Apple and Aardman Bring ‘Wallace & Gromit’ to Life in London

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As a lifelong fan of Wallace & Gromit, I can’t help but be absolutely thrilled by this fantastic collaboration between Aardman and Apple! Growing up with these lovable characters has been a delight, and seeing them brought to life on such an iconic London landmark as Battersea Power Station is nothing short of magical.

This holiday season, the renowned four-time Academy Award-winning British animation studio, Aardman, famously known for “Wallace & Gromit,” is joining forces with Apple to animate their beloved characters in a lively display in London.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but share my excitement about an upcoming event! The ingenious inventor, Wallace, and his refined pooch buddy, Gromit, will be illuminating the iconic Battersea Power Station throughout December in a fresh, new short animation. This enchanting spectacle is being displayed on the 101-meter (331 feet) high river-facing wash towers of this former coal-fired station. I simply can’t wait to witness this magical show!

After closing down in the mid-1980s, London’s famous Battersea Power Station reopened as a mixed-use space for shopping, living, and recreation in 2022. In autumn of 2023, Apple Inc., headquartered in Cupertino, moved in as a tenant, making it their U.K. headquarters. Since settling in, Apple has made lighting up the power station’s tall chimneys a regular event: last year they collaborated with artist David Hockney on “Bigger Christmas Trees,” a piece created using an iPad, and this time they partnered with Aardman on a new “Wallace & Gromit” short, which was filmed, as you might have guessed, on an iPhone.

Aardman Studios recently showcased the artistic and technical prowess of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, employing eight of these devices to capture over 6,000 high-resolution images for a stop-motion animation short. The iPhones were strategically positioned on motorized stands at two distinct angles, and their 5x telephoto camera was utilized to snap the images in ProRAW format. These photographs were meticulously assembled frame by frame to create a breathtaking 6K video. Gavin Strange, a director and lead graphic designer at Aardman, described this project as a “blend of technology and art” and an exhilarating opportunity to direct, encouraging others to experiment with stop-motion filmmaking using the iPhone. You can view the making of this captivating production here.

If you want to watch the latest “Wallace & Gromit” animation up close, make your way to Battersea Power Station. It will be shown there every evening from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., from today until New Year’s Eve.

If you fancy making your own stop-motion animation, here’s a quick 42-second guide from Apple and Aardman. You can check it out right beneath this text.

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2024-12-02 17:26