I haven’t posted much news/pictures about this, but a page all about it is in the works, as well as some tidbits from the past few weeks.

Happy Holidays!

Check them out below: (Beware: Spoilers)

Puppy Love 

Toasted Teacakes 

Top Bun

All the above clips can also be found at a very popular video upload site, as well as two new clips, including the introduction and a clip of Gromit.

Also the official site has been updated with downloads etc. at www.wallaceandgromit.com

Only 15 days till broadcast (BBC only) - I can’t wait!

He also said:

“Inside the magazine is an interview with Nick Park and more pics of Wallace and Gromit, plus an offer to send off for a double-sided A1 size poster featuring an image of the Radio Times picture on one side and an image from A Matter of Loaf and Death on the other.”

How exciting - well done lads!

• Lady Tottington (1.3M)
  
• Wallace (1.2M)

Thanks again Ben!

Next in the news is the Science Museum in London announcing the hosting of a Wallace and Gromit inventions exhisibt in 2009:

• Science Museum Press Release
• WallaceAndGromit.com Announcement
• Science Museum Exhibit Page

Aardman has also launched their own YouTube channel, check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/aardman

What has the Wallace And Gromit Children’s Foundation been up to? They are now planning a Tea Party! Check out their site for how to donate and take part: Wallace & Gromit’s Tea Party

RSVP and we will send you a fantastic Wallace & Gromit Tea Party pack with all you need to make your tea party a great success ! Included in your Tea party pack are some fantastic Wallace & Gromit invitations so you can invite your friends, family and work colleagues to join your party !

Big update to the filming of the new film, A Matter of Loaf and Death they met their shooting deadline on the 10th of October. Now what?

Once we’ve finished we’ll send all the footage to Nick Park. The next stage is called the ‘picture lock’ where Nick finalises all the shots he wants to use in the final cut of the film. The finalised version is then passed on to several departments to add the finishing touches. This includes finishing off the visual effects in the CGI department and adding music and sound effects. This process is extremely important - we have already gone through 2 versions of the music trying to make sure that it is right for the look and feel of the film - it’s amazing how much of a difference it can make!

Well done!! More details on the site: Film Production Blog: Filming on AMOLAD…1 day left!

WHEN a designer store launches an advertising campaign it’s likely it will hire a top model - such as Kate Moss or Agyness Deyn - to display its expensive outfits.

But posh department store Harvey Nichols has broken the mould.

Instead, the shop’s bosses have decided Nick Park’s plasticine pals Wallace and Gromit are the perfect models for their ads.

In a change from his usual white shirt, green tank top, red tie and brown trousers, cheese-loving Wallace is dressed in designer sunglasses, a navy Alexander McQueen suit, Dolce and Gabbana shirt and Giorgio Armani tie.

His faithful sidekick Gromit is kitted out in a Paul Smith scarf and Ray-Ban sunglasses in the pictures”

- TheSun.co.uk: He’s in the right trousers now

For more, check out these related articles:

• AWN: Harvey Nichols Puts Wallace And Gromit In The Right Trousers
• MediaBistro: UK Department Store Gets Wallace and Gromit Into Designer Duds
• BBC News: Wallace given designer trousers

Finally, the Harvey Nichols website has a photo shoot flash video on their site:

Harvey Nichols has worked with top models and local residents, Wallace and Gromit, to launch the Bristol store this September. To see their photo shoot, view the video (here)

“As for the game itself, Shaun must complete a series of fetch-quests and mini-games while ensuring he stays well out of the way of the farmer’s keen eye. For example, his first objective is to round up 15 sheep - who’ve escaped from the pen - before the farmer returns from market.”

ING: E3 2008: Shaun the Sheep Hands-on

I also really enjoyed the Curse game for the PS2, so I have high hopes for this game. More screenshots here and a trailer from shaunthesheep.com:

But I’m not done with game news! There is now a website up for the upcoming Telltale Games: Wallace and Gromit Grand Adventures game! There are dozens of articles out there about it, but Adventure Gamers has a nice one: Telltale nicks Wallace & Gromit license for new series and so does CNN: ‘Wallace and Gromit’ venture into new video game. Word is that it’ll be for the Wii and PC, suppose this means I have yet another reason to get a Wii! WallaceAndGromit.com has more information on an article on their website as well: Aardman and Telltale announce “stories you can play” based on W&G

There is now an exhibit called Animated Adventures - Leicester New Walk Museum 7th June -12th October.

 ”Animated Adventures, a travelling exhibition featuring original sets and models from the hugely-successful Wallace and Gromit films, is opening at the New Walk Museum and Art Gallery in Leicester this Saturday.

…

For more information on directions and opening times, visit: http://www.leicester.gov.uk/your-council–services/lc/leicester-city-museums/museums/nwm–art-gallery”

- Animated Adventures Exhibit Moves to Leicester

Speaking of Art, there is not another floral sculpture of the duo, this time of their motorbike and sidecar!

The very successful Wrong Trousers day has gathered a lot of support, most recently from Desmond Tutu!

 “Famous cartoon characters Wallace and Gromit posed with Nobel Peace Prize-winning Archbishop Desmond Tutu recently to promote a fund-raising even in aid of their children’s foundation.”

And an one article of many about events that happened on Wrong Trousers day, this one was from a supermarket in Beckenham: News Shopper: Checking out wrong trousers

..and did they reach their goal of 100 million pounds? Sure did - plus more! Trousers pocket £217 for hospices

 ”Inspired by his heroes Wallace and Gromit, Sam has become Britain’s youngster inventor by patenting an idea for a new type of broom.”

- Mirror.co.uk: Sam Houghton, 5, is the youngest patent holder

Aardman, in keeping with their fantastic reputation with community involvement, they have donated original artwork to a local charity for a race.

 ”Aardman Animations, makers of The Wrong Trousers and Curse of the Were-Rabbit, is supporting the 2008 Acorns Children’s Hospice Triple Run by donating original artwork from the movie Chicken Run and producing special signage for the event.”

-  Worcester News: How creators of Wallace and Gromit are helping hospice

Wallace and Gromit visit hospitals gearing up for the Wrong Trousers Day 2008, their goal this year is to increase participation from 400,000 in 2007 to one million this year:

 ”Characters Wallace and Gromit visited a north London hospital as part of a nationwide tour to promote a fund raising event.

The life-sized pair met youngsters at the Whittington Hospital ahead of the Wrong Trousers Day next month.”

- BBC:  Grand tour for Wallace and Gromit

They also visited Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Whittington Hospital, and others.

Finally, an article that talks about the fabulous  Wensleydale Cheese with Cranberries. It turns out that the skins used to make that cheese come from skins of Ocean Spray raspberry juice production in the US, so that cheese I buy has quite a journey before it gets on my table back here in the US.

“American firm Ocean Spray produces gallons of cranberry juice each year but has no use for the skins.

So each month, tonnes of the skins arrive from the US at the Wensleydale Creamery at Hawes, North Yorkshire, to be used in one of its best-selling cheeses.

The skins form a prime component of Real Yorkshire Wensleydale Cheese with Cranberries.”

- The Northern Echo

Yum Wensleydale!

• BBC News: Aardman scoops animation awards
• Guardian.co.uk: Aardman shines at animation awards

The new upcoming Wallace and Gromit film, A Matter of Loaf And Death (formerly known as Trouble At Mill) has started voice casting. After hearing Sally Lindsay on a radio interview, Nick Park was able to hire her to voice Wallace’s new love interest, Piella Bakewell.

• Empire Movie News: New Wallace & Gromit Gets Love Interest

Finally, Easter is tomorrow - and the Shaun the Sheep mailing list has sent out an Easter greeting for all subscribed. Check out Shaun’s latest Newsletter here. Not subscribed? Sign up here.

For more information visit www.ebay.co.uk.

www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk for news article.

 On a side note:

 Timmy the adorable lamb from Shaun on the Sheep is set to get his own TV show in 2009. There will be 52, 10 minute episodes, each following a day in his life at Nursery. The series is aimed at the pre-school market (who cares!) and has already been sold to CBeebies (BBC pre-school channel) and is currently securing worldwide sales.

http://www.aardman.com/html/news.asp?type=html for more information!