A Grand Day Out
Encyclopedia
A Grand Day Out is an award-nominated 1989 animated film directed and animated by Nick Park
at Aardman Animations
in Bristol
. This was the first adventure featuring the eccentric inventor Wallace and his quiet but smart dog Gromit. Its sequels are 1993's The Wrong Trousers
, 1994's A Close Shave
, 2005's The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
and 2008's A Matter of Loaf and Death
. In the film, Wallace and Gromit spend a bank holiday
by building a rocket to the Moon to sample some cheese.
. In 1975, Aardman Animations took him on before he finished the piece, allowing him to work on it part time while still being funded by the school. To make the film, Park wrote to William Harbutt
's company, requesting a long ton of plasticine
. The block he received had ten colours, one of which was called "stone"; he used this for Gromit. Park wanted to voice Gromit, but he realised the voice he had in mind – that of Peter Hawkins
– would have been too difficult to animate to.
For Wallace, Park offered Peter Sallis
£50 to voice the character, and his acceptance greatly surprised the young animator. Park wanted Wallace to have a Lancastrian
accent like himself, but Sallis could only do a Yorkshire
voice. Inspired by the way Sallis drew out the word "cheese", Park chose to give Wallace large cheeks. When Park called Sallis six years later to explain he had completed his film, Sallis swore in surprise.
Gromit was named after grommets
, because Park's brother, an electrician, often mentioned them, and Nick Park liked the sound of the word. Wallace was originally a postman named Jerry, but Park felt the name did not fit with Gromit. Park saw an overweight labrador retriever
named Wallace, who belonged to an old woman boarding a bus in Preston. Park remarked it was a "funny name, a very northern name to give a dog".
According to the book The World of Wallace and Gromit, original plans were that the film was originally planned be 40 minutes long including a sequence where Wallace and Gromit would discover a Fast-food restaurant on the Moon. Regarding the original plot, Nick quoted:
." The two use a saw
, a hammer
, a drill
, and paint
to build a moon rocket in their basement, complete with easy chairs and a wallpapered cabin. Once the two complete packing provisions for the journey, Wallace lights the rocket's fuse. With only thirty seconds out of a minute left in the countdown, he discovers that they have forgotten to pack crackers. He rushes out of the rocket and hurries up to the kitchen to get crackers, making it back to the rocket a few seconds before the engine ignites the rocket. Even with the engine running, the rocket refuses to lift off (the rats in the basement are watching the whole thing and with the fire coming from the rocket they put on different kinds of glasses - they forgot the sunglasses). Gromit realizes he has forgotten to release the hand brake and does so, allowing the rocket to lift off.
Upon reaching the moon, which is indeed made of cheese, Wallace and Gromit set up a picnic. They try out the lunar cheese, trying to determine what kind it is, but realize it's like nothing they've ever tasted before. They decide to try another spot, where they find a mechanised storage facility, with exceptional television coverage and a strong resemblance to an oven, called "the Cooker". Wallace puts a coin into the machine, but nothing happens (he even pulls a dial off while trying to get it to activate), so he and Gromit continue on their way. Once they’ve left, the Cooker grows robotic arms and springs to life. It discovers Wallace and Gromit’s picnic site; agitated by the mess, it cleans up the mess of dirty dishes. It then discovers a magazine advertising skiing holidays lying on the picnic blanket, and develops a desire to travel to Earth and go skiing. He then spots their rocket and is amazed by it. He gives them a parking ticket and is annoyed by an oil leak.
Shortly afterwards, the Cooker notices Wallace. Aggravated by his littering, illegally-parked and leaky rocket, and unrestrained consumption of moon cheese, the Cooker approaches Wallace to hit him with a truncheon
. Gromit notices the machine and at the last second before the truncheon can hit Wallace's head it runs out of money and shuts down. The previously-oblivious Wallace notices the Cooker, decides to take the truncheon as a souvenir, and inserts another coin into the Cooker in exchange for the truncheon. As Wallace and Gromit leave for the rocket, the Cooker comes back to life. At first he is angered at his failure to hit Wallace, but sees the rocket. Realizing the rocket can take it to Earth where it can fulfill its dream of skiing, the machine chases after Wallace and Gromit, who, noticing the Cooker and thinking that it's angry with them for taking the cheese, prepare for an emergency takeoff. At the same time, the Cooker breaks into the rocket with a tin cutter (it couldn't get up the ladder due to a lack of legs). Blundering about in the dark interior of the rocket (even knocking a pipe out of its place), the Cooker lights a match near the fuel tank, causing an explosion. The Cooker tries to hang on, but eventually is thrown across the lunar surface as the rocket launches, tearing off two strips of metal from the rocket. Initially crushed by its failure to get to Earth, the Cooker realizes it can use the two metal strips as a pair of skis. While happily skiing on the lunar surface, the Cooker waves goodbye to Wallace and Gromit, who return home.
for Animated Short Film
, but lost to the short "Creature Comforts
", which was also a creation of Nick Park.
Nick Park
Nicholas Wulstan "Nick" Park, CBE is an English filmmaker of stop motion animation best known as the creator of Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep....
at Aardman Animations
Aardman Animations
Aardman Animations, Ltd., also known as Aardman Studios, or simply as Aardman, is a British animation studio based in Bristol, United Kingdom. The studio is known for films made using stop-motion clay animation techniques, particularly those featuring Plasticine characters Wallace and Gromit...
in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
. This was the first adventure featuring the eccentric inventor Wallace and his quiet but smart dog Gromit. Its sequels are 1993's The Wrong Trousers
The Wrong Trousers
The Wrong Trousers is a 1993 animated film directed by Nick Park at Aardman Animations in Bristol, featuring his characters Wallace and Gromit...
, 1994's A Close Shave
A Close Shave
A Close Shave is a 1995 British animated film directed by Nick Park at Aardman Animations in Bristol, featuring his characters Wallace and Gromit. It was his third half-hour short featuring the eccentric inventor Wallace and his quiet but intelligent dog Gromit, following 1989's A Grand Day Out,...
, 2005's The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit is a 2005 British clay-mation animated comedy horror film, the first feature-length Wallace and Gromit film. It was produced by DreamWorks Animation and Aardman Animations, and released by DreamWorksPictures...
and 2008's A Matter of Loaf and Death
A Matter of Loaf and Death
A Matter of Loaf and Death is an animated television short created by Nick Park, and the fourth of his shorts to star his characters Wallace and Gromit...
. In the film, Wallace and Gromit spend a bank holiday
Bank Holiday
A bank holiday is a public holiday in the United Kingdom or a colloquialism for public holiday in Ireland. There is no automatic right to time off on these days, although the majority of the population is granted time off work or extra pay for working on these days, depending on their contract...
by building a rocket to the Moon to sample some cheese.
Background
Nick Park started making the film in 1973 as his graduation project for the National Film and Television SchoolNational Film and Television School
The National Film and Television School was established in 1971 and is based at Beaconsfield Studios in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, and it is located close to Pinewood Studios.-History:...
. In 1975, Aardman Animations took him on before he finished the piece, allowing him to work on it part time while still being funded by the school. To make the film, Park wrote to William Harbutt
William Harbutt
William Harbutt was a painter and the inventor of Plasticine.Born in North Shields, England, Harbutt studied at the National Art Training School in London, and eventually became an associate of the Royal College of Art...
's company, requesting a long ton of plasticine
Plasticine
Plasticine, a brand of modelling clay, is a putty-like modelling material made from calcium salts, petroleum jelly and aliphatic acids. The name is a registered trademark of Flair Leisure Products plc...
. The block he received had ten colours, one of which was called "stone"; he used this for Gromit. Park wanted to voice Gromit, but he realised the voice he had in mind – that of Peter Hawkins
Peter Hawkins
Peter John Hawkins was an English actor and voice artist.- Career :Born in London and a native of Brixton, Hawkins' long association with British children's television began in 1952 when he voiced both Bill and Ben, the Flower Pot Men. In 1955–1956, He voiced Big Ears & Mr. Plod from The...
– would have been too difficult to animate to.
For Wallace, Park offered Peter Sallis
Peter Sallis
Peter Sallis, OBE is an English actor and entertainer, well-known for his work on British television. Although he was born and brought up in London, his two most notable roles require him to adopt the accents and mannerisms of a Northerner.Sallis is best known for his role as the main character...
£50 to voice the character, and his acceptance greatly surprised the young animator. Park wanted Wallace to have a Lancastrian
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
accent like himself, but Sallis could only do a Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
voice. Inspired by the way Sallis drew out the word "cheese", Park chose to give Wallace large cheeks. When Park called Sallis six years later to explain he had completed his film, Sallis swore in surprise.
Gromit was named after grommets
Grommet
thumb|right|250px|Some rubber grommets.A grommet is a ring inserted into a hole through thin material, such as fabric. Grommets are generally flared or collared on each side to keep them in place, and are often made of metal, plastic, or rubber. They may be used to prevent tearing or abrasion of...
, because Park's brother, an electrician, often mentioned them, and Nick Park liked the sound of the word. Wallace was originally a postman named Jerry, but Park felt the name did not fit with Gromit. Park saw an overweight labrador retriever
Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever is one of several kinds of retriever, a type of gun dog. A breed characteristic is webbed paws for swimming, useful for the breed's original purpose of retrieving fishing nets. The Labrador is the most popular breed of dog by registered ownership in Canada, the United...
named Wallace, who belonged to an old woman boarding a bus in Preston. Park remarked it was a "funny name, a very northern name to give a dog".
According to the book The World of Wallace and Gromit, original plans were that the film was originally planned be 40 minutes long including a sequence where Wallace and Gromit would discover a Fast-food restaurant on the Moon. Regarding the original plot, Nick quoted:
Plot
One night, Wallace and Gromit are relaxing in the living-room pondering where to go for the upcoming bank holiday. Wallace gets up to prepare tea with cheese and crackers, only to discover they are out of cheese. Making the most of their situation, Wallace decides they should go somewhere where there is plenty of cheese, ultimately choosing to go to the moon, since "Everyone knows the moon is made of cheeseThe Moon is made of green cheese
"The Moon is made of green cheese" is a statement referring to a fanciful belief that the Moon is composed of cheese. In its original formulation as a proverb and metaphor for credulity with roots in fable, this refers to the perception of a simpleton who sees a reflection of the Moon in water and...
." The two use a saw
Saw
A saw is a tool that uses a hard blade or wire with an abrasive edge to cut through softer materials. The cutting edge of a saw is either a serrated blade or an abrasive...
, a hammer
Hammer
A hammer is a tool meant to deliver an impact to an object. The most common uses are for driving nails, fitting parts, forging metal and breaking up objects. Hammers are often designed for a specific purpose, and vary widely in their shape and structure. The usual features are a handle and a head,...
, a drill
Drill
A drill or drill motor is a tool fitted with a cutting tool attachment or driving tool attachment, usually a drill bit or driver bit, used for drilling holes in various materials or fastening various materials together with the use of fasteners. The attachment is gripped by a chuck at one end of...
, and paint
Paint
Paint is any liquid, liquefiable, or mastic composition which after application to a substrate in a thin layer is converted to an opaque solid film. One may also consider the digital mimicry thereof...
to build a moon rocket in their basement, complete with easy chairs and a wallpapered cabin. Once the two complete packing provisions for the journey, Wallace lights the rocket's fuse. With only thirty seconds out of a minute left in the countdown, he discovers that they have forgotten to pack crackers. He rushes out of the rocket and hurries up to the kitchen to get crackers, making it back to the rocket a few seconds before the engine ignites the rocket. Even with the engine running, the rocket refuses to lift off (the rats in the basement are watching the whole thing and with the fire coming from the rocket they put on different kinds of glasses - they forgot the sunglasses). Gromit realizes he has forgotten to release the hand brake and does so, allowing the rocket to lift off.
Upon reaching the moon, which is indeed made of cheese, Wallace and Gromit set up a picnic. They try out the lunar cheese, trying to determine what kind it is, but realize it's like nothing they've ever tasted before. They decide to try another spot, where they find a mechanised storage facility, with exceptional television coverage and a strong resemblance to an oven, called "the Cooker". Wallace puts a coin into the machine, but nothing happens (he even pulls a dial off while trying to get it to activate), so he and Gromit continue on their way. Once they’ve left, the Cooker grows robotic arms and springs to life. It discovers Wallace and Gromit’s picnic site; agitated by the mess, it cleans up the mess of dirty dishes. It then discovers a magazine advertising skiing holidays lying on the picnic blanket, and develops a desire to travel to Earth and go skiing. He then spots their rocket and is amazed by it. He gives them a parking ticket and is annoyed by an oil leak.
Shortly afterwards, the Cooker notices Wallace. Aggravated by his littering, illegally-parked and leaky rocket, and unrestrained consumption of moon cheese, the Cooker approaches Wallace to hit him with a truncheon
Truncheon
Truncheon may refer to:*Baton *Cutting , means of plant propagation used by gardeners*HMS Truncheon , a British submarine commissioned during Word War II and later sold to Israel...
. Gromit notices the machine and at the last second before the truncheon can hit Wallace's head it runs out of money and shuts down. The previously-oblivious Wallace notices the Cooker, decides to take the truncheon as a souvenir, and inserts another coin into the Cooker in exchange for the truncheon. As Wallace and Gromit leave for the rocket, the Cooker comes back to life. At first he is angered at his failure to hit Wallace, but sees the rocket. Realizing the rocket can take it to Earth where it can fulfill its dream of skiing, the machine chases after Wallace and Gromit, who, noticing the Cooker and thinking that it's angry with them for taking the cheese, prepare for an emergency takeoff. At the same time, the Cooker breaks into the rocket with a tin cutter (it couldn't get up the ladder due to a lack of legs). Blundering about in the dark interior of the rocket (even knocking a pipe out of its place), the Cooker lights a match near the fuel tank, causing an explosion. The Cooker tries to hang on, but eventually is thrown across the lunar surface as the rocket launches, tearing off two strips of metal from the rocket. Initially crushed by its failure to get to Earth, the Cooker realizes it can use the two metal strips as a pair of skis. While happily skiing on the lunar surface, the Cooker waves goodbye to Wallace and Gromit, who return home.
Awards and nominations
The film was nominated for the Academy AwardAcademy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
for Animated Short Film
Academy Award for Animated Short Film
The Academy Award for Animated Short Film is an award which has been given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as part of the Academy Awards every year since the 5th Academy Awards, covering the year 1931-32, to the present....
, but lost to the short "Creature Comforts
Creature Comforts
Creature Comforts was originally a 1989 British humorous animated short film about how animals feel about living in a zoo, featuring the voices of the British public "spoken" by the animals. It was created by Nick Park and Aardman Animations...
", which was also a creation of Nick Park.