As Aardman gears up to celebrate its 50th anniversary this year, the studio is extending its footprint far beyond the screen with a slate of live cultural experiences aimed squarely at kids new to the company’s characters and longtime fans alike. All of this is, of course, in addition to a new Shaun the Sheep movie, coming to theaters around Halloween.
In the U.K., the Aardman in Concert tour was announced by Carrot Productions in partnership with the Bristol-based studio. Running from May to October, the production brings Aardman’s best-known characters to concert halls, festivals, and cultural venues across the country, pairing big-screen animation with live orchestral performances.
The show opens with a newly created montage celebrating five decades of Aardman history, before closing with a full screening of either The Wrong Trousers or A Matter of Loaf and Death, performed with live accompaniment. Venues will rotate between the two titles, giving audiences a chance to revisit classic Wallace & Gromit adventures in a cinematic concert setting.
The tour builds on Carrot Productions’ earlier success with Wallace & Gromit’s Musical Marvels and, according to a release, underscores Aardman’s growing interest in live experiences to connect generations through shared cultural touchstones.
Molly Van Den Brink, senior Attractions & Live Experiences manager at Aardman said in a release:
What better way to continue our longstanding partnership with Carrot Productions than celebrating our 50th anniversary together, allowing fans of all ages the chance to experience our favourite Aardman moments from the last 50 years in such a joyful and uplifting concert, while introducing children to the wonder of a live orchestra.
That same anniversary spirit carries into London next year, where the Young V&A will open Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends this month. Designed primarily for children and families, the exhibition offers a behind-the-scenes look at the studio’s special brand of stop-motion animation, featuring more than 150 objects from Aardman’s archives alongside hands-on activities that demystify the craft for young visitors.
From original storyboards and puppets to interactive lighting and sound stations, the exhibition frames Aardman’s signature “thumbiness” as both an artistic hallmark and an invitation to create at home
Ngaio Harding-Hill, head of Live Attractions and Live Experiences at Aardman, said:
As Aardman celebrates its 50th anniversary, Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends offers a wonderful opportunity to shine a light on the creativity and craftsmanship behind the animation process – from initial sketch through to post-production. We hope that through this exhibition, the joy and wonder of our craft will inspire the next generation of storytellers, directors, model-makers and animators.
Together, the concert tour and museum exhibition reflect a studio marking its legacy not just by looking back, but by actively cultivating the next generation of animation fans and artists through in-person engagement.