Gallery REVIEW: Larger Than Life - ★★★★★

5 minutes ago

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Step inside the anarchic, joyful worlds of Aardman’s most beloved characters. Combining iconic cinematic moments with archival treasures and bespoke new animation for Lightroom, Larger Than Life reveals how a simple spark of childhood wonder can become a global phenomenon.

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the four-time Oscar-winning Aardman studio and utilising state-of-the-art projection across Lightroom’s four 11-metre tall walls and the floor, Larger Than Life: Starring Wallace & Gromit, Shaun and More tells the story of how Aardman’s legendary films and characters are built, one tiny, hand-crafted move at a time.

The 50-minute looping show is a masterclass in storytelling at scale, a journey into the Aardman world and the spectacular creativity, infectious humour and meticulous craftsmanship of the creators behind the scenes.

From the kitchen table where school friends Sir Peter Lord and Sir David Sproxton first experimented, to the high-octane train chase in Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers, visitors are transported from the “scrap-paper pitch” to the finished masterpiece.

The experience also offers a rare, awe-inspiring look behind the scenes, showcasing everything from towering sets and tiny props to the laser-focused calm of the animation unit, celebrating the tactile spirit that has defined British animation for half a century.

Made in close collaboration with the Aardman production team, the show is designed by Journey and written and co-directed by Journey’s Nicol Scott and Kate Stanley.

Where?

Lightroom, London - until 4th January

WEBSITE

Stewart - ★★★★★

"This is a delightful experience, fully embracing the wonderfully quirky humour of all the work of Aardman. With clips of some of their finest scenes, this immersive exhibition is a joy to watch and part of the fun is looking all around the amazing venue to find your favourite characters.

There's a vast plethora of behind-the-scenes footage amongst the fun of creating these wonderful films and shows. One fun moment is seeing the famous actors who have all added their vocals to the opus of work. Meanwhile the animated characters are so expressive and seeing them hover over you is just quite an experience - and so much fun! There are a few new hilarious animated moments and surprises as well throughout so even the die hard Aardman fan will find something new.

Junior also had a blast throughout this and was engrossed all the way through. Though the only slight disappointment is where was Flushed Away? It was barely mentioned and it's one of our favourites! Oh well, still plenty of Wallace, Gromit and Shaun to tide us over. What a brilliant fun event this is for all ages! Don’t miss it!”

Mix Up Junior (Age 7 ) - ★★★★★

"I give it a 100 hundred thousand stars! I felt like I was in the movies! My favourite character is Feathers McGraw and the best bit was seeing them on the toy train track going around the whole room. I liked seeing how the films were made, like Chicken Run and Pirates!"

Daryl - ★★★★★

"A brilliant immersive experience where every part of the room is filled with lots of details and it fills your heart with nostalgia and appreciation of the work Aardman has achieved over the years.”