Aardman Denies Report That It Is Running Out Of Clay To Make Stop-Motion Films

Bristol, U.K.-based Aardman Animations has denied a story in The Telegraph claiming that the studio won’t have enough clay to make films after its upcoming Wallace & Gromit feature for Netflix.

The paper reported that the English factory that produces Aardman’s modelling clay, which is called Newplast plasticine, announced that it would be shutting down last March. Aardman, they wrote, purchased all of the company’s remaining clay, which would be “enough for just one more film.”

Aardman acknowledges that their clay producer, Newclay Products, is going out of business, but in a statement released on X (formerly known as Twitter), the studio dismissed worries about its ability to continue producing films in the future. “We are touched about recent concern over the future of our beloved clay creations,” the studio said, “but wanted to reassure fans that there is absolutely no need to worry.”

The studio further explained that it is developing new solutions for future productions:

We have high levels of existing stocks of modelling clay to service current and future productions and, much like Wallace in his workshop, we have been tinkering away behind the scenes for quite some time with plans in place to ensure a smooth transition to new stocks to continue to make our iconic productions.

Further supporting Aardman’s statement that they have more than enough clay for the future, an animation supply company in the U.K. is still selling its stock of Newplast plasticine here.

Aardman’s ninth feature film, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, is slated to release on Netflix next month.