Chicken Run 2: The animators dance like chickens in the making-of

Making a stop-motion film requires meticulousness, precision and a good dose of self-deprecation!

Chicken Run: The Nugget Menace, currently available on Netflix, is the direct sequel to Chicken Run created by Nick Park And Peter Lord in 2000. The Aardman studio, which became famous for its stop-motion productions (Wallace and Gromit, Shaun the Sheep) opened its doors to the Netflix team to offer a making-of in addition to the film.

As you can imagine, the frame-by-frame technique requires a great deal of patience and precision. Built, painted and animated by hand, the approximately 150 plasticine figurines present on the set each represented a challenge for the animators. For example, the scene where Mrs. Tweedy appeared was “iincredibly complicated” according to John Biggins, special effects supervisor. It required multiple camera angles and careful study of her gait as she descends the stairs.

We also learn in this making-of that initially, Molly, Ginger and Rocky’s daughter, was supposed to be a boy. This one was called Noby and was a bit “geek” as explained to us Kate Anderson, responsible for puppet production. She adds that the work on scale is essential, in order to maintain consistency throughout the film between the shots from the point of view of the chickens and those from the point of view of the humans.

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We also learn a rather funny technique, which allows animators to have a reference model for the movements and poses of their characters. The main character animator, Claire Rolls explains that the team members film themselves performing the movements that the puppets will have to make. This gives rise to funny test videos in which the director Sam Fell imitates the cartoonish movements of the rats Ric and Rac, or even Will Becherchief animator, recreate the “daddy dancing” by Rocky, offering us a delicious moment “embarrassing”.

Whether you see it before or after the film, this making-of will make you want to see or rewatch Aardman productions while remembering that we are all big children who love playing puppets.

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