Bristol, UK – Aardman, the multi Academy Award® and BAFTA ®-winning studio has announced the evolution of its licensing programme with new digital partners for Shaun the Sheep. Following up on the critical success of A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, the brand continues to flourish with episodes broadcast in 170 territories worldwide, and the launch of its sixth series earlier this year.

In March, Baidu brought characters from A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon to Facemoji Keyboard users worldwide, and Baidu IME users in China. Downloads totaled over 2 million in the first month after launch.

Aardman agreed a global publishing deal for the epic adventure, Home Sheep Home: Farmageddon Party Edition with Greenlight Games for Nintendo Switch. The agreement forms part of a multi game deal with Hatch Kids, available on android platforms.

Launching in June, Shaun and the flock take a plot of land within Sandbox, a user generated blockchain metaverse, developed by Pixowl, which will give users the chance to visit, engage and create within a specially curated Shaun the Sheep world.

One of the world’s largest HTML5 game platforms, Azerion will be remastering the popular suite of Shaun the Sheep Championsheeps games, launching in July for a summer of sporting fun.

Also in HTML5, Shaun is chalking his cue for Cool Games’ in August, in an all new pool game, Shaun the Sheep Pool.

Atari has signed a global deal with Roller Coaster Tycoon Touch. In November players will be able to welcome unique, personalised Shaun the Sheep attractions to their parks. Including themed rides, entertainers, park accessories, restaurants, cafes and a Sheep frills coaster.

Aardman Commercial Director, Robert Goodchild says:

“Shaun the Sheep fans around the world are a sophisticated bunch, and we’re delighted that we have found new ways for them to engage with their favourite character. This is a complimentary set of partnerships that will greatly increase our brand presence within the interactive and gaming spaces”

For more information about Aardman, contact Rosie Godwin on +44 (0)117 3071318 or rosie.godwin@aardman.com

NOTES TO EDITORS:

About Aardman

Aardman, based in Bristol (UK) and co-founded in 1976 by Peter Lord and David Sproxton, is an independent and multi-award-winning studio. It produces feature films, series, advertising, games and interactive entertainment – such as the ‘visually astonishing’ (Guardian), BAFTA® nominated console game, 11-11: Memories Retold, and the four-times Gold Cannes Lions-winning StorySign app – and innovative attractions for both the domestic and international market, including a new 4D theatre attraction at Efteling in the Netherlands.

Its productions are global in appeal, novel, entertaining, brilliantly characterised and full of charm reflecting the unique talent, energy and personal commitment of the Aardman team. The studio’s work – which includes the creation of much-loved characters including Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and Morph – is often imitated, and yet the company continues to lead the field producing a rare brand of visually stunning content for cinema, broadcasters, digital platforms and live experiences around the world.

The studio runs the Aardman Academy to nurture talent and strengthen ties between the animation industry and education. The Aardman Academy offers a variety of courses from intensive one-day workshops teaching production skills and storyboarding, to comprehensive twelve-week courses for professionals in craft based subjects from model making to animation.

In November 2018 it became an Employee Owned Organisation, to ensure Aardman remains independent and to secure the creative legacy and culture of the company for many decades to come. www.aardman.com

About Aardman Interactive

The interactive division of the multi-award winning studios of Aardman combines access to world-class directors, artists and story-writers with game designers and developers bringing Aardman entertainment values to the interactive projects of its clients. The division creates successful mobile and online games, apps, websites, VR and AR experiences that entertain, educate and inspire family audiences around the world.

About Shaun the Sheep

Shaun the Sheep, Aardman’s family favourite TV series, is recognised the world over for its slapstick humour, distinctive look and strong, quirky characters and enjoyed across multiple media platforms. First appearing in Nick Park’s 1995 Academy Award® winning Wallace & Gromit ‘A Close Shave’, Shaun then went on to star in his own series which launched on BBC One in 2007.  Shaun the Sheep is currently broadcast in 170 territories around the world and is an internationally celebrated icon with over 5.6 million fans on Facebook.  In 2015 the first Shaun the Sheep Movie with feature film partner StudioCanal was released around the world to critical acclaim and the first half hour TV special aired as part of many broadcaster’s festive season. Most recently, Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon was released in October 2019.