An immersive show celebrating the legacy of the Aardman animation studio has opened at King’s Cross, offering audiences a 50-minute exploration of the company’s five-decade journey. Titled "Larger Than Life: The Aardman Story," the exhibition traces the studio’s evolution from its modest beginnings in a 1960s Surrey kitchen to its status as a pioneer in stop-motion animation.
The exhibition, which runs until January 4, follows a lineage of previous immersive shows at the venue, including tributes to David Hockney and David Bowie. It combines innovative use of technology with the traditional craftsmanship that defines Aardman’s work. Unlike many studios that have turned to fully digital animation, Aardman blends cutting-edge tools with hands-on clay sculpting and physical character animation, illustrating how technology can enhance rather than replace artisanal skills.
Visitors are greeted with an opening musical number featuring Wallace, Gromit, and other characters projected in kaleidoscopic patterns across the venue’s four 11-meter-high walls. The production employs multi-sensory elements and archival footage to celebrate early stop-motion innovators such as George Méliès, Willis O’Brien, and Ray Harryhausen. The show also features multiple renditions of Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer,” adding an energetic soundtrack to the experience.
A highlight is the recreation of the iconic train chase from Aardman’s "The Wrong Trousers," presented in-the-round to engaging effect. Later, attendees are guided behind heavy black curtains into a detailed studio set-up described as an “Aladdin’s cave.” This segment reveals the collaborative effort behind each production, including carpenters, electricians, mould-makers, actors, and animators working meticulously on single frames to bring characters to life.
Behind-the-scenes footage includes appearances by actors Hugh Grant and Tom Hiddleston alongside animator Nick Park, showing them developing character movements and recording voices. Animated characters simultaneously deliver the same lines, providing a striking demonstration of the animation process. The visual effect has been likened to the experiments of Luigi Galvani, where inanimate objects appear to move with life.
The show has received praise for its heartwarming portrayal of the studio’s history and its demonstration of how creativity and craftsmanship endure amid rapid technological change. It offers an uplifting message at a time when many express concerns about artificial intelligence and the future of human creativity.
"Larger Than Life: The Aardman Story" is designed to appeal both to longtime fans of the studio’s work and newcomers, providing a nostalgic yet forward-looking view of animation’s past, present, and future.