WallaceAndGromit.net

Great news for those of us in the US, there will finally be a DVD release of Cracking Contraptions!

Due for a September 20th release, the DVD will contain all three short movies, plus Cracking Contraptions and Special Features which will include: Never-Before-Seen Cracking Contraptions shorts and Theatrical Movie Sneak Peek and More! -source: AnimatedBliss.com

I’m so happy the upcoming movie release has prompted Dreamworks to release these in the US!

Wallace and Gromit’s annual Wrong Trousers Day falls on June 24th this year. While it doesn’t mean a whole lot to those of us in the States (not sure what my boss would think if I wore crazy pants on Friday), it’s an important fundraiser for the Wallace and Gromit Chidlren’s Foundation.

You can donate by visiting the site, and paying either by mailing in a donation, or paying online in UK pounds (most major credit cards support payments in foriegn currencies, check your agreement for additional fees).

There is also reasonably priced merchandise for the event. Click here merchandise

Frontier, the intependent UK-based game developer that already has release rights to the WnG movie on the big consoles, now has the rights to release for mobile-technology (mobile phones, pocket pcs, etc).

Frontier Developments Ltd. (‘Frontier’), the leading independent games developer, announced today that it has acquired exclusive worldwide rights to publish mobile games based on Aardman Animations Ltd.~Rs (‘Aardman’) much-loved, Oscar®-winning, claymation duo Wallace & Gromit.

“Mobile phone gaming is a large and growing segment of the games market and is an important element of our strategy for several reasons” said Frontier Managing Director David Walsh “Its vital that leading games companies such as Frontier rise to the strategic engineering and creative challenge of delivering for customers a coherent yet differentiated interaction with their favourite franchises across all gaming formats.On a creative level, mobiles offer fresh, exciting gameplay opportunities to stimulate and provide an outlet for a different set of game ideas than those used in our console and PC releases. And finally for Frontier as an intellectual property business the current economics of the mobile market allow us to grow a valuable publishing dimension to our operations.”

Read full press release here: Frontier to give Wallace & Gromit their gaming debut on that ultimate ‘cracking contraption’ – the mobile phone!

Steven Attenborough dropped me an email yesterday letting me know about Westco movie toys previewed on amazon.co.uk. Just go to the site, and do a search for Wallace and Gromit in the toys section. None are for sale yet, but here are previews of a few:

Wallace & Gromit Talking Garden Figurine

• Hang on old chum’ just one of 6 hilarious Wallace phrases
• Light sensor activated ‘intruder’ alert, ideal for indoors or outdoors

Wallace & Gromit Tottington Hall 3D Talking Alarm

• Wallace & Gromit 3D talking bedside alarm
• “Wakey wakey it’s off to Bunvac 6000 with you” just one of four hilarious phrases
• Includes dem button backlight and snooze features

Wallace & Gromit Anti Pesto Van AM/FM Radio Alarm

• Authentic Wallace and Gromit Anti Pesto van easy tune am/fm radio talking alarm
• Includes dem button, backlight and snooze features

Thanks Steven!

Wednesday I learned that the BBC has recently purchased the airing rights for the new Wallace and Gromit movie in 2008.

The film will be shown in UK cinemas from October, while the BBC plans to show it in 2008.

“This deal continues our strong relationship with Aardman and we’re pleased to able to acquire quality British films as part of our commitment to investment in British talent.”

Full article: BBC buys Wallace and Gromit movie

I also stumbled upon and an article from Time.com that includes a blurb about WnG. Enjoy!

June Toy dropped me an email yesterday to let me know about the new trailer for the WnG movie, and an article with some newly released pictures!

The trailer is now up on moviefone. I haven’t found a direct download address though, if you can find one I’d be interested in downloading. You can stream the trailer here: Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit Trailers & Clips.

The article with more pictures is here: CAN: Wallace & Gromit. Beware though, this article contains scenes from the film and may contain spoilers! I was also excited to see they have a photo of a cardboard standup for the film

Enjoy! And thanks again June!

Frontier Developments has released a trailer for the new Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit video game in production.

Currently being worked on at David Braben’s Frontier Developments, W&G is set for release on PS2, Xbox, Cube and PC later this year. Our new trailer shows off some of the game’s crazy environments, comedy platform action, and some cool bonus play modes. Check it out, it’s cracking.

Full Article: BY ECK! NEW WALLACE & GROMIT MOVIE!

Download the trailer here

It looks great!

I mentioned in a post a couple days ago that there would be a Wallace and Gromit sneak peak and tribute at the Cannes festival on Thrusday, and indeed there was!

the studio brought a huge blow-up Gromit to the party, which towered above some of the beach front hotels. Nick Park, the creator of the two characters, ead of Aardman Animation and co-director of the film was present, along with fellow helmer Peter Lord and DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg.

Full article: The Hollywood News: CANNES: ‘Wallace and Gromit’ hit the Croisette

More Pictures: Here, here, and here (source: thehollywoodnews.com)

Also check out the new section of wallaceandgromit.net that has pictures of models from the film: Wallace and Gromit Movie Models

June Toy dropped me an email today letting me know about the release of the movie poster, woo! Thanks June.

Now with the movie release date there will be a lot of news coming out and I might not be able to grab it all myself like I have in the past. I really appreciate June and the others who have emailed me about news, so please, if you come across anything don’t hesitate to drop me an email: lyz@princessleia.com

Taking place from 10th -14th August 2005 at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) and shaping up to be one of the gaming events of the summer, EIEF will premiere ‘Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of The Were-Rabbit’

Industry legend David Braben (Chairman and Founder of Frontier Developments) and Aardman Animations’ Design and Product Development Manager Rachael Carpenter will offer an insight into their unique collaboration on Frontier’s new console game ‘The Curse of The Were-Rabbit’ based on the cinematic release, out in Autumn this year. The game sees the dynamic claymation duo Wallace & Gromit pitted against the sinister Were-Rabbit and other shadowy adversaries, and allows the player to explore and interact with the locations and characters from the film. David comments “This has been a very exciting project for Frontier. Collaborating closely with the world-renowned team at Aardman, we have again worked with the two fantastic characters of Wallace & Gromit to create a game that we are all thrilled with. Edinburgh is a great platform for us to premiere the game”.

Full article: gamsindustry.bix Hooray for Holyrood!

You may remember last year, when Will Smith, Angelina Jolie and Jack Black were out publicising SHARK TALE. Well, that was all down to Dreamworks, and this year the studio is going to the dogs in support of its new clay-animated film from Aardman Animation, WALLACE AND GROMIT AND THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT. We’re told that Gromit himself will be making an appearence on the beach.

Immediately following, the Cannes Film Festival’s Artistic Delegate, Thierry Frémaux, will introduce DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg, who will host a tribute to Aardman. An official part of the festival, the tribute will be presented at 10:30 a.m. in the Palais at the Salle Bazin, and will feature appearances by “Wallace & Gromit” creator and director Nick Park, and Aardman co-founders David Sproxton and Peter Lord.

Full article: Info on Wallace and Gromit’s appearence at Cannes