‘Shaun the Sheep’ movie updates: Animation film gets sequel; 120 ‘Shaun the Sheep’ sculptures displayed in Covent Garden

By Staff Writer

Sep 30 2015, 08:48 AM EDT

'Shaun the Sheep' may have had a dismal opening in the US, but it has gone on to earn more than $100 million, with $21 million from the UK. The success of 'Shaun the Sheep' has prompted StudioCanal to plan a sequel already. This announcement coincides with 120 'Shaun the Sheep' sculptures being displayed all together in Covent Garden, London.

According to Flickering Myth, the sequel to 'Shaun the Sheep' was finalized when the first movie proved to be "distinctive." StudioCanal CEO Oliver Courson added that the 'Shaun the Sheep' movie has proven the studios can "take risks, be aggressively ambitious and wish for quality" and at the same time achieve a good box office performance and "be mainstream." Aardman and StudioCanal will work together to deliver the same results with the 'Shaun the Sheep' movie sequel.

Overlapping with this announcement is the exhibition of 120 decorated 'Shaun the Sheep' sculptures in Covent Garden. According to BBC, these sculptures has been scattered around London and Bristol all throughout summer for two charity art trails. They have now turned Covent Garden into a sheepfold, before being auctioned for charity on October 8. Each sculpture is designed by a celebrity or artist, (like Zandra Rhodes) and are 5ft-tall (1.5m) each.

In other related news, The Guardian reported that 'Shaun the Sheep' creator has taken a majority stake in New York-based animation studio Nathan Love, as part of its international expansion. The deal makes this the first of Aardman's permanent production facility outside UK. The 40-year old Bristol-based firm has been reported to include the soon-to-rebranded Aardman Nathan Love in the production of the 'Shaun the Sheep' sequel.

'Shaun the Sheep' had reached breakeven at $15 million so it's a massive return for StudioCanal and Aardman. The sequel is due to be released in 2018, alongside a caveman comedy movie called 'Early Man.' Meanwhile, Aardman is also creating a one-off 30-minute special, 'Shaun the Sheep': The Farmer's Llamas, which will air on BBC1 this Christmas.