HIT to Manage Licensing, Home Entertainment for Aardman Series

LONDON/BRISTOL/NEW YORK,
September 14: Aardman Animations has tapped HIT Entertainment to manage the
licensing and home entertainment rights in the U.S. and Canada for three of its
properties: Wallace & Gromit,
Shaun the Sheep and Aardman
Classics.

Shaun the Sheep made its TV debut on the Disney Channel in the
U.S. last month and is broadcast in more than 145 territories around the world.
Aimed at 5- to 10-year-olds, Shaun the Sheep follows the comedic stories of a young sheep who
leads his barnyard pals into all sorts of adventures. The character was first
introduced in the Nick Park/Aardman Oscar-winning Wallace & Gromit 30-minute film A Close Shave. Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were
Rabbit is the recipient of more
than 100 international awards including the Academy Award for Best Animated
Feature Film in 2006. A new Wallace and Gromit project will be released in the
fourth quarter of 2008.

Stephen Moore, the COO of
Aardman Animations, commented: “We are delighted at the prospect of partnering
with HIT in the U.S. and Canada on these our two most precious
properties—their talent in managing top international brands will give Shaun and Wallace & Gromit a great springboard for tremendous success.”