Aardman at 50: craft, archives and public exhibitions

Country Life marks Aardman Animations' 50th anniversary through a studio-history feature that connects the company's Bristol roots with its continuing commitment to handmade production. The article describes the visible fingerprints, dense background detail and frame-by-frame manipulation that remain central to Aardman's identity, while noting that the studio has also used CGI where appropriate. It traces the path from Peter Lord and David Sproxton's early work through Morph, Nick Park's arrival with A Grand Day Out, and the growth of Wallace & Gromit, Chicken Run, Shaun the Sheep and other productions.\n\nThe feature also documents how Aardman's production history is being presented to the public in 2026. It reports that Cracking Exhibition, Gromit! at M Shed and Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends at the Young V&A display original puppets, sets, storyboards and process material, while interactive lighting and animation activities introduce younger visitors to stop-motion practice. The article therefore provides both a current anniversary overview and a record of how the studio's craft, archive and training legacy are being interpreted through exhibitions and public programming.