The new footage showcases Shaun’s Halloween-themed return to Mossy Bottom Farm, where a wrecked pumpkin patch, a mad-science fix, and a missing Farmer send the flock into monster-movie trouble; opens September 18 in U.S. theaters.
GKIDS has revealed new key art and behind-the-scenes making-of footage for Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom, the latest feature from Aardman, ahead of the film's September 18 U.S. theatrical release. A home entertainment release will follow later this year.
The new footage, released on the GKIDS YouTube channel, gives fans a behind-the-camera look at the creation of the poster, from ideation through the crafting of each element on set. Focused on Shaun's mad scientist persona in the film, the vintage horror movie-inspired artwork showcases Aardman's bespoke, handcrafted look and highlights the elements used to create the new poster.
The behind-the-scenes clip features Aardman talent including animation director Claire Rolls, photographer Richard Davies, director of photography Charles Copping and puppets team leader Will Harding, along with GKIDS design manager Cynthia Segal, discussing the creative process behind the artwork.
Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom sees the residents of Mossy Bottom Farm looking forward to Halloween until the clumsy Farmer trashes the Flock's beloved pumpkin patch. When Shaun turns mad scientist to fix the problem, events spiral out of control, leaving the Farmer missing and a wild beast roaming the woods of Mossingham.
Featuring characters created by Nick Park, Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom marks the feature directorial debut of longtime Aardman collaborators Steve Cox and Matthew Walker. The film is written by Mark Burton, who served as screenwriter on Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, director of Shaun the Sheep Movie and screenwriter of A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon.
Burton is joined by Giles Pilbrow, who was a writer on Shaun the Sheep: Adventures from Mossy Bottom and wrote the story for the TV special Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas, which was also directed by Cox. Justin Fletcher returns to voice Shaun and the Flock, joined by John Sparkes and Kate Harbour.
The film will also open in U.K. cinemas on September 18 through Sky UK. STUDIOCANAL is releasing the film theatrically in all of its territories except the U.K., including France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Poland, Benelux and Italy, and is handling worldwide sales.
Aardman’s stop-motion filmmaking has earned the studio multiple Academy Awards, including for the animated Wallace & Gromit shorts The Wrong Trousers (1993) and A Close Shave (1995), as well as Best Animated Feature winner Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005).” The Beast of Mossy Bottom is the third film in franchise, following the Academy Award-nominated features Shaun the Sheep Movie (2015) and A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon (2020).
The film continues Aardman's signature combination of meticulous handcrafted stop-motion animation, mischievous comedy and family-friendly storytelling. Its release also arrives during Aardman's 50th anniversary year, which includes events and celebrations highlighting the studio's craft and legacy.
Source: GKIDS
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
