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

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!!!

Infographic showing another EXCELLENT YEAR for Actor & Voice Artist SEAN CONNOLLY's News Blog ...

An NEW infographic displaying the world wide reach of Actor & Voice Artist SEAN CONNOLLY's News Blog ...

I am heartened to see that my NEWS BLOG is still performing well since the high of January this year - when it experienced the 'SHAUN THE SHEEP EFFECT!', when both 'SHAUN THE SHEEP - THE MOVIE' received its UK TV Premiere and 'SHAUN THE SHEEP - THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' got yet another festive repeat. From January's high of a 1000 VIEWS PER MONTH through to today my NEWS BLOG has sustained it's very healthy 600 VIEWS PER MONTH on average. 

As you'd probably expect the UK is still streaks ahead of the rest of the world! Interestingly from January to today Russia has just edged in front of the USA with the other top nations maintaining their positions. The REST OF THE WORLD still surprises with views across Japan, India, Netherlands, Belarus and a very mysterious zone known (according to the Blogger analytics) as the UNKNOWN REGION!!

Again I don't really know how to interpret these figures, I suppose what is does show is that peeps from literally all around the world are still clicking through to my News Blog and have hopefully read something of interest (or not!)?! Now how to crack China??!!

Acting website at www.seanconnolly.co.uk

Voice website at www.seanconnollyvoices.com

Again a massive thank you to everyone who has clicked through since I started my News Blog ... See you soon ;o)

Infographic showing impressive New Year Stats for Actor & Voice Artist SEAN CONNOLLY's News Blog ...

An infographic displaying the world wide reach of Actor & Voice Artist SEAN CONNOLLY's News Blog ...

I am thrilled to announce that as the New Year arrived my News Blog surpassed the 19,000 views mark. This means that from mid October to New Years Eve the blog achieved over a thousand views a month on average, up from my usual 600 views per month. This was due in no small measure to the 'SHAUN THE SHEEP EFFECT!', with both 'SHAUN THE SHEEP - THE MOVIE' receiving its UK TV Premiere and 'SHAUN THE SHEEP - THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' getting yet another festive repeat.

As my News Blog reached this landmark I thought it might be fun to do a little digging into the stats of my blog and explore 'WHERE ON EARTH?!' are those views actually coming from.

If you look at my first attempt at an infographic, you can quite clearly see that the UK would dominate the figures, followed (some way back) by the USA and Russia. Then Ireland, France and Germany featuring strongly and even Australia! The 'REST OF THE WORLD' category features countries as diverse as India, Canada, Ukraine, Nepal, South Korea, Thailand, Italy, Spain, with South America surprisingly strong with views across Peru, Mexico and Argentina, perhaps it was the 'LLAMA EFFECT?!'.

I don't know what all this actually means, at the very least it means peeps from literally all around the world have clicked through to my News Blog and hopefully read something of interest?!

Acting website at www.seanconnolly.co.uk
Voice website at www.seanconnollyvoices.com

Thank you to everyone who has clicked through since I started my News Blog ...

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 ...

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!!

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'!!

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.

Oscar Nomination race begins for 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE'.

Hot on the heals of the Children's BAFTA Nominations for 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' comes the news that The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences have announced that 16 animated features have been submitted for Oscar nomination consideration. I am delighted to say that 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' is on that list! The 16 films are:

Anomalisa
Home

Hotel Transylvania 2
Inside Out
Kahlil Gibranas The Prophet

Minions

Moomins on the Riviera

Regular Show: The Movie

Shaun the Sheep Movie

The Boy and the Beast

The Boy and the World

The Good Dinosaur

The Laws of the Universe a Part 0

The Peanuts Movie

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge out of Water

When Marnie Was There

The 88th Academy Awards nominations will be announced on Thursday, January 14, 2016.

Children's BAFTA Nominations for 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE'.

The Hairdressers: just two of the many characters Sean Connolly voiced in 'SHAUN THE SHEEP - THE MOVIE'.

HOT OFF THE PRESS! 'SHAUN THE SHEEP' and it's big screen spin-off 'SHAUN THE SHEEP - THE MOVIE' have been nominated in THREE CATEGORIES for the 20TH BRITISH ACADEMY CHILDREN'S AWARDS.

The first of its THREE NOMINATIONS is in the Best Animated Series category where the CBBC TV version is up against 'THE AMAZING WORLD OF GUMBALL', 'MR BEAN THE ANIMATED SERIES' and 'STRANGE HILL HIGH'.

Second up comes THE BIG ONE, the award for Best Feature Film where 'SHAUN THE SHEEP - THE MOVIE' - Aardman/Studio Canal has some very stiff opposition from 'BIG HERO 6' - Walt Disney Animation Studios, 'INSIDE OUT' - Pixar Animation Studios/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and 'PADDINGTON' - Heyday Films/Studio Canal!! We're certainly in good company here, blimey!!

Finally, THE MOVIE is on the shortlist for the Children's BAFTA Kids' Vote - Film in 2015: up against 'The Boxtrolls', 'Cinderella', 'Home', 'Inside Out', 'Minions', 'Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb', 'Paddington' and 'The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water'.

The ceremony will take place on SUNDAY 22ND NOVEMBER at the Roundhouse in London and will hosted by DOC BROWN. 

'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' going Independent in New York!!

'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' hits an Independent Cinema in Brooklyn, New York!

An old drama school friend based in New York sent me this great picture from his local Independent Cinema in Brooklyn, the Cobble Hill Cinema, quite a famous one at that! If you look at the movie list, there seems to be a film for all tastes on offer!! Thanks Francis!

Shaun the Sheep - A Collection of Mock Film Posters

To celebrate last weeks release of 'SHAUN THE SHEEP THE MOVIE' in the USA, here's a small collection of some of the brilliant Mock Film Posters, Aardman put out for the promotion of the film ...

Being Animated in Wolverhampton ...

I had a great time over at the University of Wolverhampton yesterday at 'OUT OF DARKNESS - THE WORLD OF STOP MOTION ANIMATION', part of the city's ARTSFEST. Artsfest runs at a host of venues across the region celebrating the creative and cultural spirit of the Black Country. Events include dance, theatre and musical performances, art exhibitions, workshops and educational sessions for schools and college groups. The festival continues until June 13th ...

The day started with some of the very earliest examples of stop motion animation presented by STEVE ARNOTT, the University's Course Leader in Animation. Second up was EMMA CAULDER from PEARLY OYSTER PRODUCTIONS who showed several of her beautiful animated films and provided a fascinating insight on her particular career path. We then had an entertaining Skype conversation with TAM JOSEPH who worked on THE BEATLES animated film 'YELLOW SUBMARINE' back in the late 1960's.

A break for a spot of lunch was followed by ... yes you've guessed it a special screening of 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' in support of AARDMAN'S fund raising efforts for their 'GRAND APPEAL' which helps with particular support for children’s care and hospitals. Our final guest was the Senior Story Artist on the 'SHAUN MOVIE', RICHARD PHELAN. After the film had finished I was thrilled to be asked to take part in the Q & A session to round off the day with Richard, Emma, Steve and ARTSFEST organiser PAUL WILLIAMS. During the course of the conversation we discovered that Richard had actually drawn quite a few of the characters I'd voiced in the film! There were some very insightful questions by the largely young audience, quite a few of whom expressed serious ambitions to be the animators of the future. It was a terrific event put on by the University of Wolverhampton, plans are already afoot for an even bigger Artsfest next year.

The Official US 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' trailer in readiness for the AUGUST 7th 2015 cinema release.

I came across the Official US trailer for 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' today, it's fun hearing it with an American accent ... I hope they love it as much as British audiences have.