Wallace and Gromit studio Aardman Animations has reassured its fans, and the film industry at large, that production of its popular films will not be grinding to a halt any time soon, saying “there is absolutely no need to worry”.
After reports that the manufacturers of Aardman’s favoured modelling clay had gone out of business, meaning the animators had enough supplies for only one more film, Aardman issued a statement on social media saying: “We are touched about recent concern over the future of our beloved clay creations, but wanted to reassure fans that there is absolutely no need to worry.”
The statement added: “We have high levels of existing stocks of modelling clay to service current and future productions and, much like Wallace in his workshop, we have been tinkering away behind the scenes for quite some time with plans in place to ensure a smooth transition to new stocks to continue to make our iconic productions.”
Aardman is shortly to release Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, a sequel to its hit poultry comedy from 2000, while it is still in production on a new Wallace and Gromit feature, due for release in 2024. Between 1997 and 2007, Aardman was in a partnership with Dreamworks Animation, producing Chicken Run, Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit and Flushed Away together; however the partnership was not renewed after the box office performance of the latter film proved disappointing. In 2005 Aardman lost much of its archive material in a warehouse fire in Bristol.
