Founded in 1972 by Peter Lord and David Sproxton, Aardman Animations has become renowned for its clay-based stop-motion animation, blending visual artistry with a distinctive wit. Over the course of more than 50 years of production, Aardman has left an indelible mark on the world of animation, standing as a leading example of practical, handcrafted visual art in an age dominated by digital filmmaking. Aardman’s influence is far-reaching and their craft extends beyond technical innovation, showcasing animation as a powerful art form in its own right.
What distinguishes Aardman is its masterful blend of wit and heart and their films often mix slapstick comedy with clever dialogue, creating multi-layered stories that have resonated with audiences of all ages. Beyond the humor, many Aardman films address deeper themes such as friendship, resilience, and the importance of creativity as their characters frequently overcome obstacles in order to create a greater sense of community. In celebration of the upcoming release of “A Vengeance Most Fowl” (2024), their latest “Wallace & Gromit” adventure, this list will explore Aardman’s nine feature films, highlighting their lasting influence and cultural impact.
9. Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (2023)
Aardman’s latest film, “Dawn of the Nugget,” marks a return to the world of their first feature film, offering what seemed a fitting tribute to the studio as it celebrated 50 years of animation excellence. In this sequel, we find Ginger and Rocky (now voiced by Thandie Newton and Zachary Levi) living on an isolated, self-sustained island, where they have created a sanctuary for chickens away from the human world that caused them so much hardship in the first film.
Now parents to a young daughter, they are determined to shield her from the dangers of the outside world. However, their daughter’s growing curiosity leads her to rebel against the strict boundaries her parents have set, yearning for a taste of the world beyond.
When she’s kidnapped, Ginger and Rocky must venture back into the very world they escaped to rescue her from a high-tech poultry farm. While the premise offers an intriguing continuation of the original, “Dawn of the Nugget” ultimately falls short of capturing the wit that defined its predecessor. The humor feels more juvenile and predictable, here, with fewer moments of the sharp, layered comedy that make Aardman films so beloved.
The return of a familiar character also feels like a wasted opportunity to bring something fresh and exciting to the franchise and, though the film is more vibrant in color than usual, its visual appeal fails to fully redeem a story that ultimately feels both lackluster and unnecessary.
8. Flushed Away (2006)
“Flushed Away” marked Aardman’s first full foray into CGI animation, and while it remains a solid and enjoyable film, it doesn’t quite reach the heights of their claymation classics and ultimately sacrifices the warmth of the clay’s craftsmanship. Set in a vibrant, chaotic underground world of rats, it lacks the same grounded charm and unique visual flair that defines Aardman’s stop-motion work.
The film’s cityscape, too, while imaginative, never quite captures the same intimate, tactile quality that has become synonymous with Aardman’s style. The film does have its moments, with some delightful characters, particularly the villainous toad, and the animation is fluid and energetic. However, “Flushed Away” doesn’t feel as enduring as Aardman’s other films, and its departure from the tactile charm of claymation makes it feel somewhat less distinct. Overall, a largely forgotten Aardman film.
7. A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmaggedon (2019)
Aardman has long been skilled at blending genre conventions, often paying homage to classic films in inventive and playful ways. This is especially evident in their 2019 “Shaun the Sheep” sequel, “Farmaggedon,” which sees Shaun and his friends embark on an adventure to return a lost alien who is being hunted by the Ministry for Alien Detection (M.A.D.). While taking inspiration from the science fiction canon, with its whimsical nods to films like “E.T.” (1982) or “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” (1977), “Farmageddon” remains true to the series’ roots by playing out much of the narrative without dialogue.
Relying on visual gags, slapstick humor, and physical comedy sets this series apart from Aardman’s others and the choice to blend sci-fi with the series’ well-established style was a bold move, one that showcases how the “Shaun the Sheep” franchise still has space to grow and evolve in exciting new directions. Overall, a great addition to the franchise and one I hope gets a full and proper trilogy.
6. Arthur Christmas (2011)
The second fully computer-animated feature from Aardman, following “Flushed Away,” “Arthur Christmas” is a more successful and effective effort. A holiday-themed film whose premise centers on how Santa’s high-tech operation delivers presents around the world. With its lovable characters and festive cheer, “Arthur Christmas” proves that Aardman can tackle even the most mainstream genres while still maintaining its unique creative voice.
Though perhaps a bit too fantastical to fully align with the grounded humor seen in many of Aardman’s other films, “Arthur Christmas” remains a welcome addition to the studio’s legacy. The film stands out as a festive gem that holds its own against other holiday films and is worthy of a place on any festive movie calendar.
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5. Early Man (2018)
Aardman has long excelled at blending the mundane aspects of British culture with the extraordinary, and this is especially evident in “Early Man,” Nick Park’s first directorial effort since “Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit” in 2005.
The film follows a group of quirky cavemen who live in a Stone Age haven, struggle to catch rabbits, and are descendants of those who unwittingly invented football. When they are driven out of their home by Lord Nooth, a cunning Bronze Age governor (brilliantly voiced by an unrecognizable Tom Hiddleston), the group’s leader, Dug (Eddie Redmayne), challenges Nooth’s elite football team to a match in order to regain their home.
“Early Man” is a delightful blend of humor, witty one-liners, and an emotional core. While its Escape to Victory-esque premise (a 1981 film that featured Bobby Moore and Pele) may feel a bit sillier and less rounded than Aardman’s usual fare, the film introduces us to a fresh set of endearing characters and a new, inventive world. With its signature charm and distinctive visual style, “Early Man” proves to be an enjoyable and welcome addition to Aardman’s impressive filmography.
4. The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! (2012)
“The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists” stands as one of the most surprising films to come out of the Aardman studio. Based on the “Pirates!” book series by Gideon Defoe, it is the studio’s only feature to be directly adapted from existing material, yet it remains one of their most consistently funny, inventive, and energetic works.
With its band of quirky amateur pirates, their parrot companion (who happens to be the last living Dodo), and a brilliant use of Charles Darwin, “The Pirates!” offers a high hit rate of gags, from slapstick humor to sharp, witty dialogue, and its comedic timing is arguably one of the best among Aardman’s portfolio. The eccentric and well-developed characters – from the clueless Pirate Captain to his misunderstood ragtag crew – deliver a unique charm that sets the film apart. The humor manages to balance absurdity with heart, making it both hilarious and surprisingly endearing.
3. Shaun the Sheep Movie (2015)
Creating a spin-off from “Wallace & Gromit” seemed like a brave and risky move. Adapting a children’s TV show seemed even more daring. Aardman has consistently proven their skill in crafting work that transcends age groups, yet “Shaun the Sheep” compounded their aptitude at offering accessibility to audiences of all generations. The film plays almost like a silent movie, paying homage to the works of Charlie Chaplin or Laurel & Hardy, and is set against the backdrop of a shabby British farm.
Through its charming use of visual gags and physical humor, “Shaun the Sheep” redefines slapstick comedy in a way that feels fresh yet timeless. The film’s diverse ensemble cast of characters, a trope that Aardman has come to perfectly appropriate, brings a variety of lovable personalities, each with their own unique quirks that help add to the humor.
The gags are hilarious and the film’s expansion from the TV show’s farm setting to incorporate the surrounding local town was an inspired move and helped create a more rounded feature. This is one of Aardman’s best which helped launch a much-loved series of feature films and shorts.
2. Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
In 2005, Aardman released their second feature film, opting to return to their most iconic characters. “Wallace & Gromit” laid the groundwork for what would come to define Aardman’s style: simple, grounded British characters, witty humor, whimsical nods to the cinema canon, characters finding themselves in ridiculous, often outlandish circumstances, and a dynamic characterized by camaraderie.
The role reversal, with Gromit being the wiser and thoughtful of the pair, has always been a stroke of genius, and their slapstick comedy, paired with elaborate set pieces, has consistently elevated the “Wallace & Gromit” series.
In “The Curse of the Were-Rabbit,” Wallace and Gromit run a humane pest control business, trying to prevent rabbits from destroying a local vegetable competition. When Wallace accidentally creates a giant, rampaging were-rabbit, the pair must find a way to stop it before it ruins the entire village’s harvest and their reputations. The stakes are higher and the scope greater, here, and Aardman’s shift into horror marks another amazing upending of genre convention.
Perhaps unfairly at No. 2 on this list, I feel the antics that Wallace and Gromit get themselves into were better realized in the earlier short films, which remain some of the best-animated works ever made. Those films set an incredibly high standard, and while “Were-Rabbit” is fantastic, it doesn’t quite replicate the magic of the short-form films. Nonetheless, it is a brilliant film, and the upcoming “Wallace & Gromit” feature will undoubtedly continue its legacy.
1. Chicken Run (2000)
Aardman’s first feature film remains arguably its best. Alongside “Wallace & Gromit,” “Chicken Run” has helped lay a lot of the groundwork that would come to define the company’s output. Its mundane rural setting predates the farm of “Shaun the Sheep,” and its use of animals as a means of undercutting its thematic edge foreshadows the slapstick genius of that series.
Its war-like aesthetic and escape narrative anticipate “Early Man” while its homage to films like “The Great Escape” (1963) and “The Dirty Dozen” (1967) is both clever and poignant. The ragtag group of unlikely friends thrown into absurd circumstances also laid the foundation for films like “The Pirates!,” where the camaraderie of its characters is central to the humor.
Set on a bleak farm where chickens are confined behind barbed wire and ruled by a totalitarian regime, the film’s aesthetic is a daring choice for a family movie. Yet, “Chicken Run” balances its dark tone with hopefulness, as the warlike setting is undercut by humor and the deep endearment of its characters.
When Rocky tumbles into the chicken pen, he unwittingly sparks a series of comical and heartwarming escape attempts that reveal the group’s imperfections and vulnerabilities, while showcasing their charm and relatability—even as a flock of chickens. As with all Aardman films, the humor is sharp – the rat characters, in particular, add a layer of wit that has become a staple of the studio’s work. Despite its dark imagery, the craftsmanship is exceptional, and “Chicken Run” not only set the stage but also raised the bar for Aardman’s future output.
