The British studio Aardman Animations in Bristol, UK, is famous for their claymation films, such as Wallace & Gromit, Shaun The Sheep, and Chicken Run. Their new feature film Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget is set to be released on Netflix on December 15. But things are not looking well for the studio. Their classic claymation technique takes around a half ton of clay (actually plasticine) for a single feature film, and the factory that makes it is shutting down operations!
On hearing the news, Aardman Animations bought up as much of the inventory of Newplast Plasticine as they could, which is enough to make one more feature film. That will be a Wallace & Gromit movie scheduled for 2024. After that, who knows? The studio is looking for an alternate material and supplier, but it would be a shame if this spells the end of claymation as we know it.
(Image credit: Netflix)