1. Shaun the Sheep Movie (2015)
The Shaun the Sheep Movie is an example of British cinema. This offers a means for British culture to
be shown across the world. By being released by significant name in animation, Shaun the Sheep is
classed as a mainstream film, so Aardman used their own money to create the film.
StudioCanal, a major French film company, released the film through their UK division and their
Anton Capital Entertainment subsidy. Amazon Prime Instant Video also distributed the film through
an online media. Production was undertaken by Bristol-based animation company Aardman, among
the most notable names in British animation. The more complicated visual effects were produced by
Axis Visual Effects, who also have business in Bristol. The film was also sponsored by Headway Brain
Injury Association, which explains the presence of the farmer having amnesia for much of the film.
Because it is a family film, there were certain expectations that had to be met and restrictions
imposed on what kind of content would be allowed. For example, violence was significantly limited
to comical slapstick, as humour can easily be justifiable if anything occurs. Use of obscenity was also
restricted heavily, but this was easily bypassed by the lack of proper dialogue, even from human
characters. However, some visual adult is allowed provided that younger audiences interpret it as
something else.
The film relies heavily on Claymation in Aardman’s signature style. As a result, there are several
different sections required to complete the film. Before animation can start, the characters and sets
have to be built and modelled to an exact plan to make sure nothing broke during the shoot. And
during animation, a physical camera is placed in the physical set to shoot every motion frame by
frame, making Claymation is a slow process. This shows, as production started in 2011, but it took
over three years to complete and release. Some more complicated scenes, such as characters
jumping, needed to be digitally placed into the set, as a stabilisation rod would be impractical and
show in the finished product, which is undesirable. These effects were created by Axis Visual Effects.
StudioCanal were responsible for distributing the film through their UK subsidy, formerly known as
Optimum Releasing. It was first shown at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2015 before a wide
release the next month. In cinemas, it made use of Dolby Digital Sound, which was used for
recording as is the case for most modern films. It was also released online through Amazon Prime
Instant Video.
As it is mainstream, numerous common features appear in this film. One of the more noticeable
traits is the presence of anthropomorphic animals, that being the flock of sheep and Bitzer the
sheepdog. Other common traits include the presence of a main character who wants more out of life
and the use of humour, which is mostly physical due to the lack of proper dialogue, though there are
a number of puns, such as a cow flying over a pub sign saying “The Moon” as an obvious nod to “The
Cat and the Fiddle”. There is also some humour intended for adults, as is custom in more modern
animated films. A more obvious example, depending on which perspective is considered, is the pigs
of the farm dancing to Primal Scream’s “Rocks”, which contains the refrain “Get your rocks off, get
your rocks off honey, shake it down now, bring it up downtown.” Without subtitles, these rather
blatant lyrics may fly over the heads of younger viewers and actually requires a considerable amount
of attention to pick up. It also makes use of pop-culture references, as there is a montage of the
farmer spreading across social media as a celebrity hairstylist. There is also a scene where the
caravan the farmer is in nearly crashes and everyone looks on in shock except for two teenage boys
who film it on a smartphone. There are even some instances of fist-bumping between characters,
such as two lobsters in the restaurant after chaos has died down.

2. There are common traits in the plot as well. The plot is only set in motion by a series of mishaps and
the main character’s subsequent motivation: without the farmer, chaos unravels on the farm
because Shaun wanted a break from his usual routine. This plot point also sets the film’s stakes in
motion, as without order chaos will only get worse. There are also several instances where the
intentions of the protagonist go awry. These are usually resolved, such as Bitzer and Shaun ending
up in the Animal Containment Unit, but freeing themselves in a comical manner. When this happens,
the stakes of the film are raised significantly by the main antagonist driven to the point of wanting to
kill them for escaping, giving a significant danger to the main protagonists. During this sudden turn,
the main protagonists briefly abandon hope after the farmer, still suffering from amnesia, shoos
them off. This takes slightly longer to resolve, but it resolves in a touching way, as emotional scenes
are also common in animation as a way to reach the audience. It also ends with a setup for a
potential sequel, which is also common in modern film in general.
It can be argued that Shaun the Sheep is revisionist, as it uses a technique that is unique to Aardman
Animation, a technique that was not notable until Aardman had established itself in the short film
industry. However, it can also be argued that it is classical, as it carries on a technique that has been
used for decades by the same studio.
Because it is classed as mainstream, there are several notable names in the film. One of Aardman’s
most prominent figures, Nick Park, acted as executive producer for the film. He also makes a cameo
in Claymation form as a bird-watcher whose tent is pulled off and is attacked by the birds he is
watching. The voice cast also features some notable names. The most notable is Omid Djalili, the
voice of the main antagonist. Djalili is a stand-up comedian, producer and actor. His acting career
started with 1999’s “The Mummy” and “Notting Hill”, both of which were significant box office
successes. He also appeared in 2007’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”, a multi-million-
dollar Hollywood movie that earned over $900m at the box office.
Another notable name is Justin Fletcher, a popular children’s entertainer who plays the voice of the
main protagonist, Shaun, and Timmy the lamb. Fletcher has received several awards for his work in
children’s television, winning the 2008 and 2010 BAFTA for Best Children’s Presenter for “Something
Special” and has even been awarded an MBE. Another comedian, John Sparkes, appears in the film
as the farmer and Bitzer the sheepdog. Sparkes is a Welsh comedian best known for his “Barry
Welsh” character, which won four BAFTA Cymru awards for Light Entertainment.
Some notable musicians are also included in the film’s soundtrack. The ending theme, a reworking of
the theme song of the original theme song, is performed by alternative hip-hop duo Rizzle Kicks,
who were popular around the time of the film’s release. The most prominent song, “Summer with
You”, is performed by Tim Wheeler of Ash, who were prominent in the 1990s Britpop movement.
Eliza Doolittle, who emerged in the early-2010s, also has a song featured on the soundtrack. The
score was also composed by a notable musician: Ilan Eshkeri is relatively notable, having written
scores for a handful of successful films such as 2007’s “Stardust” and 2011’s “Johnny English
Reborn”.
There are social and political issues discussed in the film as well. For example. there is a clear
hierarchy among the characters with Shaun, the lead character, being the leader of the flock of
sheep. He, though, is managed by Bitzer the sheepdog who is owned by the farmer. As is customary
in stories involving hierarchy, Shaun wants more out of life but is restricted by higher tiers, so he
begins to distrust the farmer. However, when the farmer does become absent, chaos ensues across
the farm. This is usually referred to as anarchy, but anarchism means order without government. A
more appropriate term is “libertarianism”, which means chaos without order.

3. It is only when this disorder ensues that Shaun goes to try and find the farmer, a reluctant hero story
that is more interesting than a willing hero. Unbeknownst to him, the farmer has been diagnosed
with amnesia, a move likely enforced by their sponsor, Headway Brain Injury Association, in an effort
to increase awareness of brain injuries and memory loss. Discrimination is also discussed, as there
are scenes of animals being “contained” by an animal catcher, who is the main antagonist of the
film. This also brings up the subject of imprisonment and escape as the flock attempt to free Shaun
and Bitzer from the Animal Containment Unit. Friendship and affection is also frequently brought up
during the film, but it is most prominently portrayed during and after the climax, as this helps the
farmer overcome his amnesia and is shared between Shaun and Bitzer after they overcome the main
antagonist.
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