Why Aardman believes handmade animation has a future

Students are taught by some of Aardman’s most experienced film-makers, including Oscar and Bafta-nominated Head of Studio Will Becher, who has spent two decades animating and directing for the company.

He acknowledges the painstaking stop-frame animation process can be time-consuming and physically challenging, with no short cuts.

“You can get lost. The hours just go by when you’re moving something a millimetre and you’re spending all day thinking about an individual motion,” he said.

“It is a very creative but a very intense job, so we really try to make sure the crews generally have a good work life balance and it’s the same in the Academy.

“It’s better to pace yourself and take breaks.”

That mindset reflects a wider philosophy that has defined Aardman for half a century. Quick, cheap and easy have never been the studio’s driving forces.

A passion for homespun authenticity and physically crafted fine detail has always been the priority, whatever effect that may have on timescale and cost.

As AI becomes increasingly capable of generating images and videos in seconds, the next generation of stop-frame animators are placing their faith in something slower.

Their hope is that there will always be an audience for stories shaped by real hands, real imagination and a few deliberately wonky edges.