Aardman and Wild in Art announce creative partnership

Animation studio Aardman has entered into a creative partnership with Wild in Art that will produce public art trails featuring sculptures of well-loved characters Morph and Shaun the Sheep in towns and cities across Britain, from January 2022.

The characters will provide a 3D canvas, and creative inspiration, for a wealth of art and design from a carefully curated mix of well-known and emerging artists. The new trails will further Wild in Art’s mission to bring art out of the gallery and create shared experiences, whilst the learning programmes and activations develop the next generation of artists.

The first-ever sculpture trail to feature Morph launched on 29 January this year when ‘Morph’s Epic Art Adventure’ arrived in North Tyneside. This first event, hosted by North Tyneside Council, will see Morph of the North with twenty 1.8m-tall Morph sculptures decorated by commissioned artists from across the country with a wide range of themes, including floral, character designs and plays on the word ‘Morph’.

This is the second Wild in Art trail to take place in and around North Tyneside Town Centre, following the hugely successful delivery of The Snowman and The Snowdog in Winter 2020. The aim is to drive footfall into town centres, supporting the local economy, whilst also encouraging families to get outdoors and active, and nurture an interest in art and creativity in the community.

The opportunity to host a ‘Morph’s Epic Art Adventure’ trail is open to towns and cities across the UK. Shaun the Sheep will be the second collaboration as part of this new partnership, and news and opportunities for this concept will be announced soon.

Charlie Langhorne, Managing Director and Co-founder of Wild in Art said: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Aardman and to bring these internationally renowned characters to art trails across the UK.

“Morph and Shaun the Sheep will bring colour and creativity to host locations. Each sculpture will be a conversation starter, with a different story to tell, allowing residents and visitors to explore their town or city from a different perspective. It’s a Covid-friendly way for people to socialise, support local artists and our charity partners/a local charity and enjoy some exercise in the fresh air.

“We’ve got some exciting plans in development and we look forward to revealing more host locations in the coming months.”

Rob Goodchild , Commercial Director at Aardman, added: “We are very happy to be working with the great team at Wild in Art to bring more art trails featuring our characters to the streets of the UK, including the inaugural Morph art trail – a character that’s encouraged creativity in generations of kids since the seventies. We look forward to finding fun and creative angles to connect our characters with each location and inspire people – young and old – to get creative.”

 

 

Flair and Aardman sculpt new deal for Plasticine

Flair GP and Aardman have signed a two-year deal to introduce new licensed lines to Flair’s Plasticine collection. The partnership will introduce two of Aardman’s much-loved animated characters to Flair’s popular heritage collection: Shaun the Sheep and Morph.

Available from July 2022, these licensed sets aim to offer children hours of creative play, allowing them to recreate their favourite on-screen characters.

The first addition to the range will be the Plasticine Shaun the Sheep Farmyard Fun set, which lets kids create their own Shaun the Sheep characters from Plasticine, complete with the illusion of a woolly texture. Once modelled, the characters can be displayed in the fun 3D farmyard scene.

The second line is the Plasticine Morph Animation Maker, which will allow children to create their own Morph – the iconic clay character who made his TV debut on the children’s BBC art show Take Hart in the 1970s and is back in a new Sky Kids series: The Epic Adventures of Morph. Kids can use the props and accessories to create Morph and then place him on the famous desktop scene to bring to life their favourite stop-motion sketches from the hit TV show.

Speaking of the collaboration, Iulia Toader, Marketing Manager, Flair GP, says: “We are so excited to announce this incredible partnership with Aardman. Aardman traditionally use modelling clay for their animations, and the most famous modelling material on the market is Plasticine – so there couldn’t be a better synergy between the brands. We know these lines are going to be a real hit with children and their families.

“The lines will launch during the summer holidays, and with it will come a marketing drive to raise further awareness among children and their parents, to ensure their success at retail.”

Adam Vincent-Garland, Business Development Manager at Aardman, adds: “We’re delighted to be working with Flair GP on these new Plasticine lines. Modelling is integral to the history of Aardman and our best-loved animations, so it really is a fitting partnership – and one that we hope will inspire the next generation of 3D modellers and animators.”

 

Shaun the Sheep gets merry in Merino in new partnership with The Woolmark Company

To mark the launch of Shaun the Sheep’s latest film Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas, multi-award-winning animation studio Aardman has created a unique short film with The Woolmark Company, celebrating planet-friendly fibres this festive season.

The short film, which can be watched here, sees Shaun and the flock busily knitting Christmas jumpers from 100% pure wool to gift during the holidays.

“Christmas has come early for us as we deliver another wonderful partnership with The Woolmark Company,” says Aardman Marketing Director Lucy Wendover. “We’re delighted to celebrate the gift of giving natural wool jumpers and Shaun the Sheep is the perfect fit. The respect of nature and sustainability are key themes for Shaun the Sheep and increasingly important to the whole studio, so it’s great to have this at the heart of the campaign.”

“We’re thrilled to partner once again with Aardman on another Shaun the Sheep film,” adds John Roberts, CEO of Australian Wool Innovation (parent company of The Woolmark Company).

“One of Woolmark’s key pillars is to champion conscious consumption and drive more sustainable purchasing pathways. There’s never been a better time than the festive season to champion this message and encourage people to think about what they gift to friends and family.

“Shaun and his flock choose to gift wool jumpers, knowing this natural fibre is not only long-lasting but its emotional value is strong as it is handed down to from one owner to the next.”

UK department store Fenwick has joined Shaun and friends to celebrate the eco-credentials of wool, creating an edit of seasonal woolly essentials available in store and online. Shop the range here.

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Signature Publishing launches first Aardman arts and crafts magazine, Colour It! Aardman: Get Crafty

The entirety of the Aardman cast of characters are being brought together for the very first time, through the launch of a children’s magazine titled, Colour It! Aardman: Get Crafty.

The result of a new partnership between the Bristol-headquartered studio and Signature Publishing, Colour It! Aardman: Get Crafty will celebrate the much loved Aardman characters, including the likes of Shaun the Sheep, Wallace & Gromit, Morph and Timmy Time, as well as the creativity that goes into drawing and modelling them.

The magazine will feature activities like colouring, crafting and baking, while covering topics like How to Draw Wallace & Gromit, and how to create a Shaun figurine from the supplied modelling clay.

“We are thrilled to work on this very special collaboration with such an esteemed studio as Aardman, bringing their iconic characters to life through creative play and colouring in their very own unique children’s magazine,” said Rachel Craven, commercial and advertising manager at Signature Publishing.

Ian Downes of Start Licensing, said: “We are delighted to be working with Signature Publishing on this Aardman magazine.  They were quick to recognise how well Aardman and their characters were suited to an arts and crafts magazine. They have used the characters really well and this is a great example of how a focussed licensing partnership should work.”

Colour It! Aardman: Get Crafty launched on August 4th and is billed as the ‘ideal magazine to entertain and inspire children during the summer holidays.’ Each issue comes with a bumper colouring set including modelling clay to craft Shaun with, pens, colouring pencils and stickers.

Aardman lines up raft of new partners including online cheese retailer Pong Cheese

The multi-award winning independent animation studio, Aardman, has secured a raft of new licensing deals for Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep, spanning a range of core categories, including an officially licensed cheese box.

The studio has lifted the lid on a new partnership with the online cheese retailer, Pong Cheese that will see the launch of a Wallace & Gromit themed cheese box, a variety box containing a selection of the pair’s favourite cheeses. It’s joined by a partnership with the online pet fashion store, Urban Pup for a raft of on trend dog items.

Meanwhile, Shaun the Sheep and the Scout Store have come together to celebrate a mutual love of adventure, creating an exciting range of apparel and accessories to be sold via the Scout Shop network. The collection will be available to purchase this summer.

Also in development is an Aardman arts and craft magazine from specialist children’s publisher Signature Publishing. The new deal will mark the first time that all of the Aardman characters will be brought together to celebrate the creativity that goes into each of Aardman’s popular film titles. The magazine will include pens, modelling clay, crafting activities and colouring pages, and launches in August, in time for the summer holidays.

Aardman continues to work with licensees on design guides and assets targeted at specific market sectors, and this clutch of new deals underpins the effectiveness of this strategy.

Ian Downes from Start Licensing said: “Taking a bespoke and focussed approach to new business development has been rewarding in our work with Aardman. We have prioritised developing new deals with licensees that can benefit from using Aardman’s characters in a way that maximises their effectiveness in the market.

“Wallace & Gromit are closely linked with cheese and the product is an integral part of the characters’ storylines. With this in mind, working with a specialist like Pong Cheese makes perfect sense.”

Spotting Wallace & Gromit’s renowned love of artisan cheese, Pong Cheese has seized the opportunity to align the duo with its own proposition of celebrating hand-made cheese and supporting artisan cheesemakers.

“This allowed Pong Cheese to amplify its marketing message whilst delivering a great new product to its consumers,” contiued Downes. “Meanwhile, Gromit is a natural fit for dog wear and accessories, as one of the UK’s most recognisable dogs.”

Elsewhere, Signature Publishing’s Aardman themed arts and craft magazine has been billed as “a natural development” for the brand, drawing on Aardman’s “tremendous archive of arts and craft material” as well as its “proven pedigree in the category.”

“Working with the Scout Store and developing a co-branded range with Shaun the Sheep makes creative sense. The two are a good match thematically,” concluded Downes.

Shaun the Sheep joins Atari’s RollerCoaster Tycoon Touch in new Aardman partnership

The cast of Shaun the Sheep are entering the world of theme park management thanks to a new partnership between the UK’s award-winning animation studio, Aardman, and the hit games developer, Atari.

Under the new partnership, characters from the popular stop-animated series, Shaun the Sheep will now enter the universe of RollerCoaster Tycoon Touch for mobile devices through a season update that will deliver branded rides, character statues, and various Shaun the Sheep-themed attractions to the game.

“Much like RollerCoaster Tycoon, Aardman is a well-loved brand with years of global prestige; it’s a brand that fans can count on to bring fun and endlessly charming characters to whatever they work on,” said Tony Chien, VP marketing of Atari.

“This partnership allows us to bring a fresh yet well-known face to RollerCoaster Tycoon Touch. We are thrilled to share all of the creatively themed content that the world of Shaun the Sheep offers to our fans.”

Adam Vincent-Garland, category manager, interactive and toys, at Aardman, added: “RollerCoaster Tycoon is one of one the world’s most recognized and established amusement park building game franchises.

Shaun the Sheep attractions have been entertaining families across the globe for years, so it only made sense to bring Shaun to the beloved mobile game. Players will be flocking to customize their parks with new and hilarious rides and attractions featuring everyone’s favorite fuzzy friend.”

 

15 new themed rides and attractions inspired by the world of Shaun the Sheep will now become a part of the game, allowing park visitors to get a high-level view of frantic farm madness by riding the Tower of Sheep and Lu-La’s Helter Skelter, stop in for a slice of ‘za at the Shaun the Sheep Pizzeria (or brave the pizza-themed Baa-gherita ride), and strap into the Shaun the Sheep Farmhouse Coaste.

Players can also collect statues of fan-favorite characters including the Farmer, Bitzer, Timmy, and of course, Shaun himself.Shaun the Sheep rides and attractions are available via the in-game store or unlocked by completing in-game challenges. 

Based on RollerCoaster Tycoon, one of the best-selling franchises in PC gaming history, RollerCoaster Tycoon Touch is a free-to-play, innovative 3D simulation game where players can create, build, manage, and share their own imaginative park creations.

RollerCoaster Tycoon Touch features a touch-control coaster creator that encourages players to easily design coasters – giving them the freedom to express their creativity. Released in early 2017 on mobile devices, RollerCoaster Tycoon Touch has been downloaded over 30 million times and soared to the top of the charts after being featured numerous times on the App Store and Google Play.

Aardman teams with Circa Contemporary Circus to bring Shaun the Sheep’s Circus Show to Queensland

The multi-award winning UK animation studio, Aardman, has joined forces with the performance company Circa Contemporary Circus to produce a new circus-theatre production called Shaun the Sheep’s Circus Show.

The world premiere season of the new show will be held in Queensland, Australia’s QPAC’s Lyric Theatre, scheduled in for March 2021. It marks a major win for the arts community that has struggled through a lengthy shutdown at the hands of the coronavirus pandemic.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, said: “Thanks to the way Queenslanders have managed the coronavirus pandemic, we’re now able to return  to the theatre. Today’s announcement is a great win for Queensland, not only for our arts community but also for our economy as we continue to rebuild from the pandemic. 

“Shaun the Sheep is a global phenomenon. It’s great to see Circa – one of the state’s most successful performance companies -premiere this show here in Queensland. The arts industry employs thousands of people throughout the state. World class productions like this will help this sector to recover from the impact of COVID-19.” 

Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said Shaun the  Sheep will be able to play to full houses and engage the young and the young at heart. 

Shaun the Sheep is a family favourite throughout the  world and to have this production here is a fantastic win for Queensland,” Enoch said. 

“The arts, cultural and creative sector plays a crucial role  in our COVID-19 recovery, bringing our communities back together and supporting jobs for artists and arts  workers. That’s why the Palaszczuk Government is implementing  nearly $60 million worth of measures to support the sector through the impacts of COVID-19 including the $22.5 million Arts and Cultural Recovery Package. 

“The Palaszczuk Government will continue to invest  in arts and cultural projects to support Queensland’s social and economic recovery.”  

Shaun the Sheep’s Circus Show is being supported by the Queensland Government through a unique three-way partnership, comprising investment from  Screen Queensland, Arts Queensland funding via the Queensland Arts Showcase Program and QPAC as the Presenting Partner. 

Aardman and Shaun the Sheep partner with The Sleep Charity for Better Sleep Week plush

Aardman Animations and Shaun the Sheep have partnered with the Sleep Charity to launch a new plush toy as part of the organisation’s annual awareness campaign, Better Sleep Week.

As the charity’s ambassador, the Shaun the Sheep plush toy features a pillow with the campaign slogan ‘Sheep Dreams’ and will retail at £25, with 15 per cent of the proceeds going to The Sleep Charity.  The new plush can be purchased exclusively online at www.sheepdreamswithshaun.com from Friday 23rd October. 

“Shaun the Sheep has been our sheepy sleep ambassador for two years now, championing the work that we do and working with us to develop resources like colouring sheets to help families enjoy the benefits of a good night’s sleep,” said Vicki Dawson, CEO of The Sleep Charity.

“We are delighted that they’ve specifically produced this super soft cuddly plush toy in support of the charity and to coincide with our Better Sleep Week. The donation from the sale of these cuddly Shaun the Sheep toys will ensure that we can continue to provide the services we offer to help the nation to sleep better. 

“Children thrive on routine and they can also meet their full potential more easily when they have had a good night’s sleep.  And part of getting a good night’s sleep is the bedtime routine checklist which includes turning off screens an hour before bed and doing calm, relaxing activities, having a warm bath, brushing teeth, dimming the lights, snuggling up with a story and a cuddly toy and then saying goodnight.”

Aaron Simpson, CEO, of Kindred.co, added: “We are honoured to help and support The Sleep Charity raise urgently needed funds at this time. Every penny counts and we hope that everyone can join in and buy a little something for Christmas stockings and presents to help out The Sleep Charity.”

Along with the plush toy there are also a range of other Shaun the Sheep products to purchase.

Rachael Peacock, senior brand manager at Aardman said: “We are proud of our partnership with The Sleep Charity and are delighted that the exclusive Shaun the Sheep plush toy is now available for fans to buy. We developed the Sheep Dreams initiative to encourage  an understanding of the importance of a good night’s sleep.

“Shaun is known for his fun adventures, but sleep has always been a prevalent theme in the series. It’s great to be able to use our brand as a force for good.” 

Aware that many children and their families do not enjoy the benefits of a good night’s sleep, Aardman was keen to ensure this initiative would help and asked Louis Kennedy’s director of partnerships and licensing, Tracey Richardson to identify a charity partner.  

Tracey Richardson said: “The Sheep Dreams concept and style guide from Aardman is a complete delight. I was thrilled to be asked to find a charity partner aligned to the theme. The Sleep Charity is the perfect fit being the only national charity helping children and their families benefit from a good night’s sleep. This exclusive Shaun is a fantastic way to bring this special partnership to life.” 

Aardman teams with Yeo Valley Organic to bring Timmy Time to the Little Yeos kids’ range

The multi award-winning independent animation studio, Aardman, has teamed up with the British organic brand, Yeo Valley Organic to bring its recently re-launched pre-school favourite, Timmy Time to the company’s kids’ range Little Yeos.

The partnership marks the fourth time that Aardman has teamed with the Little Yeos brand. The new promotion will feature Timmy – the smallest lamb in the Shaun the Sheep flock and the star of his own spin off series, Timmy Time, which returned to CBeebies in the UK last year.

The partnership on Little Yeos Fruity Favourites four-pack will support children’s education in learning more about the environment, healthy lifestyle and taking care of the planet supporting Yeo Valley Organic’s latest campaign to encourage its consumers to Put Nature First.

The campaign, which is set to run for two-years, will allow Yeo Valley to feature Timmy Time on its channels sharing content about the environment and healthy lifestyles.

Tor Crockatt, Little Yeos brand manager, said: “We’re thrilled to be working with Aardman again and continuing our partnership on the Little Yeos range. Little Yeos is perfect for pre-school children and just like Timmy, our core consumers are also heading off to nursery school.

“Timmy’s cozy little Nursery in an old farm building nestled in the rolling hills, is like the real Yeo Valley family dairy farm in Somerset. As organic dairy farmers we’re keen to help show children the importance of the environment and ways they can help to Put Nature First.

“Just as Timmy and his animal friends learn together, we’ll be bringing a little bit of that to our Little Yeos consumers too.”

Laura Burr, senior brand manager from Aardman, added: “We are so pleased to be partnering with Yeo Valley Organic again. Timmy loves learning about the world and we are delighted that this collaboration goes beyond a straightforward on-pack promotion, providing Timmy and his friends with a platform to help Yeo Valley Organic inspire young children to Put Nature First.”

Little Yeos Fruity Favourites are billed as 100 per cent organic, made with real fruit purees and no artificial flavours and available in most supermarkets. The Timmy Time partnership is now appearing on packs in store.

Aardman teams with British designer Julie Dodsworth to create unique new Shaun the Sheep designs

The British Artisan designer, Julie Dodsworth has partnered with Aardman to create a set of hand painted designs, taking inspiration from the colours of the British countryside and the popular Shaun the Sheep brand.

The new Shaun the Sheep x Julie Dodsworth collaboration not only renders the series’ hero Shaun in a unique new way, but delivers on Aardman’s ongoing ethos of ‘we do more’ buy extending the brand into new areas in new ways.

Painted in Julie Dodsworth’s signature style, the new patterns have been developed to suit a range of categories, from homewares, fabrics, and toiletries, to stationery and garden equipment.

Danny Heffer, creative lead, sales and marketing at Aardman, said: “We are really pleased to be working with British talent like Julie Dodsworth on this new design collection. Julie is known for her floral hand painted style, which translates nicely into Shaun’s rural world.

“It’s been refreshing getting a new perspective on Shaun the Sheep and it we think it will be popular with fans not only in the UK, but in a number of territories around the world. We are currently looking for a range of licensing partners to take along with us on this design journey and help to bring Julie’s interpretation of Mossy Bottom Farm to the retail market.”

Julie Dodsworth added: “I’m thrilled to have been invited to work with Shaun the Sheep and all the team at Mossy Bottom. From the viewpoint of being a genuine fan it has been fantastic to create designs that reflect Shaun’s humour and colourful character. My thanks to all the team at Aardman.”