Wallace and Gromit have taken the world by storm since their initial debut. The iconic duo have had countless adventures told in a variety of films. Their recent escapade unfolded in the Netflix animated movie Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. Wallace and Gromit face off against a foe from their past in this feature-length flick. The film received much praise from critics and die-hard fans of the pair. But would you believe that this movie also recently received two prominent awards?
The Adventures of Wallace and Gromit
Created by Nick Park, Wallace and Gromit debuted in 1989’s A Grand Day Out. The short film featured the pair building a rocket and going to the moon. Their next adventure, The Wrong Trousers, involved them taking in a lodger. Their guest turned out to be a criminal mastermind penguin named Feathers McGraw. After that, Wallace and Gromit appeared as window cleaners in A Close Shave. They become drawn into a ring of sheep rustlers who frame Gromit for their misdeeds.
Wallace and Gromit hit the big leagues in 2005 with their first theatrical film. Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit showcased the pair hunting a mythical monster. At the same time, Wallace falls for a woman of nobility with a jealous suitor. The inventor and dog returned in A Matter of Loaf and Death in 2008. This new short flick presented the cohorts confronting a serial killer while working as bakers. But their newest and biggest achievement came in 2024’s Vengeance Most Fowl.
Recapping Vengeance Most Fowl
Vengeance Most Fowl takes place years after the events of The Wrong Trousers. Wallace has become too dependent on technology, with needless gadgets filling his home. Gromit, on the other hand, still embraces simple pleasures like tending to his garden. Wallace soon invents Norbot, a robotic gnome designed to be a household helper. After seeing Norbot in action, the neighbors want to hire him for odd jobs. The inventor embraces this idea since his constant building has given him unpaid bills.
Word of Norbot’s talents soon reaches Feathers McGraw, the penguin Wallace and Gromit put away. The felonious flightless bird reprograms Norbot to build an army of duplicate gnomes. Norbot and his fellow robo-gnomes pilfer items from the neighborhood while performing jobs. The police trace the burglaries back to Wallace and confiscate his inventions as forensic evidence. It isn’t long until the neighbors riot and label Wallace as a mad inventor. Gromit takes it upon himself to clear his owner’s name and take on Feathers again.
Vengeance Most Fowl Wins Two Awards
Vengeance Most Fowl achieved great success upon release, achieving 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. But its biggest win came during the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards. The movie won awards in two different categories: ‘Best Animated’ and ‘Children’s & Family.’ These victories are the sixth and seventh ones given to the iconic British duo. They also continue their track record of winning after appearing in a new feature. The film was also nominated for Outstanding British Film but lost to Conclave.
Co-directors Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham and producer Richard Beek accepted the awards. They thanked their crew for their service and their partners at BBC and Netflix. Park also gave Ben Whitehead a shout-out for playing Wallace following Peter Sallis’ passing. Of course, he shared gratitude for the rest of the cast and their hard work. The acceptance speech finished with a thanks to Aardman and their supportive loved ones.
Final Thoughts
It makes my heart happy to see Vengeance Most Fowl win prominent awards. I’ve adored Wallace and Gromit since watching A Grand Day Out as a kid. And this new movie is a masterpiece that always makes me smile and laugh. The biggest highlight is seeing Feathers McGraw reappear as the main antagonist again. His return makes me hopeful that we’ll see more past antagonists like Victor Quartermaine. Vengeance Most Fowl is now available to stream on Netflix with a subscription.
