CNN reports that a warehouse fire has claimed almost the entirety of the props, sets and character models of the Aardman Animation company in Bristol, England. “Our whole history has been wiped out,” said a company spokesman. Incredibly, the man who has more invested than most in the destroyed studio inventory, Nick Park, the Academy Award-winning creator of Aardman Animation and its most beloved characters, Wallace and Gromit, was the one with the clearest perspective about the loss. "Even though it is a precious and nostalgic collection and valuable to the company, in light of other tragedies, today isn't a big deal," he said.
Apparently, the sets from the studio's latest film, Wallace & Gromit and the Curse of the Were-rabbit survived the blaze, perhaps in part due to their presence in an exhibit currently on display at the Arclight Cinemas in Hollywood, in conjunction with the movie's recent release. The exhibit continues at the Arclight through October 16.
It makes me sad to think of all that stuff getting wiped out (like the evil little penguin, for example). But what a cool attitude Nick Park has about it, and of course he's right: it's hard not to feel like it's the end of the world lately when I read the newspaper every morning! Maybe I need a dose of the new Wallace & Gromit movie to cheer me up.
ReplyDeleteBlaaagh: The Curse of the Were-rabbit is, if not a cure-all for the woes of the real world, then at least guaranteed to make you feel better about what movies can still do. It is very sad to think of Feathers McGraw and the rest all melted and burned away, but Park's hand-crafted artistry and inspired abilities as a storyteller will do as much to encourage a new and contuining chapter in the legacy of the near-dead art of stop-motion animation than any warehouse full of sets and memorabilia could do. I 100% guarantee that you will love it.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read about the Aardman warehouse fire, I remembered John Lennon talking about the demise of the Beatles-- "You know, people who miss us will always have the records..."
ReplyDeleteWhile I'm sad that the original W&G sets, etc., are gone, I'm cheered by the fact that we still have the important stuff-- the films themselves.
Goin' off to see the new flick at a bargain matinee in another hour or so...
xo
Jen