Dreamworks Ends Deal With Aardman Animations Five year partnership ended early due to commercial differences January 31st 2007 10:16pm | Posted by: Michael Simpson American studio Dreamworks and Aardman Animations, the British company responsible for the "claymation" adventures of Wallace and Gromit and Chicken Run, have ended a five year co-production deal early, according to the BBC. The two companies apparently cited differences in their commercial goals. "We always knew that America would be a hard task for us - we're a very English company," Aardman spokesman Arthur Sheriff is quoted as saying. "We embrace the international market but we think part of our strength is our English sense of humour and we want to continue with that." Chicken Run, Wallace and Gromit: Curse of The Were-Rabbit and Flushed Away were all made under the deal but the BBC report said that Flushed Away and the Academy Award-winning Wallace and Gromit movie were not profitable. Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit was awarded an Oscar in 2006 as Best Animated Feature. "[B]oth companies are aware that our ambitions have moved apart, and it feels like the right time to move on," said Aardman owners Peter Lord and David Sproxton. "Aardman has an ambitious slate of feature film projects in development and we will announce our future production and distribution plans shortly." Flushed Away was released in late 2006. Although and it had the characteristic Aardman look, it was entirely computer generated. Dreamworks were said to be intent on sticking to computers for animation in future. "While I will always be a fan and an admirer of Aardman's work, our different business goals no longer support each other," said Dreamworks chief executive Jeffrey Katzenberg. Source: BBC In: General Entertainment News |Visit the HNR Forums

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