Aardman Producing New Seasons of Hit Series

Aardman has begun producing new seasons of two of its hit series, including a seventh for Shaun the Sheep.

Set to roll out in 2025, the new season of Shaun the Sheep will feature 20 seven-minute episodes, bringing the total series count to 190. It will include the series’ first-ever two-part episode, which will see everything Shaun knows and loves come into question after he impulsively makes a wish and has to face up to the unexpected consequences.

Shaun the Sheep was originally created by Richard Starzak. The new season will be directed by Seamus Malone and produced by Danny Gallagher. Jacqueline White will serve as senior producer/executive producer, with Carla Shelley and Sarah Cox as studio executive producers.

Season seven will be part-financed by commissioning partners CBBC in the U.K. and WDR in Germany. Presales are already confirmed with ABC (Australia), SVT (Sweden), Yle (Finland), DR (Denmark), VRT Ketnet TV (Belgium) and NRK (Norway).

“Aardman’s style is timeless, with Shaun the Sheep epitomizing the best of British storytelling that sparks joy and unites families,” said Sarah Muller, senior head of commissioning for 7 to 12 at BBC. “Family viewing and culturally relevant content is hugely important to us at CBBC, so it’s a delight to bring the new series to our audiences who know and love these iconic stop-motion animations.”

Aardman is also working on a third season of Very Small Creatures, originally a spin-off of Morph. The new season will consist of 20 three-minute episodes and is set to launch in late 2024.

The preschool series is financed by commissioner Sky Kids UK and will be directed by its creator, Aardman’s Lucy Izzard. Rob Franklin will be senior producer, Helen Argo will serve as executive producer, Sarah Cox will be studio executive producer and Nat McKay is on board as creative executive.

“We are thrilled to be working with Aardman’s brilliant creative team once again and look forward to our younger audiences—and their grown-ups—being able to enjoy more episodes of the Very Small Creatures,” said Lucy Murphy, director of kids’ content for the U.K. and Ireland at Sky. “Pink, Orange, Green, Blue and Yellow light up the screen with their warmth, humor and love, and their adventures in such a playful environment express the very best of young children’s curious exploration of their world.”

“Shaun the Sheep and Very Small Creatures are both made in the classic stop-motion style that first made Aardman famous, but they have so much more in common than that,” said Sarah Cox, chief creative director at Aardman. “Both are warmhearted, character-driven comedies created with the ambition to make audiences of all ages smile. It is very exciting to be announcing these two brand new series for our young viewers—and their families—to look forward to.”

“We here at WDR are very proud of being a partner of Shaun the Sheep since the very beginning of his adventures in Mossy Bottom,” added Matthias Körnich, head of kids and family at WDR. “We can’t wait to spend more time with Shaun, Bitzer and all the other members of the farm family. Shaun has many friends here in Germany. It is still one of the most successful kids programs at our streaming service ARD Mediathek and KiKA-Der Kinderkanal von ARD and ZDF. We’re also glad to announce that Shaun will visit us personally next year for an exclusive concert with our symphony orchestra. And last but not least, we welcome the Very Small Creatures as a part of our The Show with the Elephant preschool program, underlining the year-long, trustful partnership between Aardman and WDR.”