The creators of Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep faced an existential question: What if they ran out of clay for their beloved stop-motion animation characters?
Fans were worried after The Telegraph reported that Aardman Animations, based in Bristol, England, might run out of clay for its creations when the only manufacturer of the special clay used in its animations closed. However, Aardman Animations reassured fans that it had plenty of clay to continue its productions.
The manufacturer of the clay, Newclay Products, ceased selling its products in March, leading Aardman to purchase the remaining stock. The company did not respond to a request for comment.
Directors of Newclay Products announced their retirement and the company’s closure after being unable to find a buyer. Aardman had purchased a large amount of the remaining stock.
Aardman reassured fans that it had plans to transition to a new stock once its supplies of Newplast were depleted.
Aardman, known for its Claymation style and hits like the “Wallace & Gromit” franchise, “Shaun the Sheep,” and “Chicken Run,” will release a sequel to “Chicken Run” on Netflix on Dec. 15 and a new “Wallace & Gromit” film in 2024, premiering on Netflix and the BBC.