Happy Aardman Christmas 2021 - featuring Shaun the Sheep (The Movie & Llamas!)

Well it's that time of year again! Celebrating ALL THINGS SHAUN that I've been privileged to be a part of with Aardman Animations!!

The CHRISTMAS TRADITION continues ... BOTH 'SHAUN THE SHEEP - THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' and 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' can be seen on our TELLYBOXES this Christmas ...

'SHAUN THE SHEEP - THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' - BBC1 on Christmas Eve at 9.50am

'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' - BBC1 on Boxing Day at 10.10am

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

Acting website at www.seanconnolly.co.uk

Voice website at www.seanconnollyvoices.com

My WORK REVIEW of 2020 ... here's to a MUCH BETTER 2021!

Looking back over 2020 I'm quite staggered about what I managed to get up to, feeling blessed to look back on some positive 'work' highlights during what was for the most part, a very challenging year for us all!! 

Let's hope for a MUCH BETTER 2021!!

#audiodrama #audiobooks #radioplay #voiceacting #charityvoice #jojograngran #CBeebies @cbeebieshq #gamesworkshop @black_library_official #blacklibrary #blackstonefortress40k @audible #20000leaguesunderthesea #julesverne @b7.media #waroftheworlds #orsonwelles #hgwells @aardman @shaunthesheep #shaunthesheepmovie #shaunthesheepthefarmersllamas @scriptsirens #shakespeareandhathaway #bbc #tvacting #aliceinwonderland #charityreading #christmasradioplay #hospitalradio #fatherchristmas

Bringing in 2020 with SHAUN THE SHEEP and friends!!

Yet again both the INTERNATIONAL EMMY AWARD winning 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' AND the OSCAR NOMINATED 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' from AARDMAN ANIMATIONS will be aired this festive season ... This time, rather than a Christmas screening, 'FARMER'S LLAMAS' can be seen on NEW YEARS EVE morning at 10.50AM on BBC 1 and the 'MOVIE' can be seen this year on NEW YEARS DAY at 9.30AM also on BBC 1 ... It's become a Christmas tradition to show both SHAUN's on the telly - long may this tradition continue - LOVELY!!!!

Always so proud to have been a part of both animations - if you haven't seen them before (where have you been?!) then you're in for a real treat!

Acting website at www.seanconnolly.co.uk

Voice website at www.seanconnollyvoices.com

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

HAVE A GREAT 2020!!

A SHEEPTASTIC Christmas Eve Morning with an AARDMAN Double Header AGAIN!!

Once again, this CHRISTMAS EVE BOTH the Oscar, Golden Globe and TWICE BAFTA nominated classic 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' AND the INTERNATIONAL EMMY AWARD-WINNING - 'SHAUN THE SHEEP - THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' will be shown on BBC ONE at 10.10am and 11.30am respectively. Still incredibly proud to be a part of the MOVIE and the HALF HOUR SPECIAL.

If you count up all the characters I voiced, there are about ten, with two or three of them (including the Maître D above), whilst not being principle characters are featured throughout the film. Two more fun characters I play in the film are both Hair Stylists who work in the aptly named salon 'Barber Black Sheep'. Other roles I play include a Golfer, an Angry Panto Horse and a host of Hospital Characters ... fantastic fun!!

Those of you who follow my News Blog will know that I play HECTOR THE LLAMA (above) in 'SHAUN THE SHEEP - THE FARMER'S LLAMAS'...

WONDERFUL MEMORIES!!! ENJOY!!!

Aardman's Christmas Double Whammy - UK TV Premiere of 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' & repeat of EMMY AWARD-WINNING 'THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' ...

AARDMAN ANIMATIONS voice actor SEAN CONNOLLY and some of the characters he voiced in 'SHAUN THE SHEEP - THE MOVIE' ...

Shaun is certainly the sheep that keeps on giving! This Christmas 'SHAUN THE SHEEP - THE MOVIE' get it's UK TV PREMIERE - if you haven't yet seen this Oscar, Golden Globe and TWICE BAFTA nominated classic then make sure you tune in to BBC ONE on BOXING DAY at 2.10PM. Still unbelievably proud to be a part of this wonderful film.

As well as the UK TV PREMIERE for 'SHAUN THE SHEEP - THE MOVIE', I'm also over the moon to announce that the INTERNATIONAL EMMY AWARD-WINNING - 'SHAUN THE SHEEP - THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' will also get a couple of SEASONAL REPEATS. Tune in to BBC ONE on CHRISTMAS EVE at 1.45PM and FRIDAY DECEMBER 29th again on BBC ONE at 10.25AM - so no excuses for a spot of LLAMA DRAMA!! I play HECTOR THE LLAMA in this half hour of madness ....

AARDMAN ANIMATIONS voice actor SEAN CONNOLLY plays HECTOR the LLAMA in the award-winning 'SHAUN THE SHEEP - THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' ...

SEAN CONNOLLY with Hector the Llama ...

Llamatastic News as 'SHAUN THE SHEEP - THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' wins an International Emmy Award ...

After the disappointments of 'SHAUN'S' multiple nominations for his MOVIE comes the AMAZING NEWS that his very first CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 'THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' has been awarded one of the biggest prizes out there for a TV show .. an INTERNATIONAL EMMY AWARD!

At the awards ceremony in CANNES on Wednesday night, those very naughty Llamas walked away the top prize for BEST ANIMATION for AARDMAN ANIMATIONS.

Receiving the award last night were (left to right); PAUL KEWLEY (Producer), JAY GRACE (Director), JOHN WOOLLEY (Producer) and ALIX WISEMAN (Executive Producer) ...

Those of you who follow my News Blog will know that I played HECTOR THE LLAMA (below) ...

Congratulations to everyone involved in the making of this terrific festive special for 'SHAUN THE SHEEP' ...

A FESTIVE REPEAT for SHAUN THE SHEEP and those Naughty Llamas!!

Voice Actor SEAN CONNOLLY celebrates as Aardman's 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' gets a CHRISTMAS DAY REPEAT ...

Great NEWES! AARDMAN ANIMATION'S 'SHAUN THE SHEEP' Christmas Special 'THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' is to receive a second outing this Christmas.

Following on from last years smash screening on Boxing Day, I am delighted and more than a bit chuffed to announce that this year the half hour special gets the CHRISTMAS DAY slot on BBC 1 at 1.20PM just before the traditional 'TOP OF THE POPS' .. A wonderful time for all the family to enjoy once again the Lllama Drama centering on (below - from left to right) Fernando, Hector (played by yours truly) and Raul.

There is also another opportunity to see 'THE FARMER'S LLAMA'S' later on CHRISTMAS DAY at 5.40PM on CBBC ...

If you didn't get to see it last year then make sure you tune in on CHRISTMAS DAY. As I said last year ... 

REMEMBER A LLAMA IS NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS!!

Nomination Double Whammy for Aardman's naughty Llamas!

Aardman's 'SHAUN THE SHEEP' Christmas Special 'THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' receives Double Nominations ...

Wonderful news for last year's Shaun the Sheep Christmas Special 'SHAUN THE SHEEP - THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' in which I play HECTOR - LLAMA GANG LEADER (picture below) ... It was announced that not only had the 30 MINUTE FESTIVE SPECIAL received an INTERNATIONAL EMMY AWARD NOMINATION this week in the KIDS: ANIMATION CATEGORY but the following day came the news that it had also received an nomination for a BRITISH ACADEMY CHILDREN'S AWARD (BAFTA) in the ANIMATION CATEGORY (see below) ...

We only have to wait until SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20TH 2016 for the CHILDREN'S BAFTA CEREMONY held at The Roundhouse in London .. A little longer until the results of the INTERNATIONAL EMMY AWARDS are revealed, TUESDAY APRIL 4TH, 2017 @MIPTV IN CANNES, FRANCE. 

SHAUN really is the gift that keeps on giving!!

Happy 40th Birthday to Aardman Animations ...

Aardman Animations voice actor SEAN CONNOLLY celebrates their 40th Birthday with some cherished friends ...

Today sees the 40th Anniversary of Aardman Animations, so I thought it would be fun to reflect on my own personal 16 year history with the Oscar Winning company ...

Well it all started in the new Millennia (2000) when I first worked with Aardman on their Claymation Cult Classic 'REX THE RUNT' when I was lucky to be asked to voice over 30 characters for it's second season ... Here's a little selection of the characters I played ..

Aardman Animations voice actor SEAN CONNOLLY looks back at where it all started with 'REX THE RUNT' in 2000 ...

There was then a 'small' hiatus until I was thrilled to be asked to provide about 10 human characters in the OSCAR-NOMINATED feature film 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' ... Here's most of them!!

Aardman Animations voice actor SEAN CONNOLLY looks back at his involvement in the Oscar-Nominated 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' ...

Then last year I was thrilled to return to AARDMAN to play ONLY ONE CHARACTER, rather than my normal host of characters!! This time it was to be the very first TV CHRISTMAS SPECIAL for 'SHAUN THE SHEEP' called 'THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' where I voiced HEAD LLAMA HECTOR ... It was transmitted on Boxing Day 2015 on BBC 1, quite an honour!!

Aardman Animations voice actor SEAN CONNOLLY remembers last Christmas' 'SHAUN THE SHEEP' special 'THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' ...

Some fantastic memories with AARDMAN over the years, let's hope there's some more, you never know. I've loved every minute of the ride so far!! 

British Animation Award WIN for 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' ...

‘Shaun The Sheep’ Tops British Animation Awards | AWN https://t.co/MpMUholSHP BAAAAARILLIANT NEWES! Quite right too! pic.twitter.com/JNr6zWQY6p

— Sean Connolly (@Baldfinger) March 11, 2016   

I am delighted to report that 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' won the Best Long Form Animation Award last night at the BRITISH ANIMATION AWARDS held at the BFI in London.

Here's the list of main winners:

Best long-form animation – 'Shaun The Sheep: The Movie'

Best voice – Martin Freeman as 'Stick Man'

Best children's series and children's choice award – 'The Amazing World Of Gumball: The Shell'

Best pre-school series – 'Lily's Driftwood Bay: Goodbye'

Best music video – James: 'Moving On'

All the team at Aardman Animations truly deserve this award for all their stunning work in bringing Shaun to the BIG SCREEN. Congratulations to everyone involved ...

British Animation Awards (BAA) held tonight at London's BFI ...

The rather appropriately named biennial BAA (British Animation Awards) are held tonight at London's BFI on the Southbank.

'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' (Dirs: Richard Starzak & Mark Burton - Produced by Aardman Animations for Studio Canal.) is pitched against 'STICK MAN' (Dirs: Jeroen Jaspaert & Daniel Snaddon - Produced by Magic Light Pictures) and 'CHILDREN OF THE HOLOCAUST' (Dir: Zane Whittingham - Produced by Fettle Animation for BBC Learning).

BAA Director, Jayne Pilling says: “It’s 20 years since the British Animation Awards began and this is the first awards ceremony to take place since the industry reaped the benefit of the changes to the tax-break arrangements. With the animation industry in rude health, there has never been a better time to celebrate this wonderful, thriving, creative force and we hope to make this the best awards ceremony yet.”

Let's hope 'Team Shaun' can put away the disappointment from the Oscars, Golden Globes and the BAFTA's and come away with this prestigious award tonight. Previous winners include the likes of Tim Burton, Shaun's creator Nick Park, Simon’s Cat creator Simon Tofield, Harry Potter and the Gorillaz.

Shaun the Sheep - Forever the Bridesmaid ..?!

With the 2016 Oscars a matter of hours away, can 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' be triumphant in the last of the big awards and win the Best Animated Feature Film Award?

So far the film has lost out to Disney/Pixar's brilliant 'INSIDE OUT' at all the major film awards. Tonight's 88th Academy Awards is the final and arguably most prestigious one of them all.

The all-conquering 'INSIDE OUT' looks the big favourite ahead of the ceremony held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California.

All the red carpet action kicks off around 7pm in Hollywood and the ceremony begins at 8.30pm. So that means in the UK, it all starts around midnight with the ceremony itself begins at 1.30am.

Of course there's no shame in loosing out to 'INSIDE OUT' but how wonderful would it be for Team Shaun to grab the golden statuette against all the odds!!

I'm going to get some shut eye soon before following the action live on social media, not having the means to 'watch' it live!!

Good luck to all at Aardman Animations, you deserve it!!

The full list of nominees are:

'ANOMALISA'

Charlie Kaufman, Duke Johnson and Rosa Tran

'BOY AND THE WORLD'
Alê Abreu

'INSIDE OUT'
Pete Docter and Jonas Rivera

'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE'
Mark Burton and Richard Starzak

'WHEN MARNIE WAS THERE'
Hiromasa Yonebayashi and Yoshiaki Nishimura

It's the BAAAAFTA Film Awards night for 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE'.

Well tonight's the night when 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' finds out whether it can the bring home the BAFTA for Best Animated Film. As you can see it is up against two films; 'MINIONS' and the all-conquering Disney/Pixar 'INSIDE OUT'.

You can watch THE BRITISH ACADEMY FILM AWARDS this evening on BBC 1 at 9PM. Host for the evening is as ever STEPHEN FRY.

Next SUNDAY, the culmination of the AWARDS SEASON in Hollywood ... THE OSCARS!!! 'SHAUN' will be there also!!

'THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' released on DVD 8TH FEBRUARY 2016 ...

Great news ... one of the big television hits over the Christmas period 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' is released on DVD on MONDAY 8TH FEBRUARY 2016. So proud to have played Hector (above), I think it's probably the first time that I've been 'on the telly' at Christmas!! It already seems such a long time ago ...

The reviews have been more than positive, here's a flavour:

The Telegraph: "Aardman was back with another riotous and irreverent seasonal one-off – the perfect antidote to the sentimental fudge invariably clogging the schedules this time of year."

"The true stars were Hector, Fernando and Raul, a trio of zany llamas bent on destruction. Honest-to-goodness belly laughs were to be had as the llamas thunked the sheep at football and accidentally toppled a barn on a quad-bike rampage."

The Radio Times: "And as ever the homespun animation by Aardman is top-notch."

"This dialogue-free story is realised through a series of well-realised slapstick set pieces, with great physical comedy throughout and some surprisingly pulse-pounding scenes."

"The Farmer’s Llamas is a lot of fun and kids will love it. Why not take a (sheep) dip?"

The Evening Standard on-line: gave it FOUR GOOD REASONS TO WATCH:

1) It’s brilliantly, stupendously British ...

"Everything about Aardman Animations if undeniably British – the offbeat slapstick humour, the countryside aesthetic, the worn and home made feel, even the use of plasticine as an animation medium."

Forget Downton Abbey, the Farmer’s Llamas is the most British thing on TV over the festive period."

2) The animation is incredible ...

"The quirky joy of Aardman’s stop-motion animation style is a joy to behold – loving and hand-crafted, but full of texture and detail."

3) It’s perfect for all ages ...

"While the classic Wallace and Gromit adventures don’t have a huge amount of speech, Shaun the Sheep is entirely dialogue-free. The humour is all slapstick and visual, too – so it’s perfect for kids both young and old."

4) It’s the only TV special you’ll see about brainwashed llamas ...

"Undeniable, this one. The Farmer’s Llama’s sees Shaun sneak across to a country fair, where he manages to get his farmer to accidentally bid on three troublesome llamas who go out of control when they can’t hear their owner’s placating panpipes.

"However, the Llama’s arrival at the farm soon brings trouble, and it’s up to Shaun to sort it all out."

Some lovely stuff written there about 'THE FARMER'S LLAMAS', it's a fab 30 minutes of Mossy Bottom fun!!

Oscar Nomination for 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE'!!

Well it's happened ... the BIG ONE! After receiving a Golden Globes nomination, TWO BAFTA nominations and FIVE Annie Award nominations 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' has been given the ultimate seal of approval ... an Academy Award Nomination for Best Animated Feature!

'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' missed out at the Golden Globes last Sunday to 'INSIDE OUT' but still has the 'EE BRITISH ACADEMY FILM AWARDS' on February 14th and before that 'THE ANNIE AWARDS' on February 6th and of course not forgetting the Oscars themselves on the February 28th!

Some surprise omissions and inclusions within the nominees but I am so delighted for everyone involved in the film that it's been given the recognition it so richly deserves (I suppose I would say that?!). The Awards Season certainly is in full swing, fingers crossed Team Shaun can win one of the remaining big ones, no illusions ... it's going to be tough!!

BAFTA Film Nomination announced for 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE'.

Great news ... 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' has been nominated for a BAFTA in the Best Animated Film category for the years 'EE British Academy Film Awards' to be held on Valentines Day.

The film sits alongside 'MINIONS' and yep you guessed it 'INSIDE OUT'! 

The film also has some stiff competition at the actual Golden Globes awards ceremony this coming Sunday 10th January. Then next Thursday January 14th, we will find out whether it will grab an Oscar nomination..!! 

Phew, I am crossing all my digits, as playwright George Bernard Shaw said 'You Never Can Tell'!!

Hold on to your Pan Pipes! Aardman's 'Shaun the Sheep' 'LLAMA DRAMA' hits BBC One in about hour!

Voice artist SEAN CONNOLLY provides the voice of Hector the Llama in 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' for Aardman Animations - Boxing Day BBC One ...

Just under an hour until 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' hits Boxing Day telly ... 

Tune in to BBC One at 6.10pm for half an hour of Alpaca Anarchy!!

Golden Globe Nomination for 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' and 5 Annie Award Nominations.

Yesterday lunchtime the nominations for the 73rd Golden Globes were announced from the Beverley Hilton Hotel, Beverley Hills in Los Angeles. After an agonising few minutes wait the news that Aardman's 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' had secured a nomination for a Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature. I'm so proud to be a part of this wonderful film, it certainly deserves all the attention it's getting, of course I would say that!

The nominated animated features this year, include two very diverse stop motion films: 'ANOMALISA' (which looks amazing!) and of course 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE', with Disney Pixar's 'INSIDE OUT' and 'THE GOOD DINOSAUR' with 'THE PEANUTS MOVIE' completing the five. So a pretty competitive set of nominees to say the least! We'll find out who comes away with the award on Sunday January 10th 2016, just four days before we find out whether 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' will be rewarded with an Oscar nomination too, all just a wee bit crazy??!!

Still on the awards trail ... 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' has also had some other brilliant news.

The Annie Awards (basically the animation Oscars!) are, quoting from their own website ... 

"The event celebrating individuals for a lifetime or career contributions to the art of animation in producing, directing, animating, design, writing, voice acting, sound and sound effects, technical work, music, professional teaching, and for other endeavours which exhibit outstanding contributions to excellence in animation."

'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' has been nominated in FIVE categories:

1.) Best Animated Feature.

2.) Outstanding Achievement in Directing for Richard Starzac and Mark Burton.

3.) Outstanding Achievement in Writing an Animated Feature for Richard Starzac and Mark Burton.

4.) Outstanding Achievement in Production Design for Matt Perry and Gavin Lines.

5.) Outstanding Achievement in Editorial in an Animated Feature for Sim Evan-Jones.

The 43rd Annual Annie Awards will be presented on Saturday February 6th 2016 at UCLA's Royce Hall in Los Angeles.

Christmas Radio Times Cover for 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' - Boxing Day - BBC ONE at 6.10PM.

Well it's a double whammy of festive news ... not only has the date and time of the thirty minute special 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' been announced, but as you can see we've also made the cover of the legendary Double Issue Christmas Radio Times!

Also great news that 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' has been given a prime time Boxing Day slot of 6.10PM on BBC ONE ... If you happen to miss it on Boxing day then fear not, there is another opportunity to see it on New Years Day, again on BBC ONE at 4.05PM.

It's also worth mentioning that there is an insightful documentary about Aardman again on Boxing Day called 'A GRAND NIGHT IN: THE STORY OF AARDMAN' on BBC ONE at 2.25PM.

If you simply can't wait until Boxing day, here's a little sneak peek of the Llama Drama!

It was great fun recording Hector, 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' is a real treat.

Remember a Llama is not just for Christmas!!

A Christmas Special 'Llama Drama' for 'SHAUN THE SHEEP'.

Voice actor Sean Connolly with Hector the Llama from Aardman's Christmas Special 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS'.

Following on from the release of Aardman Animations world-wide hit 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' earlier this year I am thrilled to announce my involvement in 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS', the first ever Shaun the Sheep thirty-minute festive special which will air on BBC One this Christmas. The exact transmission date and time will be announced in the Christmas Radio Times which is out next weekend.

In 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' I voice HECTOR the LLAMA, leader of a troublesome trio of Llamas. 

Here's the Synopsis:  When the Farmer and Bitzer go to a Country Fair, Shaun steals away with them intent on causing mischief. Shaun spies an auction where he sees three exotic and very crafty Llamas going under the hammer. Instantly besotted by their fantastic pranks Shaun cleverly gets the unwitting Farmer to buy them.

Back at Mossy Bottom Farm, Shaun is delighted with his prank and convinces the Flock that the Llamas (Hector, Fernando and Raul) are just what they need to spice up their lives. At first everything’s great fun, but soon their new Llama room-mates get a bit too comfortable in their new home.

When things spiral out of control, Shaun is forced to take action to oust the intruders and save the farm.

The film has been available to stream in America for a few weeks now, before it's UK screening this Christmas, here's the trailer.

  

On Monday 26th October 2015 The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry visited a charities forum event hosted by BAFTA & Aardman where the World Premiere of 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' was presented.

Created by RICHARD STARZAK and directed by JAY GRACE, 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' will continue Aardman’s long heritage of festive specials on the BBC following on from the now legendary WALLACE AND GROMIT shorts.