The Lasting Power of Wholesome Characters
Winnie the Pooh. The Peanuts Gang. Paddington Bear. It seems like now and again, the world of entertainment spawns characters that stand the test of time and become remembered decades down the line for, among other reasons, the charm that they possess. Sure, people may love the stories they’ve told or the jokes they’ve shared, but what’s made audiences fall in love with them is the overwhelming sense of wholesomeness they radiate. It comes naturally, rather than because said characters are conceived with the intent of being as charming as possible. When honest efforts are made to give life to characters that work, they really work. Apologies for the lengthy ramble, but I couldn’t think of a better way to introduce the topic I wish to discuss today, two very charming characters from a very charming franchise: ‘Wallace & Gromit’.
I’ll also try to refrain from overusing the word “charming”.
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From Humble Beginnings
‘Wallace & Gromit’ saw its beginnings as a graduation project by up-and-coming British filmmaker Nick Park. It was created for the National Film and Television School all the way back in 1982. A few years later, Aardman Animations helped him out mid-production on this short film titled ‘A Grand Day Out’. Nick Park was originally planning to voice the character Gromit before later deciding that the voice he imagined the character having would be a lot of trouble to animate. Meanwhile, he managed to contact actor Peter Sallis to play the inventor character Wallace, and Sallis agreed to. The completed short premiered at an animation film festival in 1989 and had its television premiere a year later. The short’s success led to a second short being produced, followed by another short. What followed was an entire franchise consisting of video games, a mini-series of shorts of shorter length, a feature film co-produced by Dreamworks, the 2024 return with Vengeance Most Fowl, and an entirely separate spin-off franchise based on the sheep that appeared in an earlier short. Don’t worry, I’ll save ‘Shaun the Sheep’ for another day.
The franchise itself revolves around the aforementioned inventor, Wallace, and his equally aforementioned dog Gromit. Animated in stop-motion claymation, the shorts entail the various exploits and misadventures of the two leads; past ‘A Grand Day Out’, the setups involve Wallace – often running some sort of humble business – making use of his own inventions (whose names often end in “o-matic”) until a villain makes their threatening presence known, leading to a complicated dilemma. Along the way, plenty of silly hijinks keep the atmosphere lighthearted.
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An Unforgettable Duo
What stands out the most about the ‘Wallace & Gromit’ franchise is the immense amount of character the titular duo exhibits. Everything from their various traits and quirks to the way they’re designed works wonderfully. Wallace himself is more or less a perfect lead character; his genuine niceness combined with his bumbling side makes him instantly endearing. In comedy, it’s pretty common to see characters who act cynical, sarcastic, or mean as a means of giving them an edge or making them interesting. Wallace serves as an antithesis to this, as he’s just about the most kind-hearted character possible, and a ton of fun to be around. In the opening scene of the second short, ‘The Wrong Trousers’, there’s some momentary tension as he goes about his morning, seemingly oblivious to the fact that it’s Gromit’s birthday…until he reveals that he’s been playing dumb for the past few minutes, presenting…well, a present to his dog. It might be easy to see coming, but it’s hard not to smile when it does happen, all the same. On top of that, Wallace’s scatterbrained nature humorously contradicts his ability to invent anything that he can think up. He’s a clear genius who knows his way around machines, but at the same time, he doesn’t always make the best decisions, and some of his inventions wind up going awry.
Meanwhile, his dog Gromit serves as a sort of “straight man”. Despite barely ever making noise of any kind, he manages to have just as much character as his talkative master. Big props to the animators for this; without a visible mouth, his main source of expressiveness comes from his brow. Through just his eyes, it’s easy to tell how he’s feeling at any given moment. I’ve always been quite fond of silent characters who rely on their body language and expressions to convey what’s on their mind, and Gromit fits that bill perfectly. His actual personality is great as well, with him being a much more rational thinker than Wallace and using quick wits to come up with solutions. Much like the aforementioned intelligent-but-foolish side of Wallace’s character, Gromit’s role in Wallace’s life is another effectively funny juxtaposition. He’s Wallace’s pet, yet he’s ironically the one more responsible and aware of unusual happenings. The conflicting personalities of these two bounce off each other perfectly, making for… well, I said it in the subheading above: an unforgettable duo.
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The Franchise Itself
Yes, it took me this long to talk about the actual works that Wallace and Gromit star in! In addition to the excellent two main characters, the shorts themselves are very entertaining. The stop motion work on display is very impressive, and the way everything moves and looks boasts that special level of charm that can really only be brought out through stop motion animation. The shorts are also very funny, opting for a tone that’s cartoonish and quirky, but never over the top. They’re full of little details that hit just right, such as a sinister penguin wearing a red rubber glove on its head to vaguely (i.e. not at all) resemble a chicken…and somehow managing to fool the authorities with the unconvincing attire. It’s been a good long while since I’ve seen the theatrical film, ‘The Curse of the Were-Rabbit’, but a number of gags from it have managed to stay in my head ever since my first viewing of it over fifteen years ago, which should be a clear indicator as to just how much care goes into the comedic writing this franchise has to offer. The same can be said for Vengeance Most Fowl (2024), the latest addition to the Wallace & Gromit universe, which proves that even after all these years, the duo’s charm and wit haven’t faded one bit.
Impact
‘Wallace & Gromit’ as a franchise is so iconic, it’s become almost synonymous with both the company that produced it and the art of claymation in general. Any serious discussion regarding the animation medium will inevitably lead to a name drop at the very least. The duo is one of the most recognized cartoon characters to come from the UK, which is extra-impressive considering the works they star in aren’t as frequently produced as one might imagine for such popular characters. With only four main shorts, two feature films, and a handful of shorter…shorts, Wallace & Gromit is the definition of quality over quantity.
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‘Wallace and Gromit’ also had a hand in helping out the Wensleydale Creamery when they were going through some rough financial times. The third short, ‘A Close Shave’, reveals that Wallace’s favorite type of cheese (his established favorite food) was Wensleydale, curiously enough, due to Nick Park thinking it would be an interesting word to animate the character’s lips to. After the short aired, sales in Wensleydale cheese rose, and the company even collaborated with Aardman to sell ‘Wallace & Gromit’ branded cheese, which naturally proved to be a big success.
Conclusion
In a way, it almost seems unnecessary to break down exactly why ‘Wallace & Gromit’ is such a charming, timeless franchise in the manner that I’ve just done. It’s a wonderfully animated series about a man and his dog that’s full of humor and heart, and the best way to experience it is to watch the episodes for yourself. It’s been loved and talked about to great lengths already, so have I just spent all this time stating the obvious? The thing is, I love animation with all my heart, and when titles like these go the extra mile to stand out above the rest, I just want to pay them their dues. There’s a certain level of comfort to be found in the existence of works like ‘Wallace & Gromit’, ones that aren’t afraid to be as endearing as possible while making clear the level of sheer passion that went into bringing them to life. It’s possible for anyone of any age to find enjoyment in this franchise, and I couldn’t be happier that it’s received the recognition that it deserves.
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By Austin Oguri
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Austin Oguri is a screenwriter and has deep appreciation for the art of film in general, he aims to offer unique perspectives through his film reviews and feature articles. He also has a soft spot for lesser-known works, and enjoys spotlighting them whenever he can. Austin has always found it necessary for people to encourage and bring out the best in each other, and as a writer at The Hollywood Insider, he can combine that ideology with his ability to think outside the box and truly express his love for the arts in the best ways possible.
Austin Oguri is a screenwriter and has deep appreciation for the art of film in general, he aims to offer unique perspectives through his film reviews and feature articles. He also has a soft spot for lesser-known works, and enjoys spotlighting them whenever he can. Austin has always found it necessary for people to encourage and bring out the best in each other, and as a writer at The Hollywood Insider, he can combine that ideology with his ability to think outside the box and truly express his love for the arts in the best ways possible.
