Wallace and Gromit

Wallace and Gromit are the main characters in a series of three British animated short films and a feature-length film by Nick Park of Aardman Animations. All the characters were made from moulded Plasticine modelling clay on wire frames, and filmed with stop motion animation. more...

This process is sometimes known as "claymation".

Wallace is an absent-minded inventor, cheese enthusiast (especially for Wensleydale cheese), and companion to the dog Gromit who appears to be rather more intelligent than his master. Wallace is voiced by veteran actor Peter Sallis; Gromit remains silent.

Characters

Wallace

Wallace lives at 62 West Wallaby Street, Wigan, Lancs . He can usually be found wearing a white shirt, brown wool trousers, green knitted vest and red tie. He loves cheese - preferably Wensleydale. The thought of Lancashire hotpot keeps him going in a crisis. He enjoys a nice cup of tea or a drop of Bordeaux red for those special occasions. He reads the Morning Post, the Afternoon Post, and the Evening Post, and occasionally "Ay-Up" magazine.

He is an inveterate inventor, creating elaborate Heath Robinson-esque contraptions that often do not work as intended. He has a kindly nature, and is perhaps a little over-optimistic. Nick Park, his creator says: "He's a very self-contained figure. A very homely sort who doesn't mind the odd adventure."

Most of Wallace's inventions look not unlike the designs of Rube Goldberg and Heath Robinson, and Nick Park has said of Wallace that all his inventions are designed around the principle of using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

Some of Wallace's contraptions actually are based on a real-life invention. For example, Wallace's method of getting up in the morning incorporates a bed that tips over to wake up its owner, an invention that was exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1851 by Theophilus Carter, and is similar to a device sold in Japan that is used to ensure a certain wakeup time.

Gromit

Gromit is a dog who lives with Wallace. His birthday is 12th February, and he graduated from "Dogwarts University" (a pun on Hogwarts of the Harry Potter books). He likes knitting, reading the newspaper, his alarm clock, bone, brush and framed photo of himself with Wallace. He is also very handy with electronic equipment (a grommet is a piece of electrical wiring insulation, a term Nick Park picked up from his brother, an electrician), and is sensitive, intelligent and resourceful.

Gromit doesn't express himself in words but his facial expressions -- particularly his eyebrow -- speak volumes. Nick Park, his creator says: "We are a nation of dog-lovers and so many people have said: 'My dog looks at me just like Gromit does!'" and... "Gromit was originally the name for a cat in another story!" Gromit enjoys eating 'KornFlakes' and reading many books including:

• The Republic, by Pluto (a pun on Plato);
• Crime and Punishment, by Fido Dogstoevsky (a pun on Fyodor Dostoevsky);
• Men are from Mars, Dogs are from Pluto;
• Electronics For Dogs
• Sheep.

He also listens to Bach and solves puzzles with ease.

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