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Following in the footsteps of Aardman Animations legends Peter Lord, David Sproxton and Nick Park, a new wave of creators are driving the company forward. While its celebrated franchises, such as Wallace and Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and Chicken Run are still much loved, and it has four Oscars wins with nine further nominations under its belt, Aardman is also focused on nurturing new talent, such as the creators of Oscar nominated short film “Robin Robin,” and series, such as “Lloyd of the Flies” and “The Very Small Creatures.”

Speaking to Variety from Aardman’s headquarters on Spike Island, Bristol, in the West of England, two of the creative minds behind “Lloyd of the Flies,” Aardman’s first CGI series, explain how the show evolved. In other articles, Variety speaks to Dan Ojari and Mikey Please, the creators of “Robin Robin,” and Lucy Izzard, the creator of “The Very Small Creatures.

Dan Ojari and Mikey Please, the co-writers and co-directors of Aardman Animations’ musical film “Robin Robin,” which premiered on Netflix in November 2021, and was nominated for an Oscar the following year, say that a spinoff is in the cards.

“We are currently working on more stories in the world of ‘Robin, Robin,’” Please tells Variety. “I think that’s all we’re allowed to say. But that would certainly be our hopes and dreams. We feel like there are loads more stories to tell in this world, so we’d love to do more.”

“Robin Robin,” whose voice cast includes Bronte Carmichael, Adeel Akhtar, Gillian Anderson and Richard E. Grant, centers on a robin who is raised by a loving family of burglar mice. As Robin grows up, her differences become more apparent. She sets out to pull off a daring heist in a bid to prove to her family...

Charlie Brown has revealed behind-the-scenes footage from his new music video exclusively on Digital Spy. The singer is seen shooting the clip for his new track 'On My Way' with three younger versions of himself. "It's based on the title 'On My Way'," director Matthew Walker said of the visual. "We wanted to show a journey of Charlie Brown's career, from aspiring (more)...

Film Lineup Set For Inaugural Palo Alto International Film Festival

Palo Alto, CA . The Palo Alto International Film Festival (Paiff) has announced its film program for the 2011 festival. The lineup includes 20 features and 74 short films curated from award-winning films and film festival favorites that exemplify Paiff.s theme of innovation in art, film and technology.

Paiff proudly presents a lineup that challenges the art form, taking creative risks with technology in films like Braden King.s cross-platform feature .Here,. to the artistically inventive .Bombay Beach. by music video director Alma Har.el to documentaries like .Something Ventured. which delves into the world of Venture Capital firms.

.We.re seeing a new movement emerging . films are trying to live outside the cinema. They.re breaking out of traditional storytelling structures,. said Paiff.s Director Programming Alf Seccombe. .This festival spotlights the creative risk-taking that is inherent in innovation..

The 2011 festival kicks...

Good luck, right?

But here's the reality: naps are a powerful source of competitive advantage. The recent evidence is overwhelming: naps are not just physically restorative, but also improve perceptual skills, motor skills, reaction time, and alertness.

I experienced the power of naps myself when I was writing my new book, The Way We're Working Isn't Working. I wrote at home, in the mornings, in three separate, highly focused 90 minute sessions. By the time I finished the last one, I was usually exhausted--physically, mentally, and emotionally. I ate lunch and then took a 20 to 30 minute nap on a Barcalounger chair, which I bought just for that purpose.

When I awoke, I felt incredibly rejuvenated. Where I might otherwise have dragged myself through the afternoon, I was able to focus effectively on work other than writing until 7 pm or so, without feeling fatigued.

When Sara Mednick, a former Harvard researcher, gave her subjects a memory challenge,...

Nomura, the Japanese bank, has substantially raised its target price for Sky shares from 700p a share to £10. If it happens, Rupert Murdoch will have to dig deep into his pockets to buy the remaining 60% of BSkyB he doesn’t own. Murdoch would have to find another £3 billion on top of the £12 billion he’s already offered. Matthew Walker, an analyst at Nomura, said: “For too long we think BSkyB has been regarded as the perennial ‘jam tomorrow’ story, a best-in-class business that keeps investing to keep ahead of the competition and where promised cash flow is constantly deferred. “We [...]...

Home and Away newcomer Matthew Walker may secure a more regular role on the soap, a report has claimed. Last month, viewers saw Walker make his debut as Aden Jefferies' (Todd Lasance) brother Justin for what was intended to be a one-off guest stint. Since then, Justin has proved a hit with viewers and some fans are calling for him to set up home in Summer Bay even though Aden is leaving later this year. A show source told TV Week: (more)...

Home and Away newcomer Matthew Walker has heaped praise on his Summer Bay co-star Emily Symons. The actor makes his debut as Aden Jefferies's (Todd Lasance) brother Justin in scenes to be broadcast in the UK this week. On his first day of filming, Walker was required to work closely with Symons, who recently returned to her role as dizzy Marilyn Fisher after nearly ten years away. However, he had no idea that he would be doing so until they came face-to-face. Speaking to the soap's official website, Walker commented: (more)...

This week, I was heartened by the news that says that siestas are good for you. Oh, the joy! Researchers at the University of California have discovered that a bit of shut-eye in the middle of the day improves the brain's ability to function in the evening, as it clears the brain's short-term memory, making room for new information. Well, if you'll permit me to quote that great philosopher of the 20th Century, Monica Geller, "I know!"

Although this idea has been kicking around for a couple of years now--as Sara Mednick, author of Take A Nap! Change Your Life told us back in 2006, the concept seems to be gathering pace again. Last month, Arianna Huffington exhorted women to sleep their way to the top, seeing lack of sleep as the next big feminist issue.

Uc Study leader Dr Matthew Walker describes it thus. "Sleep not only rights the wrong of prolonged wakefulness,...

• For the fifth year Screen International has put out their annual list of the next big things in UK Cinema. The UK Stars of Tomorrow is considered a major launching pad for fresh talent both in front and behind the camera. Past honorees include the wanted James McAvoy, the irresistible Emily Blunt, and the prince himself Ben Barnes. Unfortunately the only equivalent we have here in the states is the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, but I digress. This year’s list features some 40 actors, directors, animators, writers and producers vying for industry glory. Four names I think you should keep an eye on: Carey MulliganAfter making her debut in Joe Wright's Pride & Prejudice, she will be seen in both Jim Sheridan's upcoming Brothers and alongside Christian Bale and Johnny Depp in Michael Mann's gangster flick Public Enemies – not bad! Christian McKayHe’ll be playing a young Orson Welles for Richard Linklater…

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