I remember seeing these shows all the time as a kid, and always having an appreciation for them. I’m not the biggest fan of animation / claymation movies but these are definitely an exception. The big thing I like about Wallace & Gromit is how much originality and imagination is put into these shorts. Wallace is pretty funny, but Gromit is even funnier, even though he doesn’t say anything in any of the episodes. It’s the perfect example of how you can tell an imaginative story without even saying a word, and I appreciate that.
A Grand Day Out (1989)
This was the first episode released for the series. Early in the episode, Wallace finds out he needs cheese. So he and his dog Gromit build this huge orange rocket, and travel to the moon to find some to eat lol. Pretty soon they run into this little vending-machine robot, who like Gromit doesn’t say much. But by watching his hand movements and the little gestures that he makes, you get the impression he doesn’t appreciate their company. At the end of this short, it ends up chasing Wallace and Gromit off the moon, who luckily have already collected their cheese.
Wrong Trousers (1993)
Gromit gets a pair of metal robotic trousers for his birthday at the beginning of this episode. They also bring in another silent character into this episode, a little penguin. Even to this day, I get chills whenever that penguin stares at Gromit with his beady little eyes lol. Turns out the penguin is up to something mischievous, which Wallace and Gromit find out midway through this short. The Penguin uses the robotic trousers to help him steal a diamond, and Wallace and Gromit try and get it back from him. At the end of this episode, they end up chasing him around the living room until they finally catch him and the diamond, and lock him up for good.
A Close Shave (1995)
As with the last episode, the animation on this one has improved greatly. With each new episode, you can notice little improvements in the claymation detail. But not only that, you can notice more and more characters / animals in the episode. In this case, this episode is filled with sheep, hundreds of them! We’re also introduced to our first human character, who Wallace meets in this one, named Wendy. She and Wallace flirt a little bit, but the big obstacle in this one is her silent dog Preston, who kidnaps all the sheep. They defeat him at the end of the episode though, by knocking him into a meat grinder.
A Grand Day Out (1989)
This was the first episode released for the series. Early in the episode, Wallace finds out he needs cheese. So he and his dog Gromit build this huge orange rocket, and travel to the moon to find some to eat lol. Pretty soon they run into this little vending-machine robot, who like Gromit doesn’t say much. But by watching his hand movements and the little gestures that he makes, you get the impression he doesn’t appreciate their company. At the end of this short, it ends up chasing Wallace and Gromit off the moon, who luckily have already collected their cheese.
Wrong Trousers (1993)
Gromit gets a pair of metal robotic trousers for his birthday at the beginning of this episode. They also bring in another silent character into this episode, a little penguin. Even to this day, I get chills whenever that penguin stares at Gromit with his beady little eyes lol. Turns out the penguin is up to something mischievous, which Wallace and Gromit find out midway through this short. The Penguin uses the robotic trousers to help him steal a diamond, and Wallace and Gromit try and get it back from him. At the end of this episode, they end up chasing him around the living room until they finally catch him and the diamond, and lock him up for good.
A Close Shave (1995)
As with the last episode, the animation on this one has improved greatly. With each new episode, you can notice little improvements in the claymation detail. But not only that, you can notice more and more characters / animals in the episode. In this case, this episode is filled with sheep, hundreds of them! We’re also introduced to our first human character, who Wallace meets in this one, named Wendy. She and Wallace flirt a little bit, but the big obstacle in this one is her silent dog Preston, who kidnaps all the sheep. They defeat him at the end of the episode though, by knocking him into a meat grinder.