Aardman Animations has run out of clay

❘ Updated: 2023-11-19T23:42:51

Aardman

Aardman Animations, home of Wallace and Gromit and Chicken Run, only has enough clay for one more movie.

Aardman animations, the British stop-motion studio that brought you a plethora of Wallace and Gromit and Chicken Run movies, is considered to be one of the best animations studios out there.

However, said studio is currently in a crisis: It has run out of clay. No, that’s not a joke.

The clay, which is moulded in order to create their stop-motion flicks, has dwindled, to the point where apparently there is only enough left for one more movie.

Aardman Animations only has enough clay for another Wallace and Gromit

You may be wondering how the studio has managed to run out of clay, but according to The Telegraph, Aardman required and used a specific type of clay called Lewis Newplast in order to create their iconic films. According to someone who previously did work experience at the studio, the clay “would be put into a ‘cooker’ so it came out soft for sculpting.”

When I did work experience for Aardman as an Assistant Animator, this special plasticine was used.

It would be put into a 'cooker' so it came out soft for sculpting. https://t.co/OmJ3S21qLy pic.twitter.com/ZvzM6dgaj9
— Liam R. Findlay 👃🎢🦴 (@Pevalwen) November 19, 2023

Said clay had been used since the studio’s inception in the early 1970s, but the factory that manufactured the clay shut down this previous March. Aardman had some stock built up, but now that stock is dwindling, to the the point where there is only enough for their next movie, which will be another Wallace and Gromit stint.

Of course, all is not lost. The hunt is currently on for a replacement clay, which needs to be able to sustain hot studio lights while also being malleable enough to live up to the reputation of previous Aardman movies.

As for fans of Aardman Animations, there has been a rallying outcry of support and fear for the studio, both in sombre and hilarious ways. Check out some of the reactions on X (formerly Twitter) below:

me and the boys when we hear aardman needs more clay https://t.co/Y6ovtj0dmO pic.twitter.com/wFYor6PI2C
— bort (@thabigsokk) November 19, 2023

"Aardman is running out of clay because the clay factory shut down" sounds like a kid's idea of what kind of problem a stop-motion studio would face, but apparently it's real.
— Tredlocity (@tredlocity) November 19, 2023

It's genuinely scary knowing that Aardman's clay supplier has shut down and that the studio's current clay supply is limited. I really hope they can get a suitable replacement fast because I would hate to see them retire their trademark plasticine look. https://t.co/jQO5pWj7YI
— Animated Antic (@Animated_Antic) November 19, 2023

.@aardman I got some clay here if you need it pic.twitter.com/4mvPFTuLhs
— Gavin (@PrimaryCinema) November 19, 2023

Give me an upsetting Aardman film where the characters are fully aware that they’re made of clay, and they have to figure out how they’re going to survive.

Some go to war over the remaining clay

Others choose a sedentary life so they don’t use up their remaining clay too fast https://t.co/JcmMzw0GvP
— Matthew Gaydos (@MatthewGaydos) November 19, 2023

me and the boys heisting more clay for Aardman pic.twitter.com/vW9ghx9KLT
— Jeremy Herbert (@DDayFilms) November 19, 2023

EVERYONE. DIG THE EARTH, SCOWER THE CITIES. WE MUST FIND EVERY ONCE OF CLAY TO SAVE AARDMAN. MOVE OUT MEN. https://t.co/SzOURNtc5j
— Omar/عمر🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸 (@0CLOWNFISH0) November 19, 2023

Thankfully, the upcoming Chicken Run sequel, Dawn of the Nugget, will be unaffected by this shortage, and will be hitting Netflix on December 15. Find out more here.

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