Aardman Celebrates 50 Years with Major Exhibition at the Young V&A
Aardman Animations is marking its 50th anniversary with a landmark exhibition at the Young V&A in London—an expansive, behind-the-scenes journey into the beloved studio’s artistry, characters, and storytelling legacy. Opening February 12, 2026, Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends brings more than five decades of stop-motion mastery to the public in one of the studio’s most significant curated showcases to date.
Located in Bethnal Green, the Young V&A—formerly the V&A Museum of Childhood—has shaped its recent programming around interactive, creativity-forward experiences for families. This exhibition aligns perfectly with that mission: an immersive celebration of craft, imagination, and the hands-on world of stop-motion filmmaking.
A Landmark Anniversary Showcase
Timed to Aardman’s 50-year milestone, the exhibition highlights the studio’s evolution from a small filmmaking partnership between Peter Lord and David Sproxton into a global powerhouse behind iconic films such as Wallace & Gromit, Chicken Run, and Shaun the Sheep.
Visitors can explore over 150 objects from Aardman’s archives, many of which have never been displayed publicly. The breadth of material offers a rare look at everything from early character sketches to elaborate miniature sets used in fan-favorite productions.
The exhibition runs February 12 – November 15, 2026, making it one of the longest-running Aardman retrospectives ever hosted in the UK.
Exhibition Highlights
The curatorial team has pulled together an impressive collection that reflects Aardman’s technical innovation, storytelling depth, and unmistakable humor. Showcase items include:
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Development sketches for Morph, one of Aardman’s earliest clay characters.
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The hand-drawn storyboard for the legendary train chase sequence in The Wrong Trousers.
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Miniature sets and puppets from across Aardman’s filmography, including pieces newly brought out of the archives.
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The motorbike and sidecar featured in the most recent Wallace & Gromit adventure.
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Original props, drawings, fabrication notes, and concept art representing decades of production history.
These artifacts reveal the level of craftsmanship that defines Aardman’s stop-motion style—where every fingerprint, prop, and character detail contributes to the studio’s signature charm.
An Interactive Experience for All Ages
True to the Young V&A’s mission, the exhibition is designed to be deeply immersive, giving visitors of all ages the chance to experience the stop-motion process firsthand.
Interactive features include:
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Lighting and staging activities where visitors can experiment with set design.
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Character creation stations where children can explore visual storytelling.
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Hands-on opportunities to create simple animations, encouraging families to make their own stories at home.
This focus on accessibility—showing that stop-motion can be made with everyday materials—echoes the studio’s own origins and speaks directly to the next generation of animators.
Honoring a Studio That Changed Animation
Aardman’s influence on animation is difficult to overstate: its films have shaped global pop culture, developed instantly recognizable characters, and established an enduring legacy of handcrafted artistry. In 2018, the founders transferred the majority of the studio’s ownership to its employees, preserving its independence and craft-first philosophy well into the future.
Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends stands as both a tribute and an invitation. It commemorates Aardman’s history while encouraging young creative minds to explore the joy of animation—one frame at a time.
For fans, families, and aspiring filmmakers, this exhibition offers a rare window into one of the most celebrated stop-motion studios in the world.
Sources
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Aardman Announcement
https://www.aardman.com/latest-news/2025/november/young-va-exhibition-to-explore-behind-the-scenes-of-aardmans-cracking-creations/ -
V&A Exhibition Page
https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/inside-aardman-wallace-gromit-and-friends -
Skwigly Article
https://www.skwigly.co.uk/inside-aardman -
Independent UK Coverage
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/aardman-chicken-run-friends-visitors-bethnal-green-b2871733.html -
The Guardian Coverage
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/nov/24/a-grand-day-out-wallace-and-gromit-exhibition-london-young-v-and-a -
Ian Visits Report
https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/cracking-good-fun-wallace-gromit-are-coming-to-the-young-va-next-year-85710/
