Looking for a fun way to entertain the family this half term? Well, you’re in luck, because Shaun the Sheep is baaack on the big screen – and this time, he’s playing a mad scientist!
Since his debut in Nick Park’s Wallace & Gromit short film A Close Shave back in 1995, Shaun has become one of the UK’s best-loved animated characters, winning over audiences with his cheeky antics and clever comedy.
Now, following the launch of his own series in 2007 and two successful films, the woolly hero is returning for his third big-screen outing: Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom. It’s the perfect excuse to round up your loved ones and head to the cinema for a Halloween treat.
Keep reading to find out what you can expect from Shaun’s biggest adventure yet…
More giggles than goosebumps
With Halloween just around the corner, Shaun and the Flock’s secret pumpkin plans take a hairy turn when one of Shaun’s experiments goes wrong and a mysterious beast appears.
Shaun may not say much, but his expressive bleats and reactions do plenty of the storytelling. Little ones can follow the action through the visual gags, while grown-ups can enjoy the chaos as the Farmer, Bitzer and the new Vet get caught up in it. Once again, Justin Fletcher provides Shaun’s sounds, with John Sparkes and Nina Sosanya among the cast.
And while Halloween films aren’t always suitable for smaller children, Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom strikes the perfect balance between spooky thrills and laugh-out-loud fun. Co-writers Giles Pilbrow and Mark Burton have woven plenty of gags into the story, keeping the scares light and making the film a fun introduction to the genre for younger viewers.
There’s plenty to keep grown-ups entertained, too. Eagle-eyed horror fans can look out for playful nods to classics such as Psycho, Friday the 13th, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Nosferatu. There’s even a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it reference to a certain evil “chicken” from the Aardman Animations universe.
So, whether you’re a lifelong fan or introducing little ones to Shaun for the first time, there’s something here to make everyone smile.
A spooky set
This time, Shaun’s farmyard world gets a Halloween makeover. In fact, it’s the most ambitious film yet with 40 intricately crafted sets – twice the usual number – including Mossingham Docks and a disused windmill that Shaun transforms into his very own science lab.
The TV series’ usual bright blue skies give way to dusky, moonlit scenes and autumnal oranges and reds, with deep purples, blues and greens adding to the eerie atmosphere. Shaun gets a new look, too, with a lab coat, a pair of gadget-filled goggles and a rather electrifying new hairstyle.
Behind the scenes, 30 animators and 285 puppets bring the story to life. With little dialogue, the film puts Aardman’s stop-motion craft and visual storytelling centre stage.
Round up your flock, grab some popcorn and head to the cinema for a baaa-rilliant adventure this half term!