A heartbreaking day in the land of stop-animation.

Eliza Hodgkins 1812 · 10-10-2005, 03:28 PM

Apologies if this has already been reported here:

Home of Wallace and Gromit burns

Aardman Animations' HQ destroyed by fire

By ARCHIE THOMAS

LONDON - With a $16 million opening weekend, DreamWorks/Aardman Animations' "Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" is sitting pretty at the top of the U.S. box office chart but co-director Nick Park is in no mood to celebrate after a fire destroyed Aardman's Bristol, England, hq.
The fire brigade were called to the warehouse site at the crack of dawn on Oct. 10 but were unable to quell the blaze before the three floors collapsed, destroying priceless props and sets. The cause of the fire has not been identified.

"It couldn't have come on a worse day - we were supposed to be celebrating, but instead our history has disappeared in a couple of hours . everything has gone, from as far back as 'Morph' and all the way through to 'Chicken Run,' including all the 'Wallace and Gromit' films, 'Creature Comforts,' it's all there. Everyone is devastated," Aardman spokesman Arthur Sheriff told the BBC.

In characteristically self-effacing manner, Park said, "Even though it is precious stuff and nostalgic - and it is dreadful news for the company, in the light of other tragedies, it's not a big deal."

Bleary-eyed commuters making their way to the nearby Temple Meads station at 06.00 BST were stunned by the sight of 100 foot flames engulfing Aardman Animations. Park's state-of-the-art site is a source of great pride to Bristol's media community.

Mirroring the pic's powerful stateside bow, "Were-Rabbit" took $5 million in previews on Oct. 8 and 9 on home turf. It opens wide in the U.K. on Oct. 14.

10-10-2005, 03:28 PM	#1
Eliza Hodgkins 1812 Sputnik Sweetheart Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 2,685	A heartbreaking day in the land of stop-animation. Apologies if this has already been reported here: Home of Wallace and Gromit burns Aardman Animations' HQ destroyed by fire By ARCHIE THOMAS LONDON - With a $16 million opening weekend, DreamWorks/Aardman Animations' "Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" is sitting pretty at the top of the U.S. box office chart but co-director Nick Park is in no mood to celebrate after a fire destroyed Aardman's Bristol, England, hq. The fire brigade were called to the warehouse site at the crack of dawn on Oct. 10 but were unable to quell the blaze before the three floors collapsed, destroying priceless props and sets. The cause of the fire has not been identified. "It couldn't have come on a worse day - we were supposed to be celebrating, but instead our history has disappeared in a couple of hours . everything has gone, from as far back as 'Morph' and all the way through to 'Chicken Run,' including all the 'Wallace and Gromit' films, 'Creature Comforts,' it's all there. Everyone is devastated," Aardman spokesman Arthur Sheriff told the BBC. In characteristically self-effacing manner, Park said, "Even though it is precious stuff and nostalgic - and it is dreadful news for the company, in the light of other tragedies, it's not a big deal." Bleary-eyed commuters making their way to the nearby Temple Meads station at 06.00 BST were stunned by the sight of 100 foot flames engulfing Aardman Animations. Park's state-of-the-art site is a source of great pride to Bristol's media community. Mirroring the pic's powerful stateside bow, "Were-Rabbit" took $5 million in previews on Oct. 8 and 9 on home turf. It opens wide in the U.K. on Oct. 14.
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