National Trust to debut new Wallace & Gromit animation over Jubilee Weekend
The National Trust has launched a campaign today teaming up with national treasures Wallace and Gromit to help lead the country’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
The loveable duo’s NEW mini animation will be shown for the first time ever at Trust places including Felbrigg Hall and Anglesey Abbey in the East of England. The funny flick has been specially created for the National Trust festivities and shows the pair preparing for the big weekend, by scaling the ladders to hoist the bunting up around a magnificent Trust manor.
The green grass carpet will be rolled out for the mini animation – A Jubilee Bunt-a-thon – and a behind the scenes documentary, which are to be exclusively screened at the Trust’s 70 Jubilee parties across the country. Their films have already met with the royal seal of approval with Camilla declaring that Wallace and Gromit are Prince Charles’ “favourite people in the world”.
The one-minute animation begins in the familiar setting of 62 West Wallaby Street with the ever faithful and long suffering Gromit sitting at his sewing machine making miles of bunting to adorn National Trust places across the country.
Tony Berry, Visitor Experience Director of the National Trust, comments:
“The National Trust and Wallace and Gromit are two of Britain’s greatest treasures and we felt it fitting that in this summer of celebration we should bring them together. We are holding our very own premiere of Wallace & Gromit’s Jubilee Bunt-a thon at our properties. It was made exclusively for the National Trust and we are really excited that it will encourage the nation to join us for an extra special Diamond Jubilee celebration.”
Nick Park, creator of Wallace and Gromit, comments:
“I have to pinch myself when I think how far Wallace and Gromit have come; from ideas in my head, to ‘film stars’ working with great organisations such as the National Trust, which the nation holds dear to its heart. At Aardman we are thrilled that Wallace and Gromit have had a chance to explore all the Trust has to offer – from helping to put up bunting to enjoying their Wensleydale cheese platter at a picnic. Wallace and Gromit are in for a cracking summer at the National Trust.
“The National Trust has a special place in my heart from a childhood memory of completing a paint- by- numbers at Stourhead, to Montacute House, on which we based Tottington Hall in the Curse of the Were-rabbit.”
Wallace & Gromit’s Jubilee Bunt-a-thon will be shown on 4th June at Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk (11am – 10.30pm) and at Anglesey Abbey in Cambridgeshire (10.30am – 5.30pm), where there will be some cracking Jubilee parties. As well as the debut of the mini animation and behind the scenes ‘making of…’ film, throughout the day visitors will be able to sit back, relax and watch some of our favourite Aardman films. There will be Wallace and Gromit model making workshops with trained Aardman animators (places limited on the day), themed trails, a variety of fun games for children and exclusive themed retail and catering treats for all the family.
Also, at Felbrigg Hall you can stay late and watch live coverage of the BBC’s Jubilee Concert from Buckingham Palace, where entry will be free.
For a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Wallace and Gromit film visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wallaceandgromit.
The film in numbers:
30 – number of people who contributed to the making of the film
3 – months it took to make
500 – hours taken to complete from storyboard to post production
60 – metres of bunting used to decorate West Wallaby Street and National Trust property
8 – hours spent brushing the grass with a fork to achieve the correct look
30 – kilograms of plasticine used
4 – number of Gromits used in filming
254 – weight in kilograms of the National Trust property in the film
