The exhibition will go on display from the 12th February to mark the studio’s 50th anniversary.
The Young V&A has announced details for its upcoming Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends exhibition which will be on display until the 15th November 2026.
Created with families and children in mind, the exhibition will offer an opportunity to explore the world of Aardman – creators of Wallace & Gromit, Chicken Run, Shaun the
Sheep, Morph, and more.
Opening on the 12th February to coincide with the studio’s 50th anniversary, Inside
Aardman will focus on the storytelling and craft that brings their familiar and fantastical
worlds from the sketchbook to the screen.
Throughout the display, visitors will be taken behind the scenes of the animation process, from idea development all the way through to model
making, filming and production, and post-production.
Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends will feature over 150 objects including early character sketches, concept art, puppets, character ‘bibles’, props, scripts, set models, as well as several optical illusion toys and early examples of stop-motion animation from the V&A’s collection.
Among the highlights are: development sketches for Morph, early character ideas for Wallace & Gromit, a hand-drawn storyboard from The Wrong Trousers (1993) train chase, as well as never before displayed objects such as the duo’s motorbike and sidecar from Vengeance Most Fowl (2024) and Aardman’s final physical scheduling board.
Elsewhere, the exhibition will feature set pieces from Aardman’s incredible body of work, including Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (2024), Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (2023), Robin Robin (2019), The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! (2012) and Wallace & Gromit: A Grand Day Out (1989).
In addition, the show will give young visitors the opportunity to try their hand at different parts of stop-motion animation, guiding them on how to make their own at home using everyday materials and inspiration.
Talking about the news, Dr Helen Charman, Director of Learning, National Programmes and Young V&A, said: “We are delighted to be announcing Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends, our third exhibition at Young V&A, designed and curated specifically for children and young people. By unpacking the techniques and imagination that goes into creating these beloved characters, we hope young people and their families leave the exhibition feeling excited and inspired to try animation at home.”
To find out more visit: https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/inside-aardman-wallace-gromit-and-friends