2020 continues to surprise, although this time it’s in a good way. Bandai Namco, the massive game developer and publisher, is partnering with (and you’re reading this right) Aardman Animation, the studio behind the beloved Wallace and Gromit franchise. Together, the two will be producing a brand new IP, although details on the deal or what exactly the two companies will be working on are unavailable.
According to a press release from Aardman Animation regarding its project with Bandai Namco, this new IP will exist across multiple media formats. The partnership will make use of Aardman’s “talent in creating characters and worlds,” while Bandai Namco, or specifically the studio’s European division, will bring its “expertise in publishing and development” to the table.
This isn’t the first time the two companies have teamed up. In 2018, Aardman and Bandai Namco worked together to produce 11-11: Memories Retold. This collaboration is a narrative-driven adventure title set during the first World War. The game’s art style is one of its standout features, as the world is made to look like a blurry painting.
No cheese lovers or charming dogs here
Aardman Animation will start working on the project in 2021, but don’t expect stop-motion claymation. If anything, this project will give Aardman more room to be experimental, similarly to 11-11: Memories Retold. It’s also clear that those at Aardman Animation are excited to work on another piece of interactive entertainment. Sean Clarke, the studio’s managing director, said “We are keen to develop strategic partnerships with partners such as Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe that share our vision of creating new IP that embraces this new world and cement our studio’s reputation as a multi-disciplinary creative hub.”
For instance, Aardman Animation has another partnership outside of the one with Bandai Namco. The animation studio is working with augmented storytelling company Fictioneers to develop Wallace and Gromit: The Big Fix Up, an immersive AR experience.
