Aardman 50th anniversary auction raises thousands for animation talent
Aardman Animations is auctioning more than 200 pieces of memorabilia to mark its 50th anniversary, with proceeds going to animation development and bursaries.
The Full Story
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Aardman Animations has put more than 200 pieces of memorabilia up for auction to mark its 50th anniversary, with the sale already raising thousands of pounds.
The studio behind Wallace and Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and Morph is selling puppets and other items from its history. The lots range from early children's TV character Morph, who first aired in 1977, to characters from modern films. Fans of Wallace and Gromit, and of Feathers McGraw, have a chance to own a piece of the studio's past.
Shaun the Sheep is one of Aardman's biggest exports and is shown in about 180 countries. The series has no dialogue, so it does not need to be dubbed. It speaks to generations and is often described as quintessentially British.
The auction highlights the craft behind Aardman's output. Its animators use stop-motion, moving characters by hand to capture each frame. The process can take a whole day to produce just two or three seconds of film. At a workshop in North London, children tried the technique for themselves, using clay and other materials to build simple animated figures.
Proceeds from the sale will be invested into animation, development and bursaries. The aim is to help mould the next generation of animation talent. The auction had already raised thousands of pounds within hours of opening.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | ITV |
|---|---|
| Aardman Animations is auctioning more than 200 pieces of memorabilia to mark its 50th anniversary, with thousands already raised. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
ITV1 treated the auction as a warm final item on its evening bulletin, focusing on nostalgia, craft and the British appeal of Aardman's characters. It gave space to Wallace and Gromit, Morph, Shaun the Sheep and Feathers McGraw, and it underlined how the money raised will support future animators. The report also used a children's stop-motion workshop to show how the studio's techniques are passed on.
- “Aardman Animations, the production company behind the stop-motion hits, is tonight selling off memorabilia to celebrate its 50th anniversary.”
- “The auction has already raised thousands in the past few hours.”
- “The proceeds will be invested into animation, development and bursaries to help mould the next generation of talent.”
Broadcast Timeline
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