Wallace & Gromit Are In Melbourne

words by niall roeder

Hilarious heavyweights of the animation world have arrived at Melbourne’s Federation Square in an event that’s promised to bring mystery, suspense and… tea?

The Magic of Aardman is the latest exhibition at ACMI, and it’s an absolute cracker. This cheesy (in the best sense of the word) exhibition shines a spotlight on the ingenious world created by British animation powerhouse, Aardman Animations.

If the “tea”, “cracker” and “cheese” references are lost on you, Aardman Animations is the uniquely creative studio behind cult classic claymation flicks like Shaun the Sheep the Movie, Chicken Run, The Pirates! Band of Misfits, Morph and of course Wallace and Gromit. Oh, right.

“I’m just crackers about cheese” – Wallace, Wallace & Gromit

With over 350 objects to gawk at, fans are encouraged to mosey down to Fed Square and get a behind the scenes glimpse of the malleable Aardman universe. Handcrafted plasticine models, concept drawings, character studies and storyboards from the renowned studio will be on display, including never-before-seen gems like the first sketches of Wallace & Gromit and the rocket from A Grand Day Out.

“I don’t want to be a pie… I don’t like gravy” – Babs, Chicken Run

The exhibition, created by French museum Art Ludique, will also include elaborate sets and props. Maybe you’ll gravitate towards Wallace’s harebrained inventions, Gromit’s famous vegetable garden and the city streets from Shaun the Sheep; or perhaps the Chicken Run flying machine and the five-metre tall pirate ship are more up your alley.

“And that’s why, in a straight fight, a shark would probably beat a Dracula” – Pirate Captain, The Pirates! Band of Misfits

Wallace & Gromit and Friends: The Magic of Aardman pays homage to the unfailing imagination of the Oscar-winning studio in the most suitable way – with tongue in cheek. This is one for young and old, fans of tea, and of course cheese.

Wallace & Gromit and Friends: The Magic of Aardman will be showing from Jun 29 – October 29 at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image.