first appeared on children's television.
To commemorate its 50th anniversary, Aardman is hosting several exhibitions and auctioning over 220 original puppets and models. Proceeds from the auction will be reinvested into talent development initiatives at the Aardman Academy, supporting emerging filmmakers and skills development programmes.