Lets Get Animated for Animals.
As a fan of Aardman Animation, I was excited to see the new eco-themed public service announcement created for the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. Aardman Animation is the animation team responsible for some of my favorite animated shorts including Wallace and Gromit, Creature Comforts, and Chicken Run (parents, you may be familiar with the TV series Shaun the Sheep or the movie Flushed Away). Aardman Animation was founded in 1972, and consists of animators Peter Lord, David Sproxton, and Nick Park. Originally known for their stop-motion clay animation, Aardman Animation has since expanded into using a wide range of techniques, as well as been nominated for 10 Oscars including, 4 of those wins.
Aardman Animations newest animation stars an adorable and lonely Dodo Bird searching for a friend. Unfortunately, the poor Dodo bird is unable to find any friends (Dodo Birds are extinct). The video then presents other animals that are at risk for extinction, including the plied tamarin and the ploughshare tortoise. Viewers are encouraged to visit thelonelydodo.com to learn more and donate to the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.
This is not Aardman Animations first time creating eco conscious themed animation. Last year, they created a video for the Humane Society of the United States titled, “A Pigs Tale”, about factory farming.
One of Aardman Animation’s earliest films, Creature Comforts (which was later turned into a tv series), explores the sentiments of animals in captivity. The film, which was made in 1989, is a little over 5 minutes long, consisting of a series of interviews of zoo animals who are asked how they feel about zoo life. The animals, which include polar bears, lions, hippos, turtles, and gorillas, to name a few, express a wide range of opinions on the ups and downs of living under the human eye. Creature Comforts is both humorous and insightful, making it one of my favorite animations.
Are there any PSA’s or shorts you would recommend?
dodo via shuttestock