Aardman to celebrate 50 'cracking' years in home city

The "Cracking Exhibition Gromit: 50 Years of Aardman in Bristol" is due to take over the M Shed next summer

The animation studio behind Wallace and Gromit, Chicken Run and Shaun the Sheep is celebrating 50 years in the business with a major new exhibition in its home city.

Bristol-based Aardman Studios, famed for its stop-motion and clay modelling animation, was founded by school friends David Sproxton and Peter Lord.

The "Cracking Exhibition Gromit: 50 Years of Aardman in Bristol" is due to take over the M Shed next summer, with a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process, iconic characters and a celebration of the studio's "deep-rooted connection" to the city

Ngaio Harding-Hill, from Aardman, said: "2026 is such an important year for Aardman and the anniversary would never have been complete without a celebration in our home city."

"The programme of experiences with M Shed and Bristol Museum & Art Gallery will be a real highlight celebrating the importance of Bristol, its people and creative connection to the studio over the last 50 years," he added.

As part of the collaboration, "Aardman treasures" will also be hidden throughout Bristol Museum and Art Gallery.

Bristol Museums head of culture, Philip Walker, said they were "absolutely delighted" to be working with Aardman on this exciting collaboration.

"It's a brilliant celebration of Bristol's creative spirit and a tribute to the imagination and humour that Aardman has shared with the world for half a century," he said.

"We can't wait to showcase 50 years of clay, creativity, and cracking adventures."

Along with the exhibition, Aardman treasures will also be hidden throughout Bristol Museum and Art Gallery

The first Wallace And Gromit film was 1989's A Grand Day Out, which was followed by The Wrong Trousers, A Close Shave, The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit and A Matter Of Loaf And Death.

The studio's most recent film Vengeance Most Fowl, which saw the return of evil penguin Feathers McGraw, picked up two gongs at the Baftas awards ceremony and was also nominated for an Oscar.