British animation studio Aardman has appointed culture and entertainment specialists Riot Communications to handle its corporate comms.
Founded in 1972 by Peter Lord and David Sproxton, Aardman became famous worldwide for its compelling storytelling and much-loved characters which include Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and Morph. Always innovative, the studio is now known for pushing the boundaries of animation as it continues to produce series, feature films and advertising alongside cutting-edge projects such as 4D theatre attractions for theme parks and the ‘visually astonishing’ (The Guardian) console game, 11-11: Memories Retold. The studio has had ten Oscar® nominations and won four.
In November 2018, Lord and Sproxton announced that they would be transferring the company into Employee Ownership, effectively selling the company to the workforce. The sale is aimed at ensuring that Aardman remains independent, securing the creative legacy and culture of the company for many decades to come.
Riot Communications won the account in a competitive pitch process and will focus on corporate communications while also providing strategic advice and consultancy across the studio’s various divisions and projects.
Preena Gadher, co-founder and MD of Riot Communications, said: “Aardman is a creative British powerhouse and one of the world’s most inspirational and beloved animation studios. It was on our dream client list when we first started the agency. Part of the appeal is an alignment of values – including independence, collaboration and integrity – which we believe to be fundamental to a successful client-agency relationship. As we expand our culture and entertainment offering, we look forward to helping Aardman achieve their objectives as they embark on exciting new projects.”
