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Bristol will celebrate the 25th anniversary of two of its most famous sons’ first appearance with a major new exhibition dedicated to Wallace & Gromit.
It is a quarter of a century since the dynamic, plasticine duo made their screen debut in A Grand Day Out. Since then they have gone on to movie stardom, winning Oscars and gaining global critical acclaim – their films have been translated into more than 20 languages.
For the second year running, Aardman Animations’ most famous creations will be a major tourist draw for the city, following on from last summer’s successful Gromit Unleashed trail. 
The exhibition, Wallace & Gromit From The Drawing Board, which opens on May 24 at the M Shed and runs until September 7, will take visitors on a journey to explore the world behind the characters, their Bristol based creators Aardman Animations and the award-winning films in which they star.
Thanks to Aardman and Bristol 3D design and construction firm Cod Steaks, visitors will have the chance to see the famous duo up-close and view story boards used to create some of the film scenes.
Exhibition highlights will include film archive, models, animation sets and film clips, with some of the drawings and objects making their first appearance on public display. Meanwhile, a series of rooms from Wallace & Gromit’s home will be available to explore.
Interim head of Bristol Museums, Galleries & Archives Vivienne Bennett said: “We are thrilled to be working with Aardman Animations once again. The exhibition will open the world of Wallace and Gromit to visitors and give them a behind-the-scenes look at the animation process.
“We are confident Wallace & Gromit from the drawing board will appeal to all visitors of all ages and spark their own creativity. I believe the undoubted charm of this internationally-recognised brand will attract many tourists to M Shed and to the city of Bristol.”
Wallace & Gromit creator Nick Park added: “Having a Wallace & Gromit exhibition in Bristol this summer will be really special for Aardman. It will be great to share with everyone some of the amazing behind the scenes artwork that our crew produce. Many of the items that will go on show haven’t made it out of our archives for a very long time – I can’t wait to see them again myself.”
