No dialogue films have been around since the beginning of cinema. The best could tell a thousand words through the mere glance of a character's eyes. But how does one do that with clay puppets? Very very slowly, with great detail, and with insurmountable patience. Each minute in this film must have taken days / weeks to complete. Were the camera anchored in position, perhaps it would have been easier. The camera in Shaun the Sheep never stays still. It pans, zooms, shifts focus -- while the claymation is MOVING! While not the first film to do so (Nightmare before Christmas is an excellent claymation film that did the same), it is done so seamlessly that you almost forget about the technical prowess in making it. All of this, of course, takes a back seat to the solid story and character development.
How does one take 5 minute serial cartoons and stretch them out to a full length movie? By expanding the backstory to the characters, of course. All cartoon serials made into feature length films have done this, but never as effectively as here. I think the answer is simplicity. They don't go for wackiness as much as for tenderness. The farmer is shown to be more of a father figure to the sheep. The entire farm is portrayed as a family. That raises the emotional stakes in the film which makes the simple funny moments funnier and the tender moments more heart warming. In essence, the simplicity and lean running time elevate the whole production. It rises beyond its origins and leaves the audience exhilarated. This is a movie you feel good you've seen. There is a purity about it which is lacking in most movies. Appropriate for absolutely any age, check this one out!
How does one take 5 minute serial cartoons and stretch them out to a full length movie? By expanding the backstory to the characters, of course. All cartoon serials made into feature length films have done this, but never as effectively as here. I think the answer is simplicity. They don't go for wackiness as much as for tenderness. The farmer is shown to be more of a father figure to the sheep. The entire farm is portrayed as a family. That raises the emotional stakes in the film which makes the simple funny moments funnier and the tender moments more heart warming. In essence, the simplicity and lean running time elevate the whole production. It rises beyond its origins and leaves the audience exhilarated. This is a movie you feel good you've seen. There is a purity about it which is lacking in most movies. Appropriate for absolutely any age, check this one out!