A Matter of Loaf and Death
| Fandom | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Wallace and Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death |
| Abbreviation(s): | A Matter of Loaf and Death |
| Creator: | Aardman Animation, Nick Park |
| Date(s): | 2008 |
| Medium: | animated short film |
| Country of Origin: | UK |
| External Links: | Aardman.com |
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Wallace & Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death is a 2008 stop motion animated short film directed by Nick Park. It is the fourth film featuring the beloved characters Wallace and Gromit and continues their series of charming and humorous adventures.
Plot Summary
In A Matter of Loaf and Death, Wallace and Gromit run a bakery business called "Top Bun." Their peaceful life is disrupted when they become involved in a murder mystery plot led by a serial killer targeting bakers. Wallace falls in love with Piella Bakewell, a former pinup girl for the BakeOLite bread company, while Gromit discovers that Piella is the killer and must save Wallace from becoming her next victim.
Characters
- Wallace (voiced by Peter Sallis): is an inventor and cheese enthusiast whose dog Gromit is probably the brains of the pair. They live at 62 West Wallaby Street, Wigan, Lancashire, a house which is packed with strange machines. Their adventures are usually set in and around Wigan; the main exception is A Grand Day Out which visits the Moon. Wallace runs a succession of small businesses based on his inventions, most notably window cleaning (A Close Shave), pest control (The Curse of the Were-Rabbit), and a bakery (A Matter of Loaf and Death). He's absent-minded but has a kind heart, although he tends to take Gromit for granted most of the time; he falls in love several times in these films. At various times he has been framed for robbery, cursed, and targeted by a serial killer. He's an enthusiastic cheese eater, if not an addict, and his one attempt to stop eating it, for health reasons, goes disastrously wrong.
- Gromit: is a dog who happens to be an expert handyman, knits, reads advanced textbooks and newspapers, and understands English perfectly though he never speaks. He is occasionally blamed for the actions of others, and has a general air of long-suffering patience. He also likes cheese.
- Piella Bakewell: A former pinup girl for the BakeOLite bread company and the main antagonist of the film. She is the serial killer targeting bakers.
- Fluffles: Piella's nervous poodle and Gromit's romantic interest.
Production
The film was created using Aardman Animations' signature stop motion clay animation technique. It took over a year to complete, with Nick Park and his team meticulously crafting each frame. The film's success helped establish Aardman Animations as a leading studio in the world of animation.
Awards and Recognition
A Matter of Loaf and Death was one of the most watched television specials in the United Kingdom in 2008. It received critical acclaim and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 82nd Academy Awards. The film also won a BAFTA and an Annie Award for Best Short Animation and Best Animated Short Subject.