WallaceAndGromit.net

Better late than never, I finally have some screenshots from The Simpsons episode Angry Dad: The Movie which aired here in the US in February!

Willice and Crimbles are a parody duo of our beloved Wallace and Gromit featured on The Simpsons as Bart Simpson goes up against “Mixar” and “Willice and Crimbles” for Best Animated Short. The Willice and Crimbles short is titled Better Gnomes and Gardens

Plus Nick Park with Lisa and Bart! And Nick Park did indeed voice himself in this episode with this amusing exchange:

Lisa Simpson: Good luck, Mr Park. There’d be no shame in losing to you.
Nick Park: Oh, that’s very sweet of you. Thank you for saying so.
[Nick Park's fingers come off as they finish a handshake]
Lisa Simpson: Agh!
Nick Park: No worries. I’ll just stick ‘em back on. I’m more clay than man now.

This parody short was not created by Aardman, but instead by Chiodo Bros. Productions and the whole episode is quite a treat if you managed to catch it.

And quickly, some other Wallace and Gromit articles from the past few months:

• The promotion is over (bummer!) but back in February Wallace & Gromit Launch Cheesy Cookbook with Wensleydale
• The fantastic work of the Wallace and Gromit charity
• Kingsmill enlists Wallace & Gromit for promotion
• Profits up at Wallace & Gromit dairy
• Real-life Wallace and Gromit: a cracking combination

Thanks to all the people who submitted their names for our contest, today I drew names out of a hat for the Holiday Raffle, and I’m happy to announce our winners, Kathryn and Darrell!

The winners are being emailed and their calendars will be shipped out on Monday.

Happy New Year!

In the latest Wallace and Gromit’s Cracking Newsletter we learned that the Region 2 DVD release of Wallace and Gromit’s World of Invention is now available in the aardstore!

No word yet on other region releases, so it looks like those of us in the US will still have to wait.

Other big news this week is the possibility of a Wallace and Gromit amusement park ride at Blackpool Pleasure Beach along the Fylde coast in Blackpool, England.

Filmmaker Nick Park says he is in talks on the possible development of a theme park ride based around his cheese-loving Wallace and Gromit characters.

The Preston-born animator told Kirsty Young about the plan on Saturday’s edition of the Radio 4 programme Desert Island Discs.

“We are in the middle of discussions with Blackpool Pleasure Beach about a Wallace and Gromit ride,” Park said.

Reference: Nick Park plans Wallace and Gromit theme park ride (AFP)

For more about that the Desert Island Disks episode you can read about it here:

Guardian.co.uk: Nick Park on Desert Island Discs: Cracking tunes, Gromit!

Or listen to it now on the BBC site!

The great folks at personalise.com who recently release custom cards and calendars featuring Wallace and Gromit have sent me 3 Danilo Wallace and Gromit 2011 wall calendars, 2 of which I’m raffling off on this site to US residents!

Winners will be announced and calendars shipped in the first week in January. Please email me if you have any questions or if you have trouble using the web form: elizabeth@wallaceandgromit.net

Since it can be difficult to get Wallace and Gromit goodies here in the US I’m asking that only US residents apply for this raffle. Thanks!

For the second time this year (and the second holiday cover) Wallace and Gromit will be appearing on the December 18-31.

More information via Amy Brill of the BBC:

Radio Times runs aptly snowy Wallace & Gromit cover for its Christmas issue

Radio Times has shot its own exclusive picture of Nick Park’s creations for its cracking bumper Christmas issue, featuring the duo bearing gifts, crackers and sporting Santa hats. The magazine is in the shops now until 27 December, with listings covering 18-31 December) and is the most eagerly anticipated publishing event of the year – internet forums speculate about what will be on Radio Times’ Christmas cover and the on-sale date as early as August.

Oscar-winning creator Nick Park said: “I still have to pinch myself when I see my characters, that I thought up at college, appearing on TV or in magazines. But to be on the front cover of an institution like the Radio Times – and the Christmas issue – that is an honour indeed, but then W&G are top models. I started planning it months ago, working with my trusted team, to give the cover all the charm and quality of the films. It’s strange working on a Christmas themed photo shoot – when your ‘top models’ are melting in the summer heat. But we worked with dogged devotion to bring you something ‘yule’ love.”

This year’s bumper issue offers a free DVD of the excruciatingly funny Outnumbered Christmas Special, free to collect from Currys or PC World, as well as two weeks worth of in-depth listings for the festive period.

First up, I received an email from Andy Grey of Post Office Ltd who let me know of this great little countdown widget for getting your Royal Mail Christmas mailings out on time:

He also let me know of some really great stamp wallpapers, I’m now using one on my desktop!

http://treatbox.net/wallace-gromit-wallpapers/

Next up, if you’re in the UK you can now find the Totally… Wallace and Gromit’s World of Invention magazine on newstands. For those of us outside the UK and using Windows, Mac or iPad you can buy a digital copy for just 2 pounds.

And finally, the last Wallace and Gromit’s World of Invention episode of the season is airing this week. If you’re outside the UK and unable to view these gems, there are some short clips on the Aardman YouTube page, which features a whole playlist for World of Invention: http://www.youtube.com/user/aardman#g/c/D2AF82165A5DEAA5. You can also read the summaries which some diligent folks have posted on the Wikipedia Wallace and Gromit’s World of Invention page.

On November 3rd the first episode Wallace and Gromit’s new World of Invention series began on BBC One, and viewers were treated to a second episode on Wednesday the 10th. Here’s hoping they release it on DVD in the States pretty quick so us US-bound fans can see it! For now I’ll have to suffice with some preview articles and reviews.

Preview: Wallace and Gromit’s World of Invention comes to BBC One

Review: Wallace & Gromit’s World Of Invention – Nature Knows Best

Also quite a treat to read was a preview interview with Wallace himself by whatsontv.co.uk: Wallace: ‘I fancy being a celebrity chef’

But the other big news of the week is the release of the brand new Cracking Contraptions Manual!

Guardian.co.uk: Wallace & Gromit’s Cracking Contraptions Manual goes on sale

WallaceAndGromit.com Forum: Cracking Contraptions Manual is out now!:

How do the Techno Trousers work? What’s inside the Rocket? How did Wallace rebuild Preston the Cyber Dog?

Find out the answers to these questions and more in Haynes Wallace & Gromit’s Cracking Contraptions Manual, as the lid is lifted on the wonderful contraptions of everyone’s favourite inventor.

Order your copy now at the Aardstore! WALLACE & GROMIT Cracking Contraptions Manual

Want that perfect, personalized, card for your favorite Wallace and Gromit fan?

How about a 2011 calendar?

Personalise.com has the answer!

Outside of the Wallace and Gromit card:

Inside of the Wallace and Gromit card:

To order this card, head over to http://www.personalise.com/products/wallace-and-gromit-personalised-card

And the calendar…

To see all the images for the months and order the calendar: http://www.personalise.com/products/wallace-and-gromit-personalised-2011-calendar

And for Shaun lovers, they also have Shaun the sheep cards: http://www.personalise.com/products/shaun-the-sheep-personalised-card

Finally, as a reader of wallaceandgromit.net you’re entitled to a coupon code, just enter PERS1WG1 when you check out to get 20% off your first card and/or calendar order until November 19th.

Back in 2008 I was pleased to announce that Wallace and Gromit Grace Cover of Radio Times, in preparation for the release of A Matter of Loaf and Death.

I’m delighted to be able to share that they made the cover once again, this time for their upcoming World of Invention series!

Thanks to Amy Brill of the BBC for letting me know and getting me the great high-resolution image of the cover. In her email she also described what was available inside:

a giant Wallace & Gromit poster and wall chart, to celebrate their return to our screens in BBC1’s World of Invention. Plus an exclusive interview with their Oscar-winning creator Nick Park.

Excellent!

I mentioned in the last post that a new splash page had been put up for the new Wallace and Gromit’s World of Invention series on BBC.

Well, I’m happy to announce that the site has gone fully live! Complete with a game (which I really should stop playing and go to sleep!), kits and a new competition, the site is a real treat.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcone/wallaceandgromit/

And if you’re like me and in the United States so can’t see the video on the BBC site, you can check out the WallaceandGromitWOI Channel on YouTube for some early clips and BBC One commercials for the show.

Well done, lads!