Vengeance Most Fowl brought computer tricks to classic Claymation

Technology has always been a funny thing in the world of Wallace and Gromit— where Wallace’s wacky inventions, from literal spaceships to remote-controlled robo-pants, sit alongside a classic vision of low-internet Britain. So is the case with doing Wallace and Gromit at Aardman, too, as the studio’s traditional hand-animated features triumphed even as it turned to CGI sidekicks and fully 3D projects over its long history. With Aardman’s return to Wallace and Gromit for the first time in 16 years on the horizon with Revenge. Most birdsyou can glimpse the how the studio balances both the traditional and the contemporary in this small excerpt from the film’s new art book.

Out December 31 from Titan Books, The Art of Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most a bird– written by Richard Hansom, prior development producer Wallace and Gromit TV movie A matter of bread and death— will take you behind the scenes of the development process for Aardman’s long-awaited return to its the most iconic creationscovering the return of Wrong pantsbeloved villain Feathers McGraw and much more in a series of cast and crew interviews, as well as tons of behind-the-scenes looks at the making of the film, from early concept art from Wallace and Gromit creator Nick Park himself, right down to photos showing the legions of clay models created for the film.

You will also be able to see a lot more about how Revenge. Most birds I’ve seen Aardman incorporate more technology into its manufacturing process, such as 3D printed mockups for rapid prototyping, in our exclusive materials from the book below (be sure to click to see them in full resolution!). But you’ll also get a little insight into how Aardman still prioritizes the handmade feel of the film, even when it might use CG to achieve a shot — like the moment Wallace’s latest invention, Norbot the Smart Gnome, found himself basking in the shade of green Matrix-esque code on the computer screen.

The Art of Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most a bird Exclusive review

It’s an effect that the animators could have simply replicated entirely in post-production VFX, but as you can see in the spread above, animator Sean Gregory instead opted for an in-camera effect: a tiny model with a scaled projector lighting up the scene to reproduce the file with animated code graphics that can be synchronized with the capture of the stop-motion elements. A fitting combination of computer and hand animation that even Wallace would be impressed with!

The Art of Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most a bird will be released on Titan Books on December 31st after that Revenge. Most birds airs in the UK and Ireland on Christmas Day – ahead of its international release on Netflix on January 3.

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