Today I visited the Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends exhibition at the Young V&A Museum at Bethnal Green. The exhibition which celebrates 50 years of Aardman Animations, provides visitors with a unique, behind the scenes view of the art of stop-motion animation. It also explores how Aardman’s iconic characters and worlds are designed, crafted and brought to life. From the initial concept artwork to the final visual effects, this event demonstrates the methods and techniques employed by Aardman. The exhibition features early scripts, sketch artists initial concept art, models, sets and numerous famous puppets. Furthermore this event is firmly pitched at children and families, with a wealth of interactive activities demonstrating the various techniques on display. The curators of the exhibition have also made it clear that they wish to encourage future generation to consider a career in the creative arts. The exhibition is located on the 1st floor, in the left gallery and is devised to walk visitors through the entire process of creating an animated film. Hence the first items on display are conceptual artwork, early drafts of scripts and some incredible storyboards used in the planning of specific iconic sequences. The standout item here are the storyboards for the train chase sequence from The Wrong Trousers. Next there are extensive examples of model and puppet making, along with many famous characters from various classic Aardman productions. There are also several exquisitely crafted miniature sets including Feather’s McGraw’s impressive church organ from Murder Most Fowl. This leads on to a display about set lighting, the process of stop motion animation and voice acting. There is finally a section about post production and editing. The display ends with a video display showing 15 minutes worth of classic Aardman material. Each stage of the exhibition has interactive elements designed to engage adult and child alike. Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends is an utterly delightful exhibition that will please both fans of Aardman Animations and stop-motion enthusiasts. Furthermore, this event has been intelligently curated and has a strong message of nurturing and encouraging artistic and creative pursuits. Aardman Animations is a national success story in a creative landscape that is broadly contracting in the current UK economic climate. The children present at the exhibition when I visited were certainly engaged with the various activities and it was most rewarding to see so many sitting and furiously drawing. Hence there are multiple aspects to praise about this event. Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends is available at the Young V&A Museum until Sunday 15th of November 2026. Tickets for adults and children cost £11, although there are discounts for larger groups or those who become supporters of the museum. Permalink