Wallace and Gromit's World of Invention
| Wallace and Gromit's World of Invention | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Science Animation |
| Created by | Nick Park |
| Written by |
Alex Pascall Richard Hansome |
| Directed by | Merlin Crossingham |
| Voices of |
Peter Sallis Ashley Jensen John Sparkes |
| Theme music composer | Julian Nott |
| Opening theme | Bunker Sonix |
| Composer(s) | Bunker Sonix |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
Nick Park Peter Lord David Sproxton |
| Cinematography | David Alex Riddett |
| Running time | 30 Minutes |
| Production company(s) | Aardman Animations |
| Distributor | BBC |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC One |
| Original release | 3 November – 8 December 2010 |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | A Matter of Loaf and Death |
Wallace and Gromit's World of Invention is a science-themed miniseries featuring the animated claymation characters Wallace and Gromit, made by Aardman and aired on BBC One. The BBC said in a press statement that in the series, "Wallace will take a light hearted and humorous look at the real-life inventors, contraptions, gadgets and inventions, with the silent help of Gromit. The series aims to inspire a whole new generation of innovative minds by showing them real, but mind-boggling, machines and inventions from around the world that have influenced his illustrious inventing career."[1]
Peter Sallis reprised his role as the voice of Wallace for the final time before his retirement from acting due to ill health (Sallis eventually died in June 2017, at the age of 96). The filmed inserts are mostly narrated by Ashley Jensen, with one in each episode presented in-vision by Jem Stansfield (Wallace's science correspondent who looks at ideas that "never got off the drawing board"). John Sparkes also voices a portion in the unseen character of archivist Goronwy.
Production
The series was commissioned by Jay Hunt, controller of BBC One, and Jo Ball. Alison Kirkham is the series executive producer for the BBC and Miles Bullough is the executive producer for Aardman.[1][2] The series is directed by Merlin Crossingham.
Original run
The series premiered on BBC One and BBC One HD on 3 November 2010 at 7:30 p.m. in the United Kingdom and ended on 8 December 2010. It featured six episodes, each one 30 minutes in length. BBC One Scotland dropped episodes five and six in favour of news specials but were broadcast on 17 and 19 December 2010[3]
Recurring segments
- Inventor of the Week – Wallace chooses a modern inventor (for example, Trevor Baylis) and Ashley provides a short description of their achievements.
- It Never Got Off the Drawing Board – Jem Stansfield looks at invention ideas or prototype inventions that "never got off the drawing board," such as a refrigerator made by Albert Einstein.
- Curiosity Corner – Wallace looks at unusual inventions that were created with inspiration from the most unlikely sources, such as how termites inspired air conditioning.
- Contraption Countdown – Goronwy, an unseen Welsh-accented archive librarian, looks at a countdown of inventions regarding an episode's subject matter.
DVD release
On 13 December 2010, all six episodes of the series were released on DVD. The DVD also includes a pamphlet of ideas for inventions along with instructions.
Episodes
| # | Title | Director | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Nature Knows Best" | Merlin Crossingham | 3 November 2010 |
|
Wallace and Gromit explore the wonders of the natural world, and look at inventions inspired by Mother Nature. They visit some incredible flying penguins and other elegant Manta Ray-inspired robots at Festo in Germany and visit Namibia, where scientists are studying the intricate structures of termite mounds to create self-cooling houses of the future. In Holland, they meet the brilliant sculptor Theo Jansen as he demonstrates his latest amazing contraption, the Animaris Siamesis. But Wallace's invention, the Jumbo-Generator -which was used to power the studio- is wrecked (due to its power source, an elephant named Kevin, going after Wallace's iced buns). Segments 1. Marine biology into technology 2. Insect-powered machines 3. Inventor of the Week: Theo Jansen 4. Curiosity Corner: Termites 5. Contraption Countdown: Top 5 animal-inspired contraptions 6. It Never Got Off The Drawing Board: Artificial gills. | |||
| 2 | "Reach for the Sky" | Merlin Crossingham | 10 November 2010 |
|
Wallace and Gromit explore the mysteries behind man's fascination with flight, from homemade space rockets in Manchester to jetpacks in the UK. There is also a look at some planes that unfortunately do not fly in another Contraption Countdown. On location in the USA, the team explore the most advanced flexible spacesuits being developed by NASA, which are designed to allow wearers to perform cartwheels on Mars, and in Germany they look at the life of Gustav Mesmer. During the episode Wallace accidentally locks Gromit in the rocket from A Grand Day Out and makes the rocket shoot off with Gromit inside; Gromit phones him, but Wallace's cup was resting on another button reading "Self Destruct" and Wallace is shocked to find his rocket is missing ("Hey! What have you done with me rocket?"). Segments 1. Steve Bennett's home-made rockets 2. Bio-Suit 3. It Never Got Off The Drawing Board: Magnus Effect wind turbines 4. Contraption Countdown: Top 6 flying failures 5. Curiosity Corner: Gustav Mesmer 6. Jet-pack flying | |||
| 3 | "Home Sweet Home" | Merlin Crossingham | 17 November 2010 |
|
Wallace and Gromit look at ingenious inventions for the home. From 1940s household robots and strange humanoid butlers to cutting-edge labour saving devices, we travel around the world to explore the social history of domestic life through inventions. We visit the home of iconic inventor Trevor Baylis - the man who revolutionised the radio - and visit 'George', one of the first walking humanoid robots ever built, as he is brought to life for the first time in sixty years by his creator, Tony Sale. During this episode Wallace has invented an L.A.D. (Labour Assisting Device) bot (which bears some resemblance to the Cooker from A Grand Day Out), replacing Gromit, who becomes jealous of it. At the end, when Wallace (inspired by footage of the Beer Launching Fridge) reprograms the L.A.D. to throw tea to him, Gromit pours some himself inside the bot when Wallace is not looking. Then the L.A.D. goes out of control and starts to throw things at Wallace and Gromit refuses to help. No "Curiosity Corner" segment here, though Gromit was seen relaxing in it at the end of the episode. Segments 1. Housekeeping robots and George 2. William Kamkwamba's windmill 3. History of the Teasmade 4. It Never Got Off The Drawing Board: Einstein fridge 5. Inventor of the Week: Trevor Baylis 6. Contraption Countdown: Top 5 most useful household gadgets | |||
| 4 | "Come to Your Senses" | Merlin Crossingham | 24 November 2010 |
|
Wallace and Gromit experience the world through the five senses, exploring the fact and fiction behind invisibility cloaks, bomb-detecting bees and the top sensory inventions. In London, scientists are creating prototype invisibility cloaks using metamaterials to bend light around objects, and we discover the science behind new technology allowing the blind to 'see' through taste using hi-tech sunglasses. In Kentucky, USA we visit the small town where a local farmer invented wireless telephones over 100 years ago. Or did he? Finally in Tasmania, we meet our Inventor of the Week who, after being told it was impossible, invented and made his own unique prosthetic arm. Segments 1. Sight - Invisibility cloak 2. Contraption Countdown: Top 5 sense-inspired inventions 3. Sound - It Never Got Off the Drawing Board: Stubblefield mobile telephone system 4. Touch - Inventor of the Week: Mark Lesek 5. Smell - Curiosity Corner: Bee bomb detection 6. Taste - Experimental glasses allowing the blind to see by taste. | |||
| 5 | "Better Safe Than Sorry" | Merlin Crossingham | 1 December 2010 |
|
Wallace and Gromit have always taken their safety into their own hands, and in this episode of the science series they consider other inventors with the same philosophy. They tell the tale of 1940s Hollywood starlet Hedy Lamarr, who had a side-line in inventing, and who devised a radio-controlled 'secret-communication' system for steering torpedoes to help allied forces in the war. They also look at the most futuristic surveillance drones and the history of spy technology. Gromit really goes through the wars in this episode (he keeps suffering from accidents instigated by Wallace throughout, apart from Curiosity Corner). Segments 1. History of ejector seats 2. Pigeon spy cameras 3. It Never Got Off The Drawing Board: Hedy Lamarr's frequency-hopping torpedo system 4. Curiosity Corner: Arthur Pedrick 5. EMU Spacesuit 6. Contraption Countdown: Top 6 health-and-safety nightmares | |||
| 6 | "From A to B" | Merlin Crossingham | 8 December 2010 |
|
Wallace and Gromit explore incredible transportation inventions from around the globe. In the 'Contraption Countdown' the focus is on peculiar transport devices, and the duo find out how to cross the River Thames in a plastic bag. They discover the intention behind laser propulsion in the creation of flying saucer technology, and meet Cedric Lynch, an illustrious engineer who invented electric tricycles. Wallace also invents a runabout steam chair to get around, but it overheats in the end and falls apart. Wallace, though, doesn't let it go to waste and repurposes it as a dual water boiler and oven. Segments 1. Mikhail Puchkov's mini-sub (Note: Mikhail Puchkov is the only guest who doesn't speak English so a translator has to speak for him.) 2. Electric motors and Cedric Lynch 3. Contraption Countdown: Top 6 most peculiar forms of transport 4. Curiosity Corner: Flying saucer and Lightcrafts 5. Inventor of the Week: Sir Clive Sinclair 6. It Never Got Off The Drawing Board: Brunel's atmospheric railway. | |||
References
- 1 2 Rushton, Katherine (29 August 2009). "Wallace and Gromit to front science show". Broadcast. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
- ↑ Holmwood, Leigh (29 August 2009). "Wallace and Gromit to present BBC1 science and inventions show". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
- ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00trcc9/broadcasts/2010/12
External links
- Official Wallace and Gromit website
- Wallace and Gromit's World of Invention at BBC Online
- Wallace and Gromit's World of Invention at BBC Programmes
- Wallace and Gromit's World of Invention on IMDb
- "Broadcast schedule for Wallace and Gromit's World of Invention (by region)". UK TV Guide.
- Harvey, Chris (4 November 2010). "Wallace & Gromit's World of Invention, BBC One, review". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
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