Review: Larger Than Life: Starring Wallace & Gromit, Shaun and More (Lightroom)
Review by Daz Gale
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
London has no shortage of exciting, high-quality venues to offer a wide range of entertainment, stretching beyond theatre, with the impressive Lightroom in Kings Cross one of the more distinct. Immersing viewers in a 360-degree world, past projects there have transported people into the world of David Bowie and even taken them to the moon. It’s a very different world this time around, namely the world of Aardman Animation. Having thrilled people for decades with Wallace & Gromit, Shaun The Sheep and Morph to name but a few, they are now inviting audiences to take a look behind the magic and creativity in Larger Than Life. With such a devoted fanbase and characters loved all over the world, could this production live up to high expectations and be as cracking as Aardman fans had hoped?
Aardman Animations have been in business since the 1970s, responsible for some iconic characters, most notably the sensations that are Wallace & Gromit. They have also supplied animation for iconic music videos and adverts as well as produced movies such as the well-loved Chicken Run and its more recent sequel. Essentially, even if you are not overly familiar with the name of the company, the chances are you will have watched something they have created at some point in your life - and if by some miracle you haven’t, you will certainly have seen at least one of their characters.
Larger Than Life looks into the history of the company, offering insights into the behind-the-scenes process and the meticulous, patient and painstaking way they create their stop-motion animations. This is played out through a 50 minute video split into chapters looking at clay, their move into movies and everything in between. This video is played on a loop continuously while Lightroom is open so you can walk in at any time and enjoy it rather than actively aim to get there at the start. That said, there is a great touch of an opening and end credirts that makes it clear when it is about to start again.
It would have been easy to fill the bulk of the time with clips from their classic creations, so it is refreshing to see these kept to a bare minimum. Instead, we see clips side by side to see it go from design to production, or step into the studio to watch the voice actors record their lines in a way that is a whole different definition of “animated” in a particular highlight. Aardman is a company that has never rested on its past, so don’t be surprised if you are treated to a smattering of new animations from them during the production, including a spin on a well-loved talent show.
It was fascinating to go behind the scenes into the creative process of these characters and their now iconic productions to get a glimpse of the genius behind it all. Using storyboards, archive footage and behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, the variety on offer during the hour is impressive, leading to a watch that is always versatile and certainly anything other than boring.
The cutting-edge technology at Lightroom is brilliant at transporting audiences into another world, and Aardman is a great example of this. With characters racing around the surrounding four walls and even popping up beneath your feet, it is a fantastic use of the space and a great visual experience that immerses you fully.
Lightroom is rather unique in its approach, creating an experience like no other and Aardman moving in there for the time being feels like a perfect fit in utilising the technology and distinct surroundings to bring to life another very distinct world. Whether you are an ardent Aardman fan or are so unaware of it all that you couldn’t tell your Wallace from your Gromit, what is admirable about this is how your enjoyment shouldn’t be impacted either way, ensuring there is something for everyone to be found at this cracking experience.
Larger Than Life is now playing at Lightroom. Tickets from lightroom.uk