Aardman Rights Takes Wallace & Gromit, Timmy On International Adventure

Aardman Rights, the newly created division of award-winning Aardman Animations has concluded a number of pre-sales for its two new animated series WALLACE & GROMIT IN A MATTER OF LOAF AND DEATH and TIMMY TIME.

Wallace & Gromit’s new half hour adventure is currently in production for BBC One at Aardman’s Bristol studios with delivery expected this autumn. Aardman has secured pre-sale deals at MIPCOM with broadcasters around the globe including: ABC TV Australia, M6 France, Super RTL Germany, YLE Finland, NRK Norway, Zapp Netherlands and SVT Sweden.

Aardman has also concluded a number of pre-sales sales at MIPCOM for its first preschool animated series TIMMY TIME. ABC TV Australia, TF1 France, DRTV in Denmark, YLE Finland, NRK Norway and SVT Sweden have all committed to the broadcast rights to the show.

Currently in production, the 52x10 series has already been pre-bought by CBeebies in the U.K. for debut in 2009 and it has been picked up by Disney Channels worldwide, including the U.S.

In A MATTER OF LOAF AND DEATH, Wallace & Gromit have started a new bread baking business, Top Bun and converted 62 West Wallaby Street into a granary with ovens, robotic kneading arms and an old-fashioned windmill on the roof. The transformation is perfect.

Although business is booming, Gromit is concerned by the news that a dozen local bakers have "disappeared" this year -- but Wallace isn’t worried. He’s too distracted and "dough-eyed" in love with former beauty and bread enthusiast, Piella Bakewell.

While they enjoy being the "Toast of the Town," Gromit soon realizes his master’s life is in jeopardy, and turns sleuth to solve the escalating murder mystery -- in what quickly becomes "A Matter of Loaf and Death."

The special is being written and directed by Nick Park and the new film will reunite Nick with writer Bob Baker, who co-wrote both THE WRONG TROUSERS and A CLOSE SHAVE.

TIMMY TIME combines Aardman’s stop-motion style with the colorful simplicity of classic preschool animation. The character designs for Timmy are based on sketches by Academy Award-winning Nick Park.

Timmy made his first television appearance in Aardman’s hit animated series SHAUN THE SHEEP, which has racked up television sales and licensing deals in more than 150 territories and has won several prestigious accolades.

Aimed at both boys and girls, TIMMY TIME will be non dialogue, but will feature a variety of animal noises, comedy, fun and strong character animation. Aardman’s Jackie Cockle is Creative Producer and Supervising Director, and Miles Bullough is Exec Producer.

The Aardman Rights team will be at MIPCOM 2008 at stand 04.23.