DB7

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Animators Aardman end movie deal

Wallace and Gromit creators Aardman Animations and US studio Dreamworks have ended a five-film deal early after two movies reportedly underperformed.

Losses were reported for their last two films, Flushed Away and Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.

The companies have released three films together, also including Chicken Run.

Dreamworks said the firms now had "different business goals", while Bristol-based Aardman Animations said their "ambitions have moved apart".

A fourth planned film, Crood Awakening, co-written by John Cleese, will now be a Dreamworks production with no Aardman involvement.

Aardman spokesman Arthur Sheriff said the separation was a result of Dreamworks' move to focus on computer animation.

Peter Lord (l) and David Sproxton
Peter Lord (left) and David Sproxton started Aardman in 1976
The UK animators wanted to continue making their distinctive "claymations", he said.

"We always knew that America would be a hard task for us - we're a very English company," he added.

"We embrace the international market but we think part of our strength is our English sense of humour and we want to continue with that."

Aardman owners Peter Lord and David Sproxton said they had enjoyed a "hugely successful and creative relationship" with Dreamworks.

"But both companies are aware that our ambitions have moved apart, and it feels like the right time to move on," they said.

"Aardman has an ambitious slate of feature film projects in development and we will announce our future production and distribution plans shortly."

Dreamworks 'fan'

Dreamworks chief executive Jeffrey Katzenberg said the studio would make two computer-animated films a year and had those planned up to 2010.

"While I will always be a fan and an admirer of Aardman's work, our different business goals no longer support each other," he said.

The companies struck a five-film distribution deal in 1999.

The first feature film starring Aardman's most-famous creations, inventor Wallace and his dog Gromit, won last year's Oscar for best animated feature.

A US version of the studio's Creature Comforts TV series is to be broadcast later this year.

JamesM

Dreamsworks 'now had "different business goals"'

Aardman 'their "ambitions have moved apart"'

Wallace & Gromit "It's gone up shit creek"

Say it how it is.

DB7

It seems Dreamworks wanted to encourage Aardman to use more CGI rather than the time-consuming claymation.

Fellwanderer

Just as well they weren't around to try to cut a deal with Michelangelo

All the best
FELL

A signature is no substitute for a life

Moor Larkin

Their spokesman said, "It's too 'ard, man..."

I was watching the news last night. It seems to me they were just spending too much money..... £73M on the last one? A cartoon? Phew......... The problem with Epics is usually that they end up very po-faced.

I hope the claymen can get back to basics and enjoy their craft....

[code]http://www.flickr.com/photos/29487363@N02/sets/72157606700675506/code]

Steve Crook

Or, in the case of Flushed Away, they end up poo-faced

Steve

DB7

Gromit animators sign Sony deal
Wallace and Gromit creator Aardman Animations has agreed a three-year deal with Sony Pictures.

The Bristol-based company had been looking for a new Hollywood partner after its association with US studio Dreamworks came to an end in January.

"We couldn't be more excited about working with the entire Aardman team," said Sony co-chairman Amy Pascal.

Aardman co-founder David Sproxton said: "We are delighted to find a partner in Sony that shares our vision."

"We are all very excited by the potential and have a number of projects we are keen to bring to fruition with this new relationship," Sproxton added.

Last year's Open Season, featuring Billy Connolly as the leader of a group of squirrels, was the first release from Sony Pictures' animation arm.

Back in January it was reported the five-film deal between Aardman and Dreamworks had ended after two movies underperformed.

Losses were reported for their last two films, Flushed Away and Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.

However, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit went on to win the Oscar for best animated feature - one of four Academy Awards which creator Nick Park has won since 1991.