Shaun the Sheep arrived earlier this year and kind of flew under the radar of most theater goers. As you can tell from our “A” Shaun the Sheep review, we adored it. This is the rare animated film that could not be better suited for every single person in the movie going pantheon. It works impeccably for young kids (even a couple of years old, heck there’s no dialogue) and its humor and heart should charm and create out-loud laughs for people enjoying their later golden years.
Now that Shaun the Sheep is out on DVD, Blu-Ray and digital download, The Movie Mensch has to insist that the world population go out and purchase this gem. It is also the type of film that you will want to witness repeatedly. It is just that good.
Shaun the Sheep is enjoying his days living on the Farmer’s farm. But, after 20 years or so, things have gotten a bit monotonous and he decides to enlist the help of his flock to spice things up. They want to take a day off from the shores of farm life and enjoy some fun and frolic in the countryside. They rig the Farmer’s alarm so he keeps sleeping and believe they are ready to rock the day. Only thing, the Farmer’s trailer comes unhinged and before you can say, “Look out,” it is careening down busy roads heading into the big city.
Shaun the Sheep and his buddies have to band together and get into the city and rescue the Farmer if they’re ever going to return to a life that has any sense of normalcy. The only problem, when the Farmer’s trailer comes to a stop, he hits his head and he suffers from amnesia. He has no idea where he is, or who he is!
The animated flick comes to us from the British animation house that also produces the television show of the same name, as well as Wallace and Gromit and a slew of other instant animated classic. Their stop motion Claymation methods of filmmaking works so fluently with this literal fish out of water story and also contributes to why the tale can be told so brilliantly without words. Characters simply mutter and gesture and that’s all you need to know.
There are messages throughout that parents will cherish for their children and adults will appreciate being reminded of that many of us have forgotten as the years have gone by. It also features one heck of a cool soundtrack that helps keep the pace of the movie moving right along nicely.
Given that the process of stop motion animation that created Shaun the Sheep is so painstaking, you will not want to miss the bonus feature Making the Shaun Movie. Viewers will gain a new appreciation for what Aardman Animation does and how their work defines patience. It is stunning how far the art form of animation has come and yet how old school and worth the wait stop motion is and continues to be. Animators have come a long way in terms of how they tell stop motion stories, but it’s great to see that this is an art that feels as fresh in Shaun the Sheep as it did when Aardman first crafted stories two decades ago.
Every single character in Shaun the Sheep, from the title character to the pigs to the people who inhabit “the big city” are fully drawn. That is an amazing achievement given that, again, there is no dialogue for filmmakers to work with. Viewers can delve deeper into how these characters were created in the Meet the Characters featurette that is absolutely entertaining on every level, and even a bit enlightening.
We love how animated films of all types have kept the home video market in mind when crafting the film itself. Proof of that arrives in the Shaun the Sheep home vid with Join Shaun Behind the Scenes. One really gets an idea of how the entire process worked and what a joy it was to make with this featurette.
Lastly, those responsible for making the film and the making-of featurettes so joyous get the spotlight in Meet the Crew. The featurette lets the true stars of Shaun the Sheep get their due as viewers get to go deeper with those who possess the incredible talent that bring such incredible entertainment to life for all ages.
Movie Itself: A
Bonus Features: A+