Book Review: The Art of Wallace and Gromit

I didn't even know this book existed until a reader pointed it out to me. Thanks! — unfortunately I can't remember who it was.

The Art of Wallace and Gromit is an art book that's as fun as the stop motion animation itself. It's fill with sketches and art from Nick Park's sketchbook, way back to 1989's "A Grand Day Out". You can see the evolution of the sketches from concept to the screen, although no film stills are included. Wallace actually started out with a moustache and Gromit had a mouth with big teeth!

The most interesting part is the chapter on the inventions by Wallace. The gadgets are obviously inspired by the 40s-60s but adapted at great length into hi-tech gadgetry, often to hilarious effect. There are the Techno-trousers from "The Wrong Trousers", the dressing machine and the legendary BunVac 6000 from "The Curse of the Were-rabbit", Bully-proof vest and many more. Suddenly things that look mundane doesn't behave as such anymore.

There are also plenty of side characters included. You have the cute sinister Penguin (The Wrong Trousers), Shaun the Sheep (A Close Shave), Lady Tottington (The Curse of the Were-rabbit), Piella Bakewell (A Matter of Loaf and Death) and other town folks.

Right towards the end is the unused concepts. Many of the sketches reminds me of the funny comic strip "The Far Side". Some are just funny even without having any dialogue — same goes to all the other sketches in the book.

This is a crackling fun book. Recommended to all fans of Wallace and Gromit.

Also check out The Art of Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-rabbit if you can't get enough.

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