In light of Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl‘s 2025 Oscars nomination, DreamWorks’ history with Aardman Animations reveals a tragic failure for the former studio’s award chances. Even if DreamWorks has another animated movie in the Oscars’ race — having garnered nominations for three categories — the studio’s past in the ceremony, and its close ties to the compeтιтion, threaten to tint its efforts at this edition. Though being responsible for what’s considered the best animated movie of 2024, the company that produced Shrek missed an epic chance to echo its last Oscar win.
Despite creating a wide variety of acclaimed movies throughout the years — like How To Train Your Dragon and Puss in Boots — DreamWorks’ recent movies have frustrating reputations, resulting in it not winning an Academy Award for 20 years. Depending on the 2025 Oscars’ outcome, the studio might break a losing streak or fall under the shadow of the last collaboration that gave it a victory. Notably, if DreamWorks had renewed its collaboration with Aardman Animations, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl could have given it an iconic Oscar feat that the studio desperately needs.
DreamWorks Almost Produced Both The Wild Robot And Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
DreamWorks Winning With The Franchise That Gave It Its Last Oscar Would Be Epic
Back in 1999, after the studios’ conjoined success with Chicken Run, DreamWorks signed a four-movie deal with Aardman Animations. From this partnership came DreamWorks’ second and last Oscar win with Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. However, even if all seemed to be working for both creative companies, Flushed Away‘s poor performance marked the ending of their collaboration, which, surprisingly, wasn’t renewed for Wallace & Gromit‘s most recent sequel. Since Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl‘s Rotten Tomatoes score is higher than The Wild Robot‘s, DreamWorks might have benefited from taking a different turn.
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Wallace & Gromit‘s History At The Oscars |
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|---|---|---|
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тιтle |
Category |
Outcome |
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A Grand Day Out (1990) |
Best Animated Short Film |
Nominated |
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The Wrong Trousers (1993) |
Best Animated Short Film |
Won |
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A Close Shave (1995) |
Best Animated Short Film |
Won |
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Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005) |
Best Animated Feature |
Won |
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A Matter of Loaf and Death (2009) |
Best Animated Short Film |
Nominated |
|
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (2024) |
Best Animated Feature |
Pending |
Had DreamWorks ventured to produce Vengeance Most Fowl, its chances of making Oscar history would have increased exponentially. Not only would the studio have two animated movies nominated at the 2025 Oscars, but it would be running with two of the most beloved characters in the history of the ceremony. Notably, Wallace & Gromit now has six Academy Award nominations and three wins. Additionally, if Nick Park’s latest movie were to win this year, DreamWorks would be winning with the franchise that gave it its last Oscar, sealing its return to award success.
Why DreamWorks Didn’t Produce Aardman Animations’ Latest Films
DreamWorks And Aardman Animations Broke Their Deal After Creative Differences
Though Aardman Animations has produced other acclaimed films since the 2005 Wallace & Gromit award-winning feature, The Wild Robot‘s studio wasn’t involved in any. After Flushed Away‘s box office flop, Aardman spokesperson Arthur Sheriff stated, “The business model of DreamWorks no longer suits Aardman and vice versa,” referring to DreamWorks’ sudden focus on sequels for CG-made franchises like Shrek and Madagascar, but reᴀssured that “the split couldn’t have been more amicable.” (via Variety) However, Aardman’s creatives and next projects hint that larger creative frictions played a role in the deal’s cancellation.
Before DreamWorks and Aardman Animations finished their deal, the studios were working on Crood Awakening, an adaptation of Roald Dhal’s The Twits. DreamWorks kept the script and, after some changes, released The Croods to wide critical acclaim.
Besides Shaun the Sheep Movie, Aardman Animations’ best movies are those made in collaboration with major companies such as DreamWorks and Sony Pictures Animation. Despite this, the British studio seemingly was quite content with parting ways with any U.S. producers, even if it meant dissolving active projects. Notably, the Wallace & Gromit creator, Nick Park, has commented on experiencing difficulties negotiating DreamWorks’ demands to make his material less British and more American, and felt relieved to go back to the BBC and continue making short films, which brought the franchise back to its origins (via The Telegraph).
Aardman Animations Choosing Netflix Over DreamWorks Was The Right Decision For Its Wallace & Gromit Sequel
Wallace & Gromit Maintained Its British Charm & Garnered Another Oscar Nomination
After only working with European companies for more than 10 years, Aardman Animations has begun a new deal with a different U.S. studio. Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl broke audience records on Netflix, just a year after Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget joined the platform’s biggest hits upon its release. The champions of claymation are officially back in the top charts and award lineups, and it becomes clear that DreamWorks would not have been the right option for the Aardman’s latest sequels.
While DreamWorks might seem like a better option than Netflix, Aardman’s choice allowed it creative liberty — and produced a major hit as a result. It seems Aardman might have found its perfect international partner, as Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl‘s best jokes are undeniably British. Aardman Animations getting an Oscar nomination without DreamWorks’ involvement is certainly a travesty in the American studio awards’ history, but it speaks of the British company’s unwavering creative vision, especially as Nick Park manages to imbue Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl‘s with its unapologetic charm.
Sources: The Telegraph, Variety, Rotten Tomatoes
