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Shaun the Sheep creator takes majority stake in US animators Nathan Love Shaun the Sheep creator takes majority stake in US animators Nathan Love
(about 4 hours later)
The creator of Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep is to make its first international expansion by taking a majority stake in New York-based animation studio Nathan Love.The creator of Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep is to make its first international expansion by taking a majority stake in New York-based animation studio Nathan Love.
Through the deal, Aardman will set up its first permanent production facility outside the UK.Through the deal, Aardman will set up its first permanent production facility outside the UK.
The 43-year old Bristol-based firm has taken a majority stake in Nathan Love, which has created animated TV ads for clients including Kellogg’s, Kraft, Pepsi, NBC Universal and Nickelodeon. The 40-year old Bristol-based firm has taken a majority stake in Nathan Love, which has created animated TV ads for clients including Kellogg’s, Kraft, Pepsi, NBC Universal and Nickelodeon.
While Aardman is best known for its film and TV programmes, it has also branched out into TV advertising, making a string of campaigns in the UK for clients including Npower and the government’s Change4Life anti-obesity drive.While Aardman is best known for its film and TV programmes, it has also branched out into TV advertising, making a string of campaigns in the UK for clients including Npower and the government’s Change4Life anti-obesity drive.
However, despite creating work for US clients that include Chevron, the company has found it much harder to crack the North American TV advertising market.However, despite creating work for US clients that include Chevron, the company has found it much harder to crack the North American TV advertising market.
“Teaming up with an existing [US] company gives us the opportunity to hit the ground running and build a solid base from which to grow,” said David Sproxton, co-founder and executive chairman of Aardman. “It’s about building a new business in New York for American [ad] agencies and we feel we can do this more effectively by being there.”“Teaming up with an existing [US] company gives us the opportunity to hit the ground running and build a solid base from which to grow,” said David Sproxton, co-founder and executive chairman of Aardman. “It’s about building a new business in New York for American [ad] agencies and we feel we can do this more effectively by being there.”
Following completion of the deal, which the two companies position as a merger despite Aardman taking a controlling stake, the eight-year old New York company will be rebranded Aardman Nathan Love.Following completion of the deal, which the two companies position as a merger despite Aardman taking a controlling stake, the eight-year old New York company will be rebranded Aardman Nathan Love.
“The partnership feels very natural, our values are philosophically closely aligned,” said Joe Burrascano, founder of Nathan Love. “The potential for what we can do together is incredibly inspiring. We hope agencies and clients will feel the same way.”“The partnership feels very natural, our values are philosophically closely aligned,” said Joe Burrascano, founder of Nathan Love. “The potential for what we can do together is incredibly inspiring. We hope agencies and clients will feel the same way.”
Aardman made a pre-tax profit of £2m in 2013, according to the most recent publicly available financial filing, a move back into the black which allowed it to rescind a four-year staff pay freeze.Aardman made a pre-tax profit of £2m in 2013, according to the most recent publicly available financial filing, a move back into the black which allowed it to rescind a four-year staff pay freeze.
However, since then the company has notched up successes including Shaun the Sheep: The Movie, made in conjunction with French film company StudioCanal, which has made more than $100m (£65m) at the box office. It was made on a budget of less than $25m.However, since then the company has notched up successes including Shaun the Sheep: The Movie, made in conjunction with French film company StudioCanal, which has made more than $100m (£65m) at the box office. It was made on a budget of less than $25m.
The two companies are working on another Shaun the Sheep film as well as Early Man, a caveman comedy due to be released in 2018.The two companies are working on another Shaun the Sheep film as well as Early Man, a caveman comedy due to be released in 2018.
Aardman is also creating a one-off 30-minute special, Shaun the Sheep: The Farmer’s Llamas, which will air on BBC1 this Christmas.Aardman is also creating a one-off 30-minute special, Shaun the Sheep: The Farmer’s Llamas, which will air on BBC1 this Christmas.