Aardman Animations, the British studio celebrated for its iconic stop-motion characters in ‘Wallace & Gromit’ and ‘Chicken Run’, is facing a unique and pressing challenge: a critical shortage of its essential clay, ‘Lewis Newplast’.
The Clay Dilemma
The crisis emerged following the closure of the sole factory producing Lewis Newplast in March. This clay, integral to Aardman’s animation process since the early 1970s, is no ordinary material. It’s nylon-reinforced, requiring no glazing or firing, and maintains its flexibility under hot studio lights. This quality has been vital for Aardman, allowing for intricate, frame-by-frame adjustments in their beloved stop-motion works.
Aardman’s Response
In response to the clay shortage, Aardman managed to secure the remaining stock of Lewis Newplast. However, this stock is limited and is projected to last only for one more full-length film. The next installment in the Wallace and Gromit series, scheduled for release in 2024, might be the last project to use this special clay. The upcoming Netflix premiere of “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget” in December 2023 remains unaffected as it was completed before the shortage became critical.
The Future of Aardman
The studio is now faced with the daunting task of finding a suitable replacement for Lewis Newplast to continue its claymation projects. The shortage poses a significant challenge to the studio’s future productions and highlights the fragility of such unique art forms in the face of unforeseen circumstances.
Aardman Animations’ current predicament is a sobering reminder of how even the most established legacies can be vulnerable to unexpected changes. The animation world watches as the studio navigates this crisis, with the hope that Aardman will find a way to sustain its cherished tradition of stop-motion animation.
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