(Bristol, UK - May 2024) Aardman, the multi-award-winning animation studio, has announced a licensing partnership for Farm Attractions and Family Entertainment Centres with Max-Matching Entertainments in China. The partnership will deliver engaging and entertaining outdoor and indoor visitor experiences featuring Aardman's classic brand, Shaun the Sheep.
The partnership will build on Aardman's successful Shaun the Sheep Farm Attractions in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden and the UK and Max-Matching Entertainments' established success in launching themed entertainment projects in China featuring international IP, including outdoor and indoor parks, themed hotels and themed retail experiences.
Design and production is due to begin in 2024, with the first Shaun the Sheep attraction in China scheduled to launch in 2027.
Ngaio Harding-Hill, Head of Attractions & Live Experiences at Aardman, said: "Partnering with Max-Matching Entertainments provides Aardman with the opportunity to expand Shaun the Sheep's presence within China, taking it into the strategically important LBE sector and offering fans the ultimate experience of immersing themselves in the world of Shaun the Sheep.”
Owen Zhao, President of Max-Matching Entertainments, said: "Max-Matching Entertainments has been deeply cultivating internationally top IP-themed LBE projects, specialized in outdoor theme parks and indoor FECs. We will make every effort to facilitate IP projects beloved by Chinese consumers in China, cooperating with Aardman, a global leading animation and entertainments company. "
About Aardman
Aardman is an employee-owned company, based in Bristol (UK) and co-founded in 1976 by Peter Lord and David Sproxton. An independent, multi-Academy Award® and BAFTA® award winning studio, it produces feature films, series, advertising, games and interactive entertainment. Current animated productions include the feature length sequel Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget and a brand new Wallace & Gromit film for 2024.
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, Timmy Time 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. Recent celebrated projects include the Academy Award® and BAFTA® nominated short film Robin Robin, International Emmy® award winning Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas, BAFTA® nominated preschool series The Very Small Creatures and the brand new CGI comedy series for kids Lloyd of the Flies.
The studio runs the Aardman Academy which has a commitment to nurturing talent by delivering excellence in film and animation training and mentoring. 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 Attractions and Live Experiences
The Attractions & Live Experiences team specialises in creating immersive experiences which appeal and engage with the whole family.Working with our partners around the world we use the studios' multi-award winning characters, and wealth of creative talent to bring unique story lines and interactive experiences to life. Combining entertainment and education across our attractions and events is integral, as well as supporting and promoting our brands' values and increasing awareness on a global scale, whilst simultaneously and proudly upholding Aardman's renowned production quality. https://www.aardman.com/attractions-live-experiences/
Source: https://blooloop.com/brands-ip/news/aardman-partners-with-max-matching-entertainments/