Eli Noyes, the Oscar-nominated animator who revolutionized stop-motion filmmaking with his innovative use of clay and sand, has died. He was 81.
Noyes died Saturday of complications from prostate cancer at his home in San Francisco, Toy Story producer Ralph Guggenheim told The Hollywood Reporter. The two formed Alligator Planet in 2003 to create film, print and media works.
As an undergraduate student at Harvard University, Noyes received his Oscar nomination for his 8-minute animated film Clay or the Origin of Species (1965), which established clay stop animation as a genre and would influence the work of Wallace and Gromit creators Peter Lord and David Sproxton.
For two other short films, he employed sand animation for Sandman (1973) and pixelated stop motion for Peanut Butter and Jelly (1976).
Noyes later shaped the look and spirit of children’s programming in the early days of cable TV, especially for Nickelodeon. The rebranded network’s first show,...
Noyes died Saturday of complications from prostate cancer at his home in San Francisco, Toy Story producer Ralph Guggenheim told The Hollywood Reporter. The two formed Alligator Planet in 2003 to create film, print and media works.
As an undergraduate student at Harvard University, Noyes received his Oscar nomination for his 8-minute animated film Clay or the Origin of Species (1965), which established clay stop animation as a genre and would influence the work of Wallace and Gromit creators Peter Lord and David Sproxton.
For two other short films, he employed sand animation for Sandman (1973) and pixelated stop motion for Peanut Butter and Jelly (1976).
Noyes later shaped the look and spirit of children’s programming in the early days of cable TV, especially for Nickelodeon. The rebranded network’s first show,...
- 3/26/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Aardman, the iconic UK animation studio behind Wallace & Gromit and Chicken Run, has rejigged its top team and brought in a BBC Studios executive to oversee an IP push.
Aardman has hired Emma Hardie, Commercial Director of Global Entertainment for BBC Studios, to the newly-created role of Executive Commercial and Brand Director.
Aardman said Hardie will oversee financing, distribution, licensing, marketing, and planning of the studio’s animated intellectual property. She takes up the role, which includes a seat on Aardman’s executive board, on April 15.
Hardie has worked at BBC Studios for more than seven years, during which time she played a role in the company’s investments in producers Mothership TV and Mettlemouse Entertainment. She also executive produced BBC Studios’ first Snapchat commission for Planet Earth II and Blue Planet II miniseries.
Emma Hardie
Hardie’s hire comes amid a wider executive reshuffle at Aardman. Co-founder...
Aardman has hired Emma Hardie, Commercial Director of Global Entertainment for BBC Studios, to the newly-created role of Executive Commercial and Brand Director.
Aardman said Hardie will oversee financing, distribution, licensing, marketing, and planning of the studio’s animated intellectual property. She takes up the role, which includes a seat on Aardman’s executive board, on April 15.
Hardie has worked at BBC Studios for more than seven years, during which time she played a role in the company’s investments in producers Mothership TV and Mettlemouse Entertainment. She also executive produced BBC Studios’ first Snapchat commission for Planet Earth II and Blue Planet II miniseries.
Emma Hardie
Hardie’s hire comes amid a wider executive reshuffle at Aardman. Co-founder...
- 3/1/2024
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Aardman co-founder Peter Lord has revealed details about the plot of the new Wallace And Gromit film, which will be broadcast at Christmas 2024.
There are few franchises as universally beloved as Wallace And Gromit. What began as Nick Park’s student film project grew into two of Britain’s most iconic animated characters.
So far, the titular heroes have starred in four short films – A Grand Day Out, The Wrong Trousers – which won the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film in 1994 and features arguably the best train chase sequence ever put on screen – A Close Shave and A Matter Of Loaf And Death. There’s also the 2005 feature film The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit, a series of even shorter films called Cracking Contraptions and a videogame, Wallace And Gromit: Project Zoo.
A new film has been in the works for a number of years, owing to the arduous production process of stop motion animation.
There are few franchises as universally beloved as Wallace And Gromit. What began as Nick Park’s student film project grew into two of Britain’s most iconic animated characters.
So far, the titular heroes have starred in four short films – A Grand Day Out, The Wrong Trousers – which won the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film in 1994 and features arguably the best train chase sequence ever put on screen – A Close Shave and A Matter Of Loaf And Death. There’s also the 2005 feature film The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit, a series of even shorter films called Cracking Contraptions and a videogame, Wallace And Gromit: Project Zoo.
A new film has been in the works for a number of years, owing to the arduous production process of stop motion animation.
- 2/20/2024
- by Jake Godfrey
- Film Stories
For more than 40 years, Aardman Animations has been producing classics like “Wallace & Gromit,” “Chicken Run” and “Shaun the Sheep.” Now, following in the footsteps of pioneers such as Peter Lord, David Sproxton and Nick Park, new recruits have come on board at the company’s headquarters on Spike Island in the port city of Bristol, in the West of England, replenishing its creative treasure chest.
Variety steps along the gangplank to meet some of the more recent additions to the crew: Dan Ojari and Mikey Please, the creators of Oscar-nominated “Robin Robin” (see here); kids’ comedy series “Lloyd of the Flies” creator and director Matthew Walker, and co-director and voice director Jane Davies (see here); and Lucy Izzard, the creator, writer and director of “The Very Small Creatures,” a BAFTA nominated preschool series (see below).
“The Very Small Creatures,” commissioned by U.K. pay-tv operator Sky, is a stop-motion series for one to three-year-olds.
Variety steps along the gangplank to meet some of the more recent additions to the crew: Dan Ojari and Mikey Please, the creators of Oscar-nominated “Robin Robin” (see here); kids’ comedy series “Lloyd of the Flies” creator and director Matthew Walker, and co-director and voice director Jane Davies (see here); and Lucy Izzard, the creator, writer and director of “The Very Small Creatures,” a BAFTA nominated preschool series (see below).
“The Very Small Creatures,” commissioned by U.K. pay-tv operator Sky, is a stop-motion series for one to three-year-olds.
- 1/24/2024
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Following in the footsteps of Aardman Animations legends Peter Lord, David Sproxton and Nick Park, a new wave of creators are driving the company forward. While its celebrated franchises, such as Wallace and Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and Chicken Run are still much loved, and it has four Oscars wins with nine further nominations under its belt, Aardman is also focused on nurturing new talent, such as the creators of Oscar nominated short film “Robin Robin,” and series, such as “Lloyd of the Flies” and “The Very Small Creatures.”
Speaking to Variety from Aardman’s headquarters on Spike Island, Bristol, in the West of England, two of the creative minds behind “Lloyd of the Flies,” Aardman’s first CGI series, explain how the show evolved. In other articles, Variety speaks to Dan Ojari and Mikey Please, the creators of “Robin Robin,” and Lucy Izzard, the creator of “The Very Small Creatures.
Speaking to Variety from Aardman’s headquarters on Spike Island, Bristol, in the West of England, two of the creative minds behind “Lloyd of the Flies,” Aardman’s first CGI series, explain how the show evolved. In other articles, Variety speaks to Dan Ojari and Mikey Please, the creators of “Robin Robin,” and Lucy Izzard, the creator of “The Very Small Creatures.
- 1/22/2024
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Dan Ojari and Mikey Please, the co-writers and co-directors of Aardman Animations’ musical film “Robin Robin,” which premiered on Netflix in November 2021, and was nominated for an Oscar the following year, say that a spinoff is in the cards.
“We are currently working on more stories in the world of ‘Robin, Robin,’” Please tells Variety. “I think that’s all we’re allowed to say. But that would certainly be our hopes and dreams. We feel like there are loads more stories to tell in this world, so we’d love to do more.”
“Robin Robin,” whose voice cast includes Bronte Carmichael, Adeel Akhtar, Gillian Anderson and Richard E. Grant, centers on a robin who is raised by a loving family of burglar mice. As Robin grows up, her differences become more apparent. She sets out to pull off a daring heist in a bid to prove to her family...
“We are currently working on more stories in the world of ‘Robin, Robin,’” Please tells Variety. “I think that’s all we’re allowed to say. But that would certainly be our hopes and dreams. We feel like there are loads more stories to tell in this world, so we’d love to do more.”
“Robin Robin,” whose voice cast includes Bronte Carmichael, Adeel Akhtar, Gillian Anderson and Richard E. Grant, centers on a robin who is raised by a loving family of burglar mice. As Robin grows up, her differences become more apparent. She sets out to pull off a daring heist in a bid to prove to her family...
- 1/21/2024
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
As 2023 came to a close, a pair of animated movies — Aardman and Netflix’s Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget and Illumination/Universal’s Migration — delivered stories featuring carefully designed chickens and mallards, respectively, that leaned into simplicity to be expressive.
Dawn of the Nugget is the sequel to famed British animation studio Aardman’s 2000 stop-motion hit Chicken Run, which was directed by studio co-founder Peter Lord and four-time Academy Award winner and Wallace & Gromit creator Nick Park, who designed the original flock. “He came up with this aesthetic, which is very simple. And if you look at Wallace & Gromit and then look at the chickens, they have this in common. They’re not very mobile. The chickens are kind of like bottle shapes with arms and legs,” says Lord. “Then they have this quite exaggerated mouth. Nick came up with this idea that lip sync was best served...
Dawn of the Nugget is the sequel to famed British animation studio Aardman’s 2000 stop-motion hit Chicken Run, which was directed by studio co-founder Peter Lord and four-time Academy Award winner and Wallace & Gromit creator Nick Park, who designed the original flock. “He came up with this aesthetic, which is very simple. And if you look at Wallace & Gromit and then look at the chickens, they have this in common. They’re not very mobile. The chickens are kind of like bottle shapes with arms and legs,” says Lord. “Then they have this quite exaggerated mouth. Nick came up with this idea that lip sync was best served...
- 1/8/2024
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It would be understandable, as much as easy to forgive, were one to have allowed the existence of 2000’s “Chicken Run” to slip from that mental space reserved for cinema’s finest animated offerings; indeed, despite co-director Nick Park (having shared the credit with Peter Lord) helming franchise successes “Wallace & Gromit” and spinoff “Shaun the Sheep,” “Chicken Run” has, for the past 23 years, remained a somewhat unique, solitary hit in the world of stop-motion animation, still the highest-grossing stop-motion film and a critically acclaimed classic begging for a follow-up.
Continue reading ‘Chicken Run: Dawn Of The Nugget’ Review: A Long Overdue Delight at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Chicken Run: Dawn Of The Nugget’ Review: A Long Overdue Delight at The Playlist.
- 12/13/2023
- by Brian Farvour
- The Playlist
Acclaimed filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki earned his first Golden Globe Award nomination on the strength of his semi-autobiographical fantasy film The Boy and the Heron, capping a big week for the film that this weekend opened to a record-breaking $12.8 million, becoming the first original anime title in history to top the North American box office.
The Boy and the Heron was nominated for the animated feature Golden Globe alongside Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Elemental, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Suzume and Wish. Both The Boy and the Heron and Spider-Verse received additional nominations for original motion picture score.
A year after Netflix won the animated feature Golden Globe for the first time, for Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, the streamer was shut of out this year’s race despite a slate of contenders that included Nimona, the fantasy based on the graphic novel by Nd Stevenson; Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget...
The Boy and the Heron was nominated for the animated feature Golden Globe alongside Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Elemental, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Suzume and Wish. Both The Boy and the Heron and Spider-Verse received additional nominations for original motion picture score.
A year after Netflix won the animated feature Golden Globe for the first time, for Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, the streamer was shut of out this year’s race despite a slate of contenders that included Nimona, the fantasy based on the graphic novel by Nd Stevenson; Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget...
- 12/11/2023
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sam Fell’s Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget finds Ginger (Thandiwe Newton) and Rocky (Zachary Levi) settled down on a bucolic island sanctuary that’s entirely free of humans, their daring Great Escape-style breakout from Tweedy’s industrial farm now a distant memory. But while they and old friends like Babs (Jane Horrocks) and Fowler (David Bradley) appreciate their hard-won freedom, their young daughter, Molly (Bella Ramsey), is now at an age where this safe haven is beginning to feel like its own form of captivity.
Defying her parents’ wishes and heading out in search of adventure, Molly soon finds herself in trouble on the mainland that the older members of her flock once fought so heroically to leave. And it’s not long before their old foe, Mrs. Tweedy (Miranda Richardson), re-emerges with a new diabolical scheme—one that allows the basic premise of Peter Lord and...
Defying her parents’ wishes and heading out in search of adventure, Molly soon finds herself in trouble on the mainland that the older members of her flock once fought so heroically to leave. And it’s not long before their old foe, Mrs. Tweedy (Miranda Richardson), re-emerges with a new diabolical scheme—one that allows the basic premise of Peter Lord and...
- 12/4/2023
- by David Robb
- Slant Magazine
A broad range of titles, animation styles and plenty of music define this season’s animated feature race, with some expected contenders still to debut.
For instance, as the studio celebrates its centennial, Walt Disney Animation Studios hopes to grab one of the five nomination slots with its Nov. 22 musical Wish, which tells the story of how Disney’s wishing star came to be. Its voice cast is led by Ariana DeBose as young protagonist Asha and Chris Pine as villainous King Magnifico. The cast performs a collection of original songs from Julia Michaels and Benjamin Rice, including “This Wish,” “I’m a Star” and “This Is the Thanks I Get.” Oscar winner Chris Buck (Frozen) and Fawn Veerasunthorn direct, and Disney Animation chief creative officer and Oscar winner Jennifer Lee is a writer and executive producer.
This title joins an already crowded field. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse — the bold...
For instance, as the studio celebrates its centennial, Walt Disney Animation Studios hopes to grab one of the five nomination slots with its Nov. 22 musical Wish, which tells the story of how Disney’s wishing star came to be. Its voice cast is led by Ariana DeBose as young protagonist Asha and Chris Pine as villainous King Magnifico. The cast performs a collection of original songs from Julia Michaels and Benjamin Rice, including “This Wish,” “I’m a Star” and “This Is the Thanks I Get.” Oscar winner Chris Buck (Frozen) and Fawn Veerasunthorn direct, and Disney Animation chief creative officer and Oscar winner Jennifer Lee is a writer and executive producer.
This title joins an already crowded field. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse — the bold...
- 12/4/2023
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
‘Chicken Run’ Studio Aardman Animation Was Forced to Reassure Fans That It’s Not Running Out of Clay
From pandemic-induced supply chain backlogs to film stock manufacturing crises, great filmmakers have often been forced to navigate the occasional raw materials shortage. And few filmmaking operations are as reliant on a single material as Aardman Animation is on modeling clay.
A recent report in The Daily Telegraph sent stop-motion animation fans into a panic by saying that the “Wallace and Gromit” studio only had enough modeling clay for one more film. The report indicated that the British studio had yet to find a new source of clay after its primary supplier, Newclay Products, recently shut down.
The public concern became so overwhelming that the studio was forced to release a public statement on X to reassure fans. While Aardman did not share specifics, the legendary stop-motion animation house indicated that it has plans in place to ensure a smooth transition to a new clay pipeline.
“We are touched about...
A recent report in The Daily Telegraph sent stop-motion animation fans into a panic by saying that the “Wallace and Gromit” studio only had enough modeling clay for one more film. The report indicated that the British studio had yet to find a new source of clay after its primary supplier, Newclay Products, recently shut down.
The public concern became so overwhelming that the studio was forced to release a public statement on X to reassure fans. While Aardman did not share specifics, the legendary stop-motion animation house indicated that it has plans in place to ensure a smooth transition to a new clay pipeline.
“We are touched about...
- 11/25/2023
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Rocky, Ginger and their family’s newest member Molly lead the charge in a fight to free their fellow chickens from a deadly nugget plot in the first full trailer for Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget.
Hailing from the Academy and BAFTA award-winning Aardman animation studio and Oscar- and BAFTA-nominated director Sam Fell, it’s the long-awaited follow-up to the highest-grossing stop-motion animated film ever, Chicken Run.
After pulling off their escape from Tweedy’s farm, Ginger (Thandiwe Newton) and Rocky (Zachary Levi) have built a life on an island away from the human world — a sanctuary alongside the flock with their newest hatch, Molly (Bella Ramsey). “We’ve put the past behind us,” Ginger says in the two-and-a-half-minute trailer. “We have to think about Molly now.”
A curious Molly is unaware of the world across the water, the place her parents and community fled from, with Ginger fearing for her daughter.
Hailing from the Academy and BAFTA award-winning Aardman animation studio and Oscar- and BAFTA-nominated director Sam Fell, it’s the long-awaited follow-up to the highest-grossing stop-motion animated film ever, Chicken Run.
After pulling off their escape from Tweedy’s farm, Ginger (Thandiwe Newton) and Rocky (Zachary Levi) have built a life on an island away from the human world — a sanctuary alongside the flock with their newest hatch, Molly (Bella Ramsey). “We’ve put the past behind us,” Ginger says in the two-and-a-half-minute trailer. “We have to think about Molly now.”
A curious Molly is unaware of the world across the water, the place her parents and community fled from, with Ginger fearing for her daughter.
- 11/15/2023
- by Abbey White
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Voice acting can make or break the success of an animated film. In the past, Hollywood understood that in order to deliver the best possible film, actors able to convey a range of emotions without the assistance of their body language were brought in for the job. At some point, that skill was traded in for celebrity stunt casting, sparking endless debates surrounding casting decisions. That isn't to say that well-known actors don't frequently pull off character-defining performances -- quite the contrary. One of the best examples comes from 2000's "Chicken Run," which featured "Absolutely Fabulous" star Julia Sawalha as Ginger and Mel Gibson as "Rocky." Both performers are still working actors today, so one would think they'd return to voice the characters the long-awaited sequel "Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget," right?
Wrong.
"Shazam!" star Zachary Levi has replaced Mel Gibson as Rocky while Thandiwe Newton is joining the cast as Ginger.
Wrong.
"Shazam!" star Zachary Levi has replaced Mel Gibson as Rocky while Thandiwe Newton is joining the cast as Ginger.
- 11/15/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Although the holidays would usually call for chicken pies, this December sees the dawn of the chicken nugget. The team at Aardman that brought us the beloved children’s show Wallace & Gromit returns to their poultry pals in the new Netflix sequel to the 2000 stop-motion animated film Chicken Run.
The official synopsis from Netflix reads,
“From the multi Academy and BAFTA award-winning Aardman, and Academy Award® and BAFTA-nominated director Sam Fell, comes Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, the eagerly anticipated sequel to the beloved and highest-grossing stop-motion animated film of all time, Chicken Run. Having pulled off a death-defying escape from Tweedy’s farm, Ginger has finally found her dream – a peaceful island sanctuary for the whole flock, far from the dangers of the human world. When she and Rocky hatch a little girl called Molly, Ginger’s happy ending seems complete. But back on the mainland the...
The official synopsis from Netflix reads,
“From the multi Academy and BAFTA award-winning Aardman, and Academy Award® and BAFTA-nominated director Sam Fell, comes Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, the eagerly anticipated sequel to the beloved and highest-grossing stop-motion animated film of all time, Chicken Run. Having pulled off a death-defying escape from Tweedy’s farm, Ginger has finally found her dream – a peaceful island sanctuary for the whole flock, far from the dangers of the human world. When she and Rocky hatch a little girl called Molly, Ginger’s happy ending seems complete. But back on the mainland the...
- 11/15/2023
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
Who let the chickens out?
Animated sequel “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget,” directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Sam Fell, continues the saga of the chicks behind Tweedy’s farm. After “Chicken Run” became the highest grossing stop-motion animated film of all-time, its highly-anticipated sequel picks up with Ginger (Thandiwe Newton) after escaping the slaughterhouse and finding paradise. With a new chick in tow (Bella Ramsey), Ginger is living her ideal life…that is, until her land may become threatened.
The official synopsis reads: “Having pulled off a death-defying escape from Tweedy’s farm, Ginger has finally found her dream – a peaceful island sanctuary for the whole flock, far from the dangers of the human world. When she and Rocky (Zachary Levi) hatch a little girl called Molly (Ramsey), Ginger’s happy ending seems complete. But back on the mainland the whole of chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat. For Ginger and her team,...
Animated sequel “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget,” directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Sam Fell, continues the saga of the chicks behind Tweedy’s farm. After “Chicken Run” became the highest grossing stop-motion animated film of all-time, its highly-anticipated sequel picks up with Ginger (Thandiwe Newton) after escaping the slaughterhouse and finding paradise. With a new chick in tow (Bella Ramsey), Ginger is living her ideal life…that is, until her land may become threatened.
The official synopsis reads: “Having pulled off a death-defying escape from Tweedy’s farm, Ginger has finally found her dream – a peaceful island sanctuary for the whole flock, far from the dangers of the human world. When she and Rocky (Zachary Levi) hatch a little girl called Molly (Ramsey), Ginger’s happy ending seems complete. But back on the mainland the whole of chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat. For Ginger and her team,...
- 11/15/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
As the end of the 20th century came to a close, traditional 2D animation seemed to be dying along with it. But while Disney Renaissance films are often remembered by nostalgic Millennials as the last great ride of hand-drawn animation, their grand, sweeping scale was actually made possible by blending old-school techniques with brand new technology. In the ballroom scene from 1991's "Beauty and the Beast," a hand-drawn Belle and Beast waltz against the spinning backdrop of a CG-animated ballroom; the heart-stopping stampede in 1994's "The Lion King" has a traditionally-animated Simba fleeing from computer-animated wildebeest.
The balance soon tipped over in favor of the completely CG animation that dominates today. But somewhere between the release of "Toy Story" and "Shrek," a British studio called Aardman Animations ambitiously embarked on its first feature film: a poultry-themed spin on "The Great Escape" called "Chicken Run." With a final tally of $227.7 million at the global box office,...
The balance soon tipped over in favor of the completely CG animation that dominates today. But somewhere between the release of "Toy Story" and "Shrek," a British studio called Aardman Animations ambitiously embarked on its first feature film: a poultry-themed spin on "The Great Escape" called "Chicken Run." With a final tally of $227.7 million at the global box office,...
- 11/15/2023
- by Hannah Shaw-Williams
- Slash Film
The British production company Aardman, best known for award-winning shorts such as the evergreen Creature Comforts and short-to-feature franchises like Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep, specializes in “Claymation,” stop-motion animation done using figurines made of clay and similar material. Even by the glacial standards of animation practice, they take ages to produce new work. You might say their output is rare as hens’ teeth, to quote a Britishism, which is apt because their most successful feature (and the highest-grossing stop-motion film ever) is still Chicken Run (2000), a family-friendly film set on a 1950s chicken farm that stars a brood of fowl with anatomically incorrect, but very Aardman-esque, over-bitey teeth.
But good things come to those who wait, and the studio’s sequel, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, is a worthy successor. Rounding up the feathered friends who made a break for freedom in the last film, led...
But good things come to those who wait, and the studio’s sequel, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, is a worthy successor. Rounding up the feathered friends who made a break for freedom in the last film, led...
- 10/16/2023
- by Leslie Felperin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Editor’s note: This review was originally published at the 2023 London BFI Film Festival. Netflix releases the film on its streaming platform on Friday, December 15.
What are you — a British chicken named Ginger (Thandiwe Newton) — supposed to do when your plucky young chick Molly (Bella Ramsay) insists on returning to the dangerous world that you spent the entire 84 minutes of Aardman’s “Chicken Run” escaping? Furthermore, how does it feel to realize that you’ve become the very thing that you once revolted against: Aka a jailer? “We’ve got our happy ending,” Ginger insists to her American rooster, Rocky (Zachary Levi). They are living in a grassy, human-free island sanctuary, making popcorn by rigging a magnifying glass to an upside-down jar and letting the sun do its work on corn kernels.
Ginger is issuing a reprimand to Rocky after he tells Molly about the adventurous way that they arrived...
What are you — a British chicken named Ginger (Thandiwe Newton) — supposed to do when your plucky young chick Molly (Bella Ramsay) insists on returning to the dangerous world that you spent the entire 84 minutes of Aardman’s “Chicken Run” escaping? Furthermore, how does it feel to realize that you’ve become the very thing that you once revolted against: Aka a jailer? “We’ve got our happy ending,” Ginger insists to her American rooster, Rocky (Zachary Levi). They are living in a grassy, human-free island sanctuary, making popcorn by rigging a magnifying glass to an upside-down jar and letting the sun do its work on corn kernels.
Ginger is issuing a reprimand to Rocky after he tells Molly about the adventurous way that they arrived...
- 10/14/2023
- by Sophie Monks Kaufman
- Indiewire
Nearly a quarter-century has passed since Aardman hatched its first feature, and the generation that flipped for “Chicken Run” — tickled by the novelty of watching a pseudo-serious genre movie rendered silly by an ensemble of stop-motion poultry — has grown up to be parents. Distributed by DreamWorks, the 2000 toon reimagined “The Great Escape” with chickens, as a doomed flock schemed to fly the coop of a WWII-style concentration camp run by the intimidating Mrs. Tweedy (Miranda Richardson).
In the tasty (if young-skewing) sequel commissioned by Netflix, “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget,” it’s the other way around … or, as gung-ho Ginger (Thandiwe Newton) puts it in her trailer-ready motivational speech, “Last time, we broke out of a chicken farm. Well, this time, we’re breaking in!” Where the tongue-in-beak original was a sendup of war movies, “Nugget” serves as a riff on “Mission: Impossible”-style action flicks, putting Ginger in...
In the tasty (if young-skewing) sequel commissioned by Netflix, “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget,” it’s the other way around … or, as gung-ho Ginger (Thandiwe Newton) puts it in her trailer-ready motivational speech, “Last time, we broke out of a chicken farm. Well, this time, we’re breaking in!” Where the tongue-in-beak original was a sendup of war movies, “Nugget” serves as a riff on “Mission: Impossible”-style action flicks, putting Ginger in...
- 10/14/2023
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, the sequel to Aardman Animation’s 2000 stop-motion hit, is arriving 23 years after the original. Mused director Sam Fell during a panel at Deadline’s Contenders London, “At the end of the first one, you’re kind of a bit sick of chickens. It takes about three or four years to make these things so I think everyone wanted to do new things.”
At the time, he also remarked, “Animated sequels weren’t a big thing back then, Toy Story 2 was probably the first great animated sequel.”
A follow-up had been “in the background” and there were “brainstorming sessions,” but the original Chicken Run “is so brilliant, you can’t do something less than that,” Fell said.
Fast-forward to 2016 and Fell ran into the previous film’s co-director Peter Lord who told him, “We’ve got it, we figured it out.” The trick was a single line: “This time,...
At the time, he also remarked, “Animated sequels weren’t a big thing back then, Toy Story 2 was probably the first great animated sequel.”
A follow-up had been “in the background” and there were “brainstorming sessions,” but the original Chicken Run “is so brilliant, you can’t do something less than that,” Fell said.
Fast-forward to 2016 and Fell ran into the previous film’s co-director Peter Lord who told him, “We’ve got it, we figured it out.” The trick was a single line: “This time,...
- 10/7/2023
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
The trailer marking the sixth edition of the Animation Is Film Festival in Hollywood (October 18-22) dropped Monday morning, highlighting the opening night premiere of Hayao Miyazaki’s acclaimed “The Boy and the Heron” (Studio Ghibli/GKids) at the Tcl Chinese Theater IMAX. This marks an IMAX first for the festival, produced by GKids in partnership with the Annecy International Animation Festival.
Aardman/Netflix’s “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget,” the long-awaited sequel to the most successful stop-motion feature in history, will close Aif, followed by a Q&a with director Sam Fell and executive producer Peter Lord.
Aif programming from the previous two years boasted nine of the eventual animated feature Oscar nominees. This season they’ve scheduled several Oscar contenders: “The Boy and the Heron,” “Dawn of the Nugget,” DreamWorks’ “Trolls Band Together” (special screening), and Neon’s Annecy award-winning “Robot Dreams” (in feature competition). Plus, early...
Aardman/Netflix’s “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget,” the long-awaited sequel to the most successful stop-motion feature in history, will close Aif, followed by a Q&a with director Sam Fell and executive producer Peter Lord.
Aif programming from the previous two years boasted nine of the eventual animated feature Oscar nominees. This season they’ve scheduled several Oscar contenders: “The Boy and the Heron,” “Dawn of the Nugget,” DreamWorks’ “Trolls Band Together” (special screening), and Neon’s Annecy award-winning “Robot Dreams” (in feature competition). Plus, early...
- 10/2/2023
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Animation Is Film revealed Thursday that its 2023 edition next month will open with Gkids and Studio Ghibli’s The Boy and the Heron, the latest film from Hayao Miyazaki that just opened the Toronto Film Festival. It is getting its U.S. Imax premiere at Tcl’s Chinese 6.
The festival, set to run October 18-22 in Hollywood, will close with Netflix’s Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, to be followed by a Q&a with director Sam Fell and executive producer Peter Lord.
Aif’s annual lineup of theatrical presentations, special events, and shorts showcase includes two Annecy International Animation Film Festival prize winners, Neon’s film Robot Dreams and Gkids’ Chicken for Linda!, which will make their West Coast and U.S. debuts. Other titles include Phoenix: Reminiscence of Flower (Japan), making its North American theatrical premiere.
DreamWorks Animation will host a special presentation of its latest film,...
The festival, set to run October 18-22 in Hollywood, will close with Netflix’s Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, to be followed by a Q&a with director Sam Fell and executive producer Peter Lord.
Aif’s annual lineup of theatrical presentations, special events, and shorts showcase includes two Annecy International Animation Film Festival prize winners, Neon’s film Robot Dreams and Gkids’ Chicken for Linda!, which will make their West Coast and U.S. debuts. Other titles include Phoenix: Reminiscence of Flower (Japan), making its North American theatrical premiere.
DreamWorks Animation will host a special presentation of its latest film,...
- 9/21/2023
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Hayao Miyazaki’s “The Boy and the Heron” will open Animation Is Film on Oct. 18 at the Tcl Chinese Theatre in the festival’s first IMAX premiere, the organization announced Thursday.
The Animation Is Film Festival, with Variety as one of the sponsors, will run from Oct. 18-22 in Hollywood. Sam Fell’s “Chicken Run” sequel “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget” will close out the programming in a Q&a with Fell and executive producer Peter Lord, hosted by Netflix.
At this year’s festival, Aif is continuing to prioritize animation while recognizing its contribution to film around the world. “Robot Dreams” and “Chicken For Linda!” join the feature film lineup, with both making their West Coast and U.S. debuts, respectively.
“‘Animation Is Film’ is not just the name of our festival, it is its mission,” said Matt Kaszanek, executive director of Aif. “New films from Studio Ghibli...
The Animation Is Film Festival, with Variety as one of the sponsors, will run from Oct. 18-22 in Hollywood. Sam Fell’s “Chicken Run” sequel “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget” will close out the programming in a Q&a with Fell and executive producer Peter Lord, hosted by Netflix.
At this year’s festival, Aif is continuing to prioritize animation while recognizing its contribution to film around the world. “Robot Dreams” and “Chicken For Linda!” join the feature film lineup, with both making their West Coast and U.S. debuts, respectively.
“‘Animation Is Film’ is not just the name of our festival, it is its mission,” said Matt Kaszanek, executive director of Aif. “New films from Studio Ghibli...
- 9/21/2023
- by McKinley Franklin
- Variety Film + TV
At last, over 23 years later, the highly anticipated "Chicken Run" sequel is finally on its way to Netflix. The follow-up to the stop-motion animated 2000 classic, titled "Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget," unveiled its first look on Sept. 5 when Netflix released a teaser trailer, which brings back all the chicken and roosters for a new adventure. Instead of going on the run to break out of a chicken farm, they're breaking into one.
Netflix first announced the "Chicken Run" sequel back in June 2020, tweeting at the time, "Poultry News: Exactly 20 years to the day since the original was released, we can confirm there will be a Chicken Run sequel coming to Netflix!!" Aardman Animations is, once again, at the helm (just like the first film), with directors Nick Park and Peter Lord back as executive producers. Sam Fell is the sequel's director.
To refresh your memory, "Chicken Run" is a...
Netflix first announced the "Chicken Run" sequel back in June 2020, tweeting at the time, "Poultry News: Exactly 20 years to the day since the original was released, we can confirm there will be a Chicken Run sequel coming to Netflix!!" Aardman Animations is, once again, at the helm (just like the first film), with directors Nick Park and Peter Lord back as executive producers. Sam Fell is the sequel's director.
To refresh your memory, "Chicken Run" is a...
- 9/5/2023
- by Angela Law
- Popsugar.com
The makers of the hit children’s program Wallace & Gromit return to the stop-motion animation world with a sequel to their 2000 film, Chicken Run. Instead of escaping, in Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, they will be breaking into a new high-tech facility.
The official synopsis from Netflix reads,
“From the multi Academy and BAFTA award-winning Aardman, and Academy Award® and BAFTA-nominated director Sam Fell, comes Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, the eagerly anticipated sequel to the beloved and highest-grossing stop-motion animated film of all time, Chicken Run. Having pulled off a death-defying escape from Tweedy’s farm, Ginger has finally found her dream – a peaceful island sanctuary for the whole flock, far from the dangers of the human world. When she and Rocky hatch a little girl called Molly, Ginger’s happy ending seems complete. But back on the mainland the whole of chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat.
The official synopsis from Netflix reads,
“From the multi Academy and BAFTA award-winning Aardman, and Academy Award® and BAFTA-nominated director Sam Fell, comes Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, the eagerly anticipated sequel to the beloved and highest-grossing stop-motion animated film of all time, Chicken Run. Having pulled off a death-defying escape from Tweedy’s farm, Ginger has finally found her dream – a peaceful island sanctuary for the whole flock, far from the dangers of the human world. When she and Rocky hatch a little girl called Molly, Ginger’s happy ending seems complete. But back on the mainland the whole of chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat.
- 9/5/2023
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
Netflix has unveiled more cast, trailer (see below) and first-looks for its highly-anticipated Chicken Run sequel.
UK comic actor Peter Serafinowicz will play Reginald Smith in Dawn of the Nugget, while Miranda Richardson is reprising her role as archvillain Mrs Tweedy.
From multi-Academy and BAFTA-winning Aardman, Dawn of the Nugget comes more than 20 years after its hugely-popular predecessor. A trailer today gives more of a flavor of what viewers can expect when it launches on December 15. The movie follows Ginger, who, having pulled off a death-defying escape from Tweedy’s farm, has finally found her dream – a peaceful island sanctuary for the whole flock, far from the dangers of the human world. When she and Rocky hatch a little girl called Molly, Ginger’s happy ending seems complete, but back on the mainland the whole of chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat.
Aardman/Netflix © 2023
Dawn of the Nugget features...
UK comic actor Peter Serafinowicz will play Reginald Smith in Dawn of the Nugget, while Miranda Richardson is reprising her role as archvillain Mrs Tweedy.
From multi-Academy and BAFTA-winning Aardman, Dawn of the Nugget comes more than 20 years after its hugely-popular predecessor. A trailer today gives more of a flavor of what viewers can expect when it launches on December 15. The movie follows Ginger, who, having pulled off a death-defying escape from Tweedy’s farm, has finally found her dream – a peaceful island sanctuary for the whole flock, far from the dangers of the human world. When she and Rocky hatch a little girl called Molly, Ginger’s happy ending seems complete, but back on the mainland the whole of chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat.
Aardman/Netflix © 2023
Dawn of the Nugget features...
- 9/5/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix has released the trailer for the sequel to the 2000 stop-motion animated comedy, “Chicken Run.” The upcoming feature, titled “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget,” is set to premiere this December.
Featuring an all-new voice cast, “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget” follows Ginger (Thandiwe Newton), as she sets up a peaceful sanctuary far from the human world having recently escaped from the evil Tweedy farm. Finally, with the hatching of Molly (Bella Ramsey), Ginger and Rocky (Zachary Levi) seem to have their “happily ever after.” But, unknown to them, outside their peaceful world chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat.
Newton takes over the role of Ginger from “Absolutely Fabulous” actor Julia Sawalha while Levi steps in for Mel Gibson, who voiced Rocky in the first movie. One voice actor who will be returning is Miranda Richardson (“Good Omens”), who is back as arch villain Mrs Tweedy. She will...
Featuring an all-new voice cast, “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget” follows Ginger (Thandiwe Newton), as she sets up a peaceful sanctuary far from the human world having recently escaped from the evil Tweedy farm. Finally, with the hatching of Molly (Bella Ramsey), Ginger and Rocky (Zachary Levi) seem to have their “happily ever after.” But, unknown to them, outside their peaceful world chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat.
Newton takes over the role of Ginger from “Absolutely Fabulous” actor Julia Sawalha while Levi steps in for Mel Gibson, who voiced Rocky in the first movie. One voice actor who will be returning is Miranda Richardson (“Good Omens”), who is back as arch villain Mrs Tweedy. She will...
- 9/5/2023
- by K.J. Yossman and Charna Flam
- Variety Film + TV
Venice Immersive, the Venice Film Festival’s showcase of the best in new virtual reality productions is an easy, one-minute vaporetto ride from the Lido.
The boatman calls the trip “a journey to Alcatraz” but the Old Lazaretto Island — in the 15th century a place of quarantine for those suffering, or suspected of suffering, from infectious diseases — rises majestically from the Lagoon. Stepping off the boat, you enter into another world, or better, worlds. The experimental universes and extended realities of VR.
Exposed brick walls, large halls, and white curtains divide up the art installations and VR technology on display. There’s a medieval, but also somewhat industrial, vibe that suits the video art on display, both containing it and providing an engaging visual contrast to the digital pixelation.
Venice Immersive is the Biennale’s bet on the future. Here at the Old Lazaretto, the future of film, of video games,...
The boatman calls the trip “a journey to Alcatraz” but the Old Lazaretto Island — in the 15th century a place of quarantine for those suffering, or suspected of suffering, from infectious diseases — rises majestically from the Lagoon. Stepping off the boat, you enter into another world, or better, worlds. The experimental universes and extended realities of VR.
Exposed brick walls, large halls, and white curtains divide up the art installations and VR technology on display. There’s a medieval, but also somewhat industrial, vibe that suits the video art on display, both containing it and providing an engaging visual contrast to the digital pixelation.
Venice Immersive is the Biennale’s bet on the future. Here at the Old Lazaretto, the future of film, of video games,...
- 8/31/2023
- by Damiano D’Agostino
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
After years of waiting to come out of its shell, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget is ready to hatch. Aardman‘s long-awaited sequel will premiere at the London Film Festival on October 14 at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall as part of the festival’s annual Mayor of London gala. Additionally, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget will screen in film houses across the UK, with the sequel’s Netflix global premiere set for December 15, 2023.
The voice cast of Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget includes Thandiwe Newton as Ginger, Zachary Levi as Rocky Rhodes, Bella Ramsey as Molly, Romesh Ranganathan as Nick, Daniel Mays as Fetcher, David Bradley as Fowler, Jane Horrocks as Babs, Imelda Staunton as Bunty, Lynn Ferguson as Mac, Josie Sedgwick-Davies as Frizzle, and Nick Mohammed as Dr. Fry.
In June, Phil Lord said that he and Aardman co-founder Nick Park had discussed various...
The voice cast of Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget includes Thandiwe Newton as Ginger, Zachary Levi as Rocky Rhodes, Bella Ramsey as Molly, Romesh Ranganathan as Nick, Daniel Mays as Fetcher, David Bradley as Fowler, Jane Horrocks as Babs, Imelda Staunton as Bunty, Lynn Ferguson as Mac, Josie Sedgwick-Davies as Frizzle, and Nick Mohammed as Dr. Fry.
In June, Phil Lord said that he and Aardman co-founder Nick Park had discussed various...
- 8/23/2023
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Coming along twenty-three years after the release of the original Chicken Run, the sequel Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget will be released through the Netflix streaming service on December 15th – and even though that date is still six months away, Aardman Animations founder Peter Lord, producer Layla Herbert, and director Sam Fell shared some footage from the film at the Annecy International Film Festival.
As described by Deadline, the footage shown featured the utopian island chicken haven – described by Fell as a sort of “Chicken Wakanda” – created by heroine Ginger after she led the breakout from the Tweedy farm in late 1940s Britain (in the first movie). It’s now the early ’60s and Ginger is the mother with Rocky of rebellious teenager Molly. Ginger in the meantime has buried her rebel side, devoting herself instead to keeping the peace in her island idyll. The arrival of the fortress-like...
As described by Deadline, the footage shown featured the utopian island chicken haven – described by Fell as a sort of “Chicken Wakanda” – created by heroine Ginger after she led the breakout from the Tweedy farm in late 1940s Britain (in the first movie). It’s now the early ’60s and Ginger is the mother with Rocky of rebellious teenager Molly. Ginger in the meantime has buried her rebel side, devoting herself instead to keeping the peace in her island idyll. The arrival of the fortress-like...
- 6/14/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Aardman founder Peter Lord and director Sam Fell took to the stage at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on Wednesday to present first footage for Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget.
The reveal was part of a special Netflix presentation of its upcoming animation productions including Leo, starring Adam Sandler as a 75-year-old lizard; martial arts drama Blue-Eyed Samurai as well as animated comedy series Exploding Kittens.
Launching December 15, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget will arrive 23 years after the cult original Chicken Run.
The Aardman team unveiled footage of the utopian island chicken haven created by heroine Ginger after she led the breakout from the Tweedy farm in late 1940s Britain, described by Fell as a sort of “Chicken Wakanda”.
Its now the early 60s and Ginger is the mother with Rocky of rebellious teenager Molly.
Ginger in the meantime has buried her rebel side, devoting herself instead...
The reveal was part of a special Netflix presentation of its upcoming animation productions including Leo, starring Adam Sandler as a 75-year-old lizard; martial arts drama Blue-Eyed Samurai as well as animated comedy series Exploding Kittens.
Launching December 15, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget will arrive 23 years after the cult original Chicken Run.
The Aardman team unveiled footage of the utopian island chicken haven created by heroine Ginger after she led the breakout from the Tweedy farm in late 1940s Britain, described by Fell as a sort of “Chicken Wakanda”.
Its now the early 60s and Ginger is the mother with Rocky of rebellious teenager Molly.
Ginger in the meantime has buried her rebel side, devoting herself instead...
- 6/14/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Once again claiming a centerpiece slot at the Annecy Animation Festival, this year’s Netflix’s animation showcase teased upcoming title “Leo” with an intro from Adam Sandler, drew buzz for series like “Blue Eye Samurai” with a stirring display, and offered an extended behind the scenes peak at “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget” with the creative team in tow.
Taking the stage to a warm welcome, Aardman co-founder Peter Lord, producer Leyla Hobart and the film’s director Sam Fell world premiered 12 minutes of fowl footage and shared technical details about a long-awaited sequel set to hatch on December 15 – the same end-of-year perch where Netflix placed “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio.”
“Dawn of the Nugget” picks up twelve (screen) years after the first film, and in the intervening decade Ginger and Rocky (now voiced by Thandiwe Newton and Zachary Levi) have had Molly (Bella Ramsey). We meet the...
Taking the stage to a warm welcome, Aardman co-founder Peter Lord, producer Leyla Hobart and the film’s director Sam Fell world premiered 12 minutes of fowl footage and shared technical details about a long-awaited sequel set to hatch on December 15 – the same end-of-year perch where Netflix placed “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio.”
“Dawn of the Nugget” picks up twelve (screen) years after the first film, and in the intervening decade Ginger and Rocky (now voiced by Thandiwe Newton and Zachary Levi) have had Molly (Bella Ramsey). We meet the...
- 6/14/2023
- by Ben Croll
- Variety Film + TV
As part of Netflix’s appearance this week at the Annecy International Animation Festival, the streaming service hosted a sneak peek at upcoming work and the world premiere of Nimona, the anticipated adaptation of Nd Stevenson’s graphic novel coming to the platform on June 30. Additionally, the studio announced that Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget — Aardman Animations’ anticipated sequel to 2000’s Chicken Run — will get a Dec. 15 release.
In a new clip from the sequel to Chicken Run — from the Oscar-winning studio behind Wallace and Gromit and Shawn the Sheep — the Annecy audience was introduced to Molly (Bella Ramsey), the daughter of Chicken Run‘s Ginger (Thandiwe Newton) and Rocky (Zachary Levi). Molly is among those captured and placed in a truck carting chickens to a new fortress-like farm. After a classic Aardman chase — with Ginger, Rocky and others in hot pursuit of the truck — they begin to devise a rescue plan.
In a new clip from the sequel to Chicken Run — from the Oscar-winning studio behind Wallace and Gromit and Shawn the Sheep — the Annecy audience was introduced to Molly (Bella Ramsey), the daughter of Chicken Run‘s Ginger (Thandiwe Newton) and Rocky (Zachary Levi). Molly is among those captured and placed in a truck carting chickens to a new fortress-like farm. After a classic Aardman chase — with Ginger, Rocky and others in hot pursuit of the truck — they begin to devise a rescue plan.
- 6/14/2023
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
(Clockwise from Top Left): Chicken Run (Dreamworks), Last Action Hero (Columbia Pictures), Starship Troopers (TriStar Pictures), Léon: The Professional (Buena Vista International)Graphic: AVClub
May is the start of the summer movie season which means Netflix—along with the other streamers—will have to up their game to...
May is the start of the summer movie season which means Netflix—along with the other streamers—will have to up their game to...
- 5/3/2023
- by Don Lewis
- avclub.com
Following the streaming services’ first best animated feature Oscar win for Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, Netflix is heading to the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June to preview a string of upcoming projects and to host an advance screening of summer release Nimona, based on Nd Stevenson’s graphic novel.
Nimona directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane, Stevenson, producers Karen Ryan and Julie Zackary, and production designer Aidan Sugano will be on hand at the festival. Along with the screening, a making-of session is on the agenda.
Another panel will examine Aardman’s eagerly awaited Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, the sequel to its 2000 stop-motion animated feature Chicken Run, which remains the highest-growled stop motion animated feature of all time. Speaking at Annecy will be director Sam Fell, producer Leyla Hobart, and exec producer and Aardman founder Peter Lord.
The creative team behind Blue Eye Samurai — creators...
Nimona directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane, Stevenson, producers Karen Ryan and Julie Zackary, and production designer Aidan Sugano will be on hand at the festival. Along with the screening, a making-of session is on the agenda.
Another panel will examine Aardman’s eagerly awaited Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, the sequel to its 2000 stop-motion animated feature Chicken Run, which remains the highest-growled stop motion animated feature of all time. Speaking at Annecy will be director Sam Fell, producer Leyla Hobart, and exec producer and Aardman founder Peter Lord.
The creative team behind Blue Eye Samurai — creators...
- 4/24/2023
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
This year Netflix is returning to the Annecy International Animation Film Festival as newly crowned kings, having just secured the Oscar for Best Animated Feature for Guillermo del Toro’s “Pinocchio.” Not that they have any intention of slowing down, as this year they are bringing a slate of potential commercial and artistic triumphs to the rolling hills of the French countryside – from Annapurna’s “Nimona” to Aardman’s highly anticipated “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget” and much, much more.
On Wednesday, June 14, Annecy will present an exclusive screening of their absolutely fabulous new feature film “Nimona” at the Theater Bonlieu at 6 p.m. which will include appearances from directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane, creator Nd Stevenson (whose graphic novel is the basis for the film), producers Karen Ryan and Julie Zackary and production designer Aidan Sugano. The team will reconvene for a “Making Of” session on Thursday,...
On Wednesday, June 14, Annecy will present an exclusive screening of their absolutely fabulous new feature film “Nimona” at the Theater Bonlieu at 6 p.m. which will include appearances from directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane, creator Nd Stevenson (whose graphic novel is the basis for the film), producers Karen Ryan and Julie Zackary and production designer Aidan Sugano. The team will reconvene for a “Making Of” session on Thursday,...
- 4/24/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
Netflix has unveiled a packed line-up of animated feature films and series that it will be taking to France’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June.
Riding high on the Best Animated Feature Film Oscar win for Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio and the Primetime Emmy for Arcane, the platform is gearing up for one of its biggest outings to the lakeside festival to date.
Topping its Annecy slate is an exclusive screening of Nimona, starring Chloë Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed and Eugene Lee Yang in the voice cast.
The fantasy tale, set in a techno-medieval world, follows the adventures of a shapeshifting teen, tackling ideas of labels and acceptance at the same time.
It is the first production to come out of Annapurna’s new animation division which was launched at the end of 2022 and helped save the film with Netflix after Disney dropped the project.
Directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane,...
Riding high on the Best Animated Feature Film Oscar win for Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio and the Primetime Emmy for Arcane, the platform is gearing up for one of its biggest outings to the lakeside festival to date.
Topping its Annecy slate is an exclusive screening of Nimona, starring Chloë Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed and Eugene Lee Yang in the voice cast.
The fantasy tale, set in a techno-medieval world, follows the adventures of a shapeshifting teen, tackling ideas of labels and acceptance at the same time.
It is the first production to come out of Annapurna’s new animation division which was launched at the end of 2022 and helped save the film with Netflix after Disney dropped the project.
Directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane,...
- 4/24/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Aardman Animations’ founder Peter Lord and “Waltz With Bashir” director Ari Folman are set to receive Pulcinella Career Awards at Italy’s Cartoons On The Bay TV animation festival which is broadening its scope.
The event launched in 1996 by Italian state broadcaster Rai has now expanded beyond TV toons to comprise video game productions, the comic book world, transmedia storytelling and metaverse animation content.
Reflecting its more high-tech horizons, the fest’s 27th edition – which will run May 31-June 4 in the Southern seaside city of Pescara – will also be celebrating “Cuphead,” the hit Canadian video game that’s become a Netflix series, and bestowing its creator Maja Moldenhauer with its new Transmedia Award.
In another high-caliber get, British puppet studio Mackinnon and Saunders, which worked with Guillermo del Toro on “Pinocchio,” will be feted by Cartoons on the Bay with its Studio of the Year Award. The studio’s co-founder...
The event launched in 1996 by Italian state broadcaster Rai has now expanded beyond TV toons to comprise video game productions, the comic book world, transmedia storytelling and metaverse animation content.
Reflecting its more high-tech horizons, the fest’s 27th edition – which will run May 31-June 4 in the Southern seaside city of Pescara – will also be celebrating “Cuphead,” the hit Canadian video game that’s become a Netflix series, and bestowing its creator Maja Moldenhauer with its new Transmedia Award.
In another high-caliber get, British puppet studio Mackinnon and Saunders, which worked with Guillermo del Toro on “Pinocchio,” will be feted by Cartoons on the Bay with its Studio of the Year Award. The studio’s co-founder...
- 3/14/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Animation fans are truly being treated in 2022. Pixar released one of their best ever films, "Turning Red," while DreamWorks dropped an underrated caper in the form of "The Bad Guys." Richard Linklater turned to rotoscope for "Apollo 10 ½" and "Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero" became an unexpected box office hit in North America. To top it off, we're getting not one but two stop-motion animated features: Guillermo del Toro's take on the classic story of "Pinocchio," and Henry Selick's return to the medium with the horror-comedy "Wendell and Wild."
Selick has long been one of the stalwarts of stop-motion in American animation thanks to iconic spooky season films like "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Coraline," while del Toro turned to the medium for his decade-long passion project and has received some of the best reviews of his starry career for his troubles. It's hard not to be...
Selick has long been one of the stalwarts of stop-motion in American animation thanks to iconic spooky season films like "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Coraline," while del Toro turned to the medium for his decade-long passion project and has received some of the best reviews of his starry career for his troubles. It's hard not to be...
- 10/20/2022
- by Kayleigh Donaldson
- Slash Film
In this episode, we’re popping off to a Yorkshire chicken farm in 1960s England, where an authoritarian farmer and her dim-witted husband are plotting the deaths of many to make pies. Welcome to Tweedy’s farm, where a determined chicken named Ginger is attempting a most remarkable prison break. So, grab a spoon for digging, beware of the dogs, and don’t believe every rooster who falls from the sky as we break into Aardman Animations‘ stop-motion animated classic Chicken Run.
Peter Lord and Nick Park direct this spirited film partly inspired by John Sturges’ 1963 classic The Great Escape. Starring the voices of Julia Sawalha, Mel Gibson, Jane Horrocks, Miranda Richardson, Phil Daniels, Timothy Spall, Imelda Staunton, and more, Chicken Run is a grim yet hopeful tale of determination, cleverness, and giving a fascist their just desserts. Alongside a team of talented animators, Lord and Park used every trick...
Peter Lord and Nick Park direct this spirited film partly inspired by John Sturges’ 1963 classic The Great Escape. Starring the voices of Julia Sawalha, Mel Gibson, Jane Horrocks, Miranda Richardson, Phil Daniels, Timothy Spall, Imelda Staunton, and more, Chicken Run is a grim yet hopeful tale of determination, cleverness, and giving a fascist their just desserts. Alongside a team of talented animators, Lord and Park used every trick...
- 9/30/2022
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Aardman’s beloved characters Wallace and Gromit are returning in a new BBC and Netflix film and Ginger and Rocky from “Chicken Run” (2000) in a Netflix sequel.
With a box office gross of nearly $225 million, “Chicken Run” is the highest grossing stop-motion film of all time. The sequel, “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget,” follows Ginger, who, having pulled off a death-defying escape from Tweedy’s farm, has set up a peaceful island sanctuary for the whole flock, far from the dangers of the human world. When she and Rocky hatch a little girl called Molly, Ginger’s happy ending seems complete. But back on the mainland the whole of chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat.
The cast includes Thandiwe Newton (Ginger), Zachary Levi (Rocky), Bella Ramsey, Jane Horrocks, Imelda Staunton, Lynn Ferguson, Josie Sedgwick-Davies, David Bradley, Romesh Ranganathan, Daniel Mays and Nick Mohammed. Sam Fell (“Flushed Away”) directs...
With a box office gross of nearly $225 million, “Chicken Run” is the highest grossing stop-motion film of all time. The sequel, “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget,” follows Ginger, who, having pulled off a death-defying escape from Tweedy’s farm, has set up a peaceful island sanctuary for the whole flock, far from the dangers of the human world. When she and Rocky hatch a little girl called Molly, Ginger’s happy ending seems complete. But back on the mainland the whole of chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat.
The cast includes Thandiwe Newton (Ginger), Zachary Levi (Rocky), Bella Ramsey, Jane Horrocks, Imelda Staunton, Lynn Ferguson, Josie Sedgwick-Davies, David Bradley, Romesh Ranganathan, Daniel Mays and Nick Mohammed. Sam Fell (“Flushed Away”) directs...
- 1/20/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Aardman Animations’ founder Peter Lord will receive the honorary Chinelo del Año at Mexico’s 10th Pixelatl animation festival, hosted by the city of Cuernavaca. Taking place in an online format, the event runs Sept. 7-11.
Organization has confirmed the attendance of executives from Disney Animation, Netflix, Nickelodeon, Illumination Entertainment, Lucas Films, Bento Box, Titmouse, HBO Max, BBC, Gaumont and Disney Plus, among others.
Conceived as both an exhibition platform and cluster of networking events, talent recruitment programs, masterclasses and workshops, Pixelatl main thrust is to extend the international reach of Mexico and Latin America’s animation industries.
Activities include a conversation with Byron Howard, the co-director of Disney Animation hit “Zootopia”; a workshop given by Sandra Equihua, the character designer – and a key creative influence – on the much-anticipated Netflix title “Maya and the Three”; and sneak previews of Pixar’s SparkShorts program with presentations by two of the selected...
Organization has confirmed the attendance of executives from Disney Animation, Netflix, Nickelodeon, Illumination Entertainment, Lucas Films, Bento Box, Titmouse, HBO Max, BBC, Gaumont and Disney Plus, among others.
Conceived as both an exhibition platform and cluster of networking events, talent recruitment programs, masterclasses and workshops, Pixelatl main thrust is to extend the international reach of Mexico and Latin America’s animation industries.
Activities include a conversation with Byron Howard, the co-director of Disney Animation hit “Zootopia”; a workshop given by Sandra Equihua, the character designer – and a key creative influence – on the much-anticipated Netflix title “Maya and the Three”; and sneak previews of Pixar’s SparkShorts program with presentations by two of the selected...
- 9/7/2021
- by Emilio Mayorga
- Variety Film + TV
Animation
Legendary U.K. animation studio Aardman is teaming with filmmaker Gurinder Chadha (“Bend It Like Beckham”) on a new feature film project for family audiences. Described by the company as an “exuberant, warm-hearted musical,” the currently untitled Bollywood-inspired feature will follow Bodhi, a young Indian elephant from Kerala who dreams of becoming a famous Bollywood dancer.
Chadha is currently co-writing the screenplay with Paul Mayeda Berges (“What’s Cooking[/link]”) under their production banner Bend It Networks. The two companies will enlist top Indian voice talent, musicians and designers to develop the look and feel of the project.
“Aardman is a great British national treasure. I am honored and excited to bring my unique British Asian vision to their acclaimed animation studio. Their work has so much heart, humor and affection, and we share a love of authentic and joyful underdog stories about memorable characters – so it really is a perfect match,...
Legendary U.K. animation studio Aardman is teaming with filmmaker Gurinder Chadha (“Bend It Like Beckham”) on a new feature film project for family audiences. Described by the company as an “exuberant, warm-hearted musical,” the currently untitled Bollywood-inspired feature will follow Bodhi, a young Indian elephant from Kerala who dreams of becoming a famous Bollywood dancer.
Chadha is currently co-writing the screenplay with Paul Mayeda Berges (“What’s Cooking[/link]”) under their production banner Bend It Networks. The two companies will enlist top Indian voice talent, musicians and designers to develop the look and feel of the project.
“Aardman is a great British national treasure. I am honored and excited to bring my unique British Asian vision to their acclaimed animation studio. Their work has so much heart, humor and affection, and we share a love of authentic and joyful underdog stories about memorable characters – so it really is a perfect match,...
- 8/9/2021
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
UK animation studio Aardman (Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit) is teaming up with filmmaker Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham) on a Bollywood-inspired feature.
The musical will tell the story of Bodhi, a young Indian elephant from the jungles of Kerala with an impossible dream – to be a Bollywood dancer.
Chadha will direct and is co-writing the script with Paul Mayeda Berges, under the banner of their production company Bend It Networks.
Chadha said: “Aardman is a Great British national treasure. I am honoured and excited to bring my unique British Asian vision to their acclaimed animation studio. Their work has so much heart, humour and affection, and we share a love of authentic and joyful underdog stories about memorable characters – so it really is a perfect match.”
Peter Lord, Creative Director at Aardman, added: “We are so excited to be collaborating with Gurinder, a truly great director whose beautiful,...
The musical will tell the story of Bodhi, a young Indian elephant from the jungles of Kerala with an impossible dream – to be a Bollywood dancer.
Chadha will direct and is co-writing the script with Paul Mayeda Berges, under the banner of their production company Bend It Networks.
Chadha said: “Aardman is a Great British national treasure. I am honoured and excited to bring my unique British Asian vision to their acclaimed animation studio. Their work has so much heart, humour and affection, and we share a love of authentic and joyful underdog stories about memorable characters – so it really is a perfect match.”
Peter Lord, Creative Director at Aardman, added: “We are so excited to be collaborating with Gurinder, a truly great director whose beautiful,...
- 8/9/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
The Mole Agent director Maite Alberdi with Anne-Katrin Titze on her composer Vincent van Warmerdam: “He took the reference of film noir and really adapted it to the emotion of the film and the tone of the film in the soft humour.”
Maite Alberdi’s Oscar-nominated Best Documentary Feature The Mole Agent (El Agente Topo), produced by Marcela Santibáñez, shot by Pablo Valdés with a perfect score from Vincent van Warmerdam, and a wonderful dance scene to The Platters’ Only You (And You Alone) was also shortlisted as Chile’s submission in the International Feature Film category. A highlight of last year’s New Directors/New Films, Alberdi’s immensely entertaining and wildly funny film starts out as an investigation into a specific place and slowly evolves into something much larger. Bruno Dumont’s films may come to mind - all that humanity is breathtaking!
Rómulo (Rómulo Aitken) with...
Maite Alberdi’s Oscar-nominated Best Documentary Feature The Mole Agent (El Agente Topo), produced by Marcela Santibáñez, shot by Pablo Valdés with a perfect score from Vincent van Warmerdam, and a wonderful dance scene to The Platters’ Only You (And You Alone) was also shortlisted as Chile’s submission in the International Feature Film category. A highlight of last year’s New Directors/New Films, Alberdi’s immensely entertaining and wildly funny film starts out as an investigation into a specific place and slowly evolves into something much larger. Bruno Dumont’s films may come to mind - all that humanity is breathtaking!
Rómulo (Rómulo Aitken) with...
- 4/16/2021
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
As plans for ending lockdown and gradually getting society back to normal come and go, we know that a lot of you are feeling frustrated – but you know that plenty of people in the movies have it worse. That’s why we decided to shine this week’s spotlight on films about escapes. There are a lot of great ones to choose from, and it was difficult leaving out favourites like The Grand Budapest Hotel, Terminator 2: Judgement Day and Anything For Her, but we think you’ll agree that this list gives you some great entertainment to choose from as you look forward to enjoying a little more freedom yourself.
Chicken Run
Chicken Run - Google Play, YouTube
Amber Wilkinson writes: War PoW films like the Great Escape get a feathered makeover in this family adventure - which marked Nick Park and Peter Lord's step up from Wallace and Gromit shorts to feature-length.
Chicken Run
Chicken Run - Google Play, YouTube
Amber Wilkinson writes: War PoW films like the Great Escape get a feathered makeover in this family adventure - which marked Nick Park and Peter Lord's step up from Wallace and Gromit shorts to feature-length.
- 4/9/2021
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Julia Sawalha, one of the stars of the 2000 Aardman Animation classic “Chicken Run,” said Thursday she was not asked to return to the recently announced sequel because producers thought her voice now sounds “too old.”
In a statement shared Thursday, Sawalha said that an actress normally would be allowed to do a voice test to prove they can still match the pitch and tone of the original character, but she said she was informed by producers without being given that chance.
In response, she recorded her own voice demonstration and shared it with producers and posted it to Vimeo, in which she mimics the lines of her character Ginger from the original “Chicken Run.” You can listen to Sawalha’s demo here.
Also Read: Mel Gibson's Role in 'Chicken Run' Sequel Will Be Recast
“I went to great lengths to prove to the production that my voice...
In a statement shared Thursday, Sawalha said that an actress normally would be allowed to do a voice test to prove they can still match the pitch and tone of the original character, but she said she was informed by producers without being given that chance.
In response, she recorded her own voice demonstration and shared it with producers and posted it to Vimeo, in which she mimics the lines of her character Ginger from the original “Chicken Run.” You can listen to Sawalha’s demo here.
Also Read: Mel Gibson's Role in 'Chicken Run' Sequel Will Be Recast
“I went to great lengths to prove to the production that my voice...
- 7/10/2020
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Julia Sawalha has shared an open letter via her social media profiles expressing disappointment and anger at being left out of Aardman Animations’ upcoming “Chicken Run” sequel, confirmed as a Netflix pickup at June’s Annecy festival. Sawalha voiced Ginger in the Oscar-nominated original, which remains the top grossing stop-motion feature ever, 20 years after its release.
“To say that I am devastated and furious would be an understatement,” she said in the letter. “I feel totally powerless, something in all of this doesn’t quite ring true. I trust my instincts and they are waving red flags.”
According to Sawalha, she was informed about the decision last week by her agent, who speculated it was because her voice now sounds “too old” after receiving a letter of dismissal in which it was indicated that Mel Gibson would not be returning as Rocky for that very reason.
Sawalha says that voice...
“To say that I am devastated and furious would be an understatement,” she said in the letter. “I feel totally powerless, something in all of this doesn’t quite ring true. I trust my instincts and they are waving red flags.”
According to Sawalha, she was informed about the decision last week by her agent, who speculated it was because her voice now sounds “too old” after receiving a letter of dismissal in which it was indicated that Mel Gibson would not be returning as Rocky for that very reason.
Sawalha says that voice...
- 7/10/2020
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Though a sequel to the Aardman stop-motion animated film “Chicken Run” is in the works, one of the original film’s voice actors Mel Gibson will not return, two individuals with knowledge of the production told TheWrap.
Because the “Chicken Run” sequel will go into production next year, one individual explains it’s too early to know about voice casting for an animated film, but Gibson, who voiced the character Rocky in the film from 2000, is not expected to be asked back for the sequel.
It’s also unclear if any of the other voice actors from the original film, which also included Julia Sawalha, Phil Daniels, Imelda Staunton and Timothy Spall, will return for the sequel.
Also Read: Winona Ryder Calls Out Hollywood Anti-Semitism, Repeats Mel Gibson's 'Oven Dodger' Comments
The film, which will be distributed by Netflix and will go into production next year, will pick up the...
Because the “Chicken Run” sequel will go into production next year, one individual explains it’s too early to know about voice casting for an animated film, but Gibson, who voiced the character Rocky in the film from 2000, is not expected to be asked back for the sequel.
It’s also unclear if any of the other voice actors from the original film, which also included Julia Sawalha, Phil Daniels, Imelda Staunton and Timothy Spall, will return for the sequel.
Also Read: Winona Ryder Calls Out Hollywood Anti-Semitism, Repeats Mel Gibson's 'Oven Dodger' Comments
The film, which will be distributed by Netflix and will go into production next year, will pick up the...
- 6/23/2020
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
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