Aardman Workshop at the Cartoon Museum 1 April

Aardman model-making workshop 1st April

The Cartoon Museum in Fitzrovia is hosting an Aardman Animation model-making workshop on April 1st, demonstrating how to make your very own "Sean the Sheep" plasticene model.  

For animation students at Escape Studios this is a rare opportunity to engage with the stop-motion pipeline, learning to make a physical maquette suitable for animation. 

Get yourself a tripod and a smart phone - now you're ready to animate.  You can sign up for the workshop here - it costs just £18.86. 

Ethan Mainwaring-Taylor Compositor at Aardman

Ethan Mainwaring-Taylor

Congratulations to Escapee Ethan Mainwaring-Taylor who has joined Aardman Animation, one of the UK's leading animation studios, as a compositor. 

Ethan Mainwaring-Taylor studied the Art of Visual Effects at Escape Studios, and worked on a number of award-winning projects, including Game Heist and Theseus and The Minotaur. 

Directed by Mitchell Wright and produced by Ayesha-Ria Jina, "Game Heist", tells the story of a group of misfit toys trying to steal a video game. 

Clara Cornish Storyboard Artist on Chicken Run 2

We're delighted to congratulate Escape Studios' tutor Clara Cornish whose work on Chicken Run 2 - Dawn of The Nugget is coming to Netflix this Friday 15th December. 

Clara Cornish was a storyboard artist on Chicken Run 2, before she joined us at Escape Studios to teach the mini-module Movement & Narrative to our first year undergraduate students. 

Chicken Run 2 is the latest feature film from the studio that created Wallace & Gromit and Sean The Sheep.

"The Wrong Trousers" at the Cartoon Museum

"Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers Turns 30"

Opening on the 12th of September, "Wallace &Gromit: The Wrong Trousers Turns 30" will arrive at London's Cartoon Museum just in time for the thirtieth anniversary of Aardman Animation's classic animated film. 

Louis Chevis Animator at Pop Paper City

Louis Chevis

Many congratulations to Escapee Louis Chevis who has recently joined Aardman Animation's "Pop Paper City" as an animator.

"Pop Paper City" is a new animated TV series being distributed by Aardman Animations and produced by Lovelove films.

Louis studied the Art of Computer Animation.  While at Escape Studios, Louis contributed to many award-winning projects, including "Picture Us", "Threaded Together", "Burger Royale", "Russell", "Solitude" and "The Beauty of Nature".

Eilin Berrio Pena Animator at Pop Paper City

Eilin Berrio Pena

Many congratulations to Escapee Eilin Berrio Pena, who has recently joined Aardman Animation's "Pop Paper City" as an animator.

"Pop Paper City" is a new animated TV series being developed by Aardman Animation, one of the UK's leading animation companies.

While at Escape Studios, Eilin directed the award-winning film "Malloe", and contributed to many other award-winning projects. 

Simone Costa Animator at Pop Paper City

Simone Costa

Many congratulations to Escapee Simone Costa who has joined Aardman Animation's "Pop Paper City" as an animator. 

"Pop Paper City" is a new animated TV series being developed by Aardman Animation, one of the UK's leading animation companies.

Simone joins Escapee Kevin Richards at "Pop Paper City"; Kevin has been working on the new series since last year.

At Escape Studios, Simone contributed to four award-winning animated shorts: Kiwi's Dream, Malloe, Animal Lover and Nefertiti. 

Jack Thompson Rigger at Aardman

Jack Thompson

Many congratulations to Escapee Jack Thompson, who has been promoted to "rigger" at Aardman Animation.

Aardman Animation, based in Bristol, is one of the UK's leading animation companies, responsible for many animated hits including the "Wallace and Gromit" series of shorts.

Jack Thompson studied the Art of Computer Animation at Escape Studios, and made significant contributions to a number of successful animated projects, including two award-winning short films: "Joe" and "Over Under".

Aardman Animation Toolkit for Stop-Motion

For all our students who would like to try their hands at stop-motion animation: armature specialist Animation Toolkit has partnered with Aardman Animation to design and create a bespoke armature kit to help stop motion animators with the puppet making process.

Animators can now easily and affordably create their own animation puppets.

Aardman Armature Kit for Stop Motion

For all our students who would like to try their hands at stop-motion animation: armature specialist Animation Toolkit has partnered with Aardman Animation to design and create a bespoke armature kit to help stop motion animators with the puppet making process.

Animators can now easily and affordably create their own animation puppets.

Kevin Richards Animator at Paper Pop City

Kevin Richards

Congratulations to Escapee Kevin Richards who is working as a lead animator in Bournemouth at Aardman Animation, on Paper Pop City, a new TV series developed by the Bristol-based studio. 

Kevin graduated from our 12 week course in 3D animation, and soon found work as a 3D animator at Cloth Cat in Cardiff; later working on the Channel 5 series Shane the Chef. 

Kevin has also been a regular guest tutor at Escape Studios, helping to teach a new generation of the students the art and craft of character animation. 

Animation Booms Under Lockdown

Lloyd of the Flies

A weekend article in the Daily Telegraph confirms the continuing good news for the animation industry; even under Lockdown, the animation industry continues to thrive and expand. 

Aardman Animation, the creators of "Wallace and Gromit", have expanded into digital animation with a new series "Lloyd of the Flies", a 52-episode comedy about a housefly.

Unlike live action shoots, which were shut down due to Covid-19, the animation industry is expanding, as programmers increasingly replace live-action content with animation. 

Jack Thompson Junior Rigger at Aardman

Jack Thompson

Many congratulations to Escapee Jack Thompson, who has recently begun a new position with Aardman Animation as a Junior Rigger.

Aardman Animation, based in Bristol, is one of the UK's leading animation companies, responsible for many animated hits including the "Wallace and Gromit" series of shorts.

Jack Thompson studied the Art of Computer Animation at Escape Studios, and made significant contributions to a number of successful animated projects, including two award-winning short films: "Joe" and "Over Under".

Last Call for Toonboom Harmony Evening Class

Last call for our 2D Animation evening class in Toonboom Harmony with Blue Zoo's David Ridges on Wednesday 7 October 2020.

Learn the fundamentals of 2D animation over 10 weeks, one evening a week (Tuesdays), using Toonboom Harmony, one of the leading software packages for the creation of 2D animation.

In recent years 2D animation has experienced a significant revival, both in the UK and overseas, as Studios such as Blue Zoo, Aardman Animation, and Brown Bag Films adopt the software.

Escape Students Learn to Make Sean the Sheep

Recently Aardman animation came to London, bringing model making workshops as part of the launch of their latest feature film Sean the Sheep - Farmageddon.

The workshops took place at the Hackney Picturehouse and The Ritzy in Brixton, and many of our animation students were able to take part.

The afternoon workshops were led by Senior Model Makers from Aardman: Claire Cohen and Ellie Hugill.

Claire and Ellie gave our students a fascinating insight into stop-motion animation, helping the students to build their very own Sean the Sheep.

The skills that make a great stop-motion animator are very similar to the skills that make a great 3D animator. Whether you are working with clay or pixels, an animator still has to give an entertaining performance.

Model Making Workshops with Aardman 12 Oct

Aardman animation are coming to London, bringing two model making workshops this Saturday 12th October.

The workshops are one hour long and take place at 4pm at the Hackney Picturehouse (see flyer below) and at 3.45pm at The Ritzy in Brixton (see flyer left).

The workshops form a part of the Aardman Animation day, which includes screenings and activities for kids, starting at 10.30am.

The afternoon workshops are for adults only and will be led by Senior Model Makers from Aardman Claire Cohen and Ellie Hugill.

Claire and Ellie will give an insight into stop-motion animation and what it is like to work at one of the UK's most enduring and well-loved animation houses.

Escape Studios Visits Aardman Animation!

Hanging out with Shaun and Dad

Aardman animation is arguably our most famous animation company here in the UK - Britain's answer to Pixar or DreamWorks.  Aardman's films have a universal appeal, and characters such as Wallace and Gromit have conquered the box office all around the world. Shaun the Sheep is their latest success story, making $85m worldwide.

I was in Bristol on Friday to see Aardman's latest showcase of student work. Their twelve week animation programme, sponsored by the NFTS, is one of the few short courses in the UK that seriously teach the art of 3D character animation, not unlike the 12 week course we're running early next year.