UK’s 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.
A weekend of over 70 Jubilee tea parties will be held across the country where the loveable duo’s new mini animation will be shown for the first time ever at Trust places. The funny flick has been specially created for the National Trust festivities as part of their Summer of Celebration campaign 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 Jubilee parties. 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.
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
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.”
The nation’s much loved comedy duo have paired up with the Trust for some cracking Jubilee parties this summer which as well as the debut of the mini animation and behind the scenes ‘making of…’ film, will also feature Wallace and Gromit model making workshops with trained Aardman animators, themed trails, a variety of fun games for children and exclusive themed retail and catering treats for all the family.
Wallace & Gromit’s Jubilee Bunt-a-thon will be shown on 4 June at 14 National Trust properties as part of the Summer of Celebration Diamond Jubilee parties. Take a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Wallace and Gromit film.
