Step Inside the Whimsical World of Aardman with an Exclusive Look Behind the Lens at How the New Artwork was Created
GKIDS, the producer and distributor of award-winning and artist-driven animation today revealed new key art and behind-the-scenes “making-of” footage for globally beloved Aardman’s SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE BEAST OF MOSSY BOTTOM, the latest feature from the Academy Award®-winning creators behind several of the most iconic stop-motion animated films in history. GKIDS will release the film in US theatres nationwide beginning September 18, 2026, with a home entertainment release to follow later this year.
Fans are able to take a peek behind the camera on the creation of the newly revealed poster, from ideation to crafting each element on set, with an in-depth clip released on the GKIDS YouTube channel. Focused on Shaun’s “Mad Scientist” persona unique to the film, the new poster showcases Aardman’s bespoke, handcrafted look, and highlights the various elements that go into creating the all new piece of artwork. The behind-the-scenes footage features Aardman talent, including Animation Director Claire Rolls, Photographer Richard Davies, Director of Photography Charles Copping, Puppets Team Leader Will Harding, as well as GKIDS Design Manager Cynthia Segal speak on their creative process and experience creating this classic, vintage horror movie-inspired poster.
Featuring characters created by celebrated filmmaker Nick Park, the film marks long serving Aardman collaborators Steve Cox and Matthew Walker’s feature directorial debut. The film is written by Mark Burton, who served as screenwriter for the Academy Award®-winning Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-rabbit as well as director of the Academy Award®-nominated Shaun the Sheep Movie and screenwriter of its follow-up A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon. Mark Burton is joined by Giles Pilbrow, who served as writer for the Shaun the Sheep: Adventures from Mossy Bottom series, and wrote the story for the Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas TV special, also directed by Steve Cox. Justin Fletcher returns to lend his voice to Shaun and the Flock once more, and is joined by John Sparkes, and Kate Harbour as voice talent.
Aardman’s globally acclaimed filmmaking has earned the studio multiple Academy Awards®, including animated Wallace & Gromit shorts The Wrong Trousers (1993), A Close Shave (1995), and Best Animated Feature winner Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005). SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE BEAST OF MOSSY BOTTOM marks the third film in the Shaun the Sheep franchise preceded by a legacy of excellence including the two, critically acclaimed Academy Award®-nominated features Shaun the Sheep Movie (2015) and A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmaggedon (2020). This latest film continues Aardman’s signature combination of meticulous handcrafted stop-motion animation, mischievous comedy, and family-friendly storytelling, and further solidifies the studio’s reputation as one of the world’s leading creators of artistically ambitious and globally beloved animated content. 2026 sees Aardman celebrate its 50th anniversary with a roster of events and celebrations highlighting the craft and legacy of the studio.
The film additionally comes to cinemas in the UK, released by Sky UK, on September 18. STUDIOCANAL is releasing the film theatrically in all of its territories except the UK, and including France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Poland, Benelux and Italy, and is handling worldwide sales.
Synopsis:
SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE BEAST OF MOSSY BOTTOM sees the residents of Mossy Bottom Farm looking forward to Halloween – until the clumsy Farmer trashes the Flock’s beloved pumpkin patch! When Shaun turns MAD SCIENTIST to fix the problem, things rapidly spiral out of control… With The Farmer missing and a wild beast roaming the woods of Mossingham, all the ingredients are in place for a monstrously fun family adventure.
From Aardman, the Academy Award®-winning animation studio behind Wallace & Gromit and Chicken Run, SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE BEAST OF MOSSY BOTTOM continues its 50-year legacy of hand-crafted claymation with instantly lovable characters and hysterical down-home charm.