Wallace & Gromit's Shower Gel Bottle
Dublin Core
Title
Wallace & Gromit's Shower Gel Bottle
Subject
Wallace & Gromit
Description
The Wallace & Gromit Shower Gel Bottle is a figurine derived from the British stop-motion animated comedy series Wallace & Gromit, created by Nick Park and produced by Aardman Animations. This model was produced under licence from Aardman Animations and features the appearance of the two main animated characters, Wallace and Gromit. However, it can be rotated away from the waist of the model and the interior can be loaded with shower gel for use, thus aligning with the image and movement of the external characters. The model is constructed primarily from PVC and depicts the eponymous protagonists of the Wallace & Gromit series, Wallace and his canine companion Gromit, engaged in the act of bathing. The model's flat base renders it suitable for placement in domestic settings, such as bathrooms. Additionally, the material allows integration of vivid colors during the manufacturing process which effectively emulates the animated character's appearance and behaviors plus garb aspects better (Kamil M, 2023).
The series, which revolves around Wallace, a intelligent, cheese-loving eccentric inventor, and Gromit, his devoted and intelligent anthropomorphic hound, comprises four short films and two feature films. It also spawned a number of ancillary products and television adaptations. The two legendary characters first appeared in the 1989 stop-motion animated short film entitled A Grand Day Out, which won substantial acclaim among the audience after being released and was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.
In contrast to the conventional approach of creating two distinct characters, the Wallace & Gromit model is designed to integrate seamlessly into the same scenario. In comparison to the models and toys that take the original character forms in the derivatives market of the same series, this model is more intriguing and has a more highlight the whole. It is one of a series of Wallace & Gromit models designed by the game maker to complement the intimate life scenes depicted in the anime. Furthermore, the model is suited to practical use with functionality beyond the value of IP, consumers who have not seen this series of movies can still use it to load shower gel. The new transmedia value derived outside the anime series, along with the collector's value for fans of the anime series, will permit the Wallace & Gromit intellectual property to be employed in a broader range of fields.
The model is constructed from rigid PVC, a material that is cost-effective, conducive to mass production, and prevalent in countries where inexpensive productivity is standard(Chen, 2016). Secondly, in Kamil M's(2023) study, it is mentioned that the material is readily painted in vibrant colours and can be preserved for an extended period of time. Ultimately, the visual characteristics of clay used in stop-motion animation can be replicated with this material, whereas the use of softer materials would be unsuitable for both storage and exhibition, given that they lack the necessary durability and fixity. Stop-motion animation is defined by its handmade and frame by frame nature(Purves, 2014), which is of particular significance in the context of archival preservation. As a transmedia, recreated product of video, this derivative work reproduces the visual and tactile sensations of the original animation through its material and shape, reflecting the material qualities of stop-motion animation. In the Wallace & Gromit stop-motion animation series, the original clay and puppets were crafted from a harder material. The texture and visual quality of this model are comparable, while effectively balancing cost efficiency with maintainability.
The Wallace & Gromit Shower Gel product has a significant adult fan base, extending beyond the demographic of children. The merchandise meets the emotional and practical needs of fans of the characters. Wallace & Gromit are well known in the UK and internationally. The target audience is not limited to children, as the story contains a great deal of technology and comedy that is enjoyed by the adult audience as well. Consequently, the product is not solely intended for use by children. Its IP value and the tangible benefits of the product, such as the convenience of loading shower gel, make it a more diverse and valuable item. It offers not only visual appeal but also practical utility, particularly in areas of daily life. In comparison to other models, it is more versatile and functional. This framework enables the spread of the epitome of British humor performed by Wallace & Gromit to transcend various cultural divides, embedding it into everyday experiences and encouraging the spread thereof. It represents both a tangible extension of the animated series and a vehicle for cultural recollection.
The collection of stop-motion animation generally includes traditional media such as original handcrafted models, production scripts, and original films; however, derivatives expand the archive's scope through their physical manifestation. These materials further serve the preservation of character representations while also documenting how animated characters have been insinuated into the texture of everyday life through processes of commodification and commercialization. Unlike the traditional video repositories, artifacts like Wallace & Gromit's Shower Gel Bottle have a very different conservation challenge. Its PVC constituent is vulnerable to degradation, abrasion, and on the other hand, minute details are at risk from erosion over time. However, the model stored at The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum has been well-preserved with bright colors and little evidence of decomposition apart from a few minor scratches and abrasions on Wallace's rear.
Conclusion This derivative product concerning Wallace & Gromit does not merely serve to preserve the integrity of the classic stop-motion animation intellectual property; it also carries high cultural value, which is generated through the representations of the animated characters and the economic potential of cross-media adaptations used as commodities in life. Moreover, this commodity does not only package the knowledge learned from intellectual property derivation but also exclusively carries the features of fan culture. Functioning as a memento, it reinvigorates the characterization of the characters and allows for easy storage and display. As a commodity, it carries qualities of outsourced production and distribution, not to mention the branding clout accorded to its copyright holder, Aardman Animation. This provides multiple perspectives for understanding the development of Wallace & Gromit's IP based development.
Works Cited:
A Grand Day Out with Wallace and Gromit (1989)
Brostow, Gabriel J., and Irfan Essa. "Image-based motion blur for stop motion animation." Proceedings of the 28th annual conference on Computer graphics and interactive techniques. 2001.
Chen, Dezhi, et al. "Survival strategy of OEM companies: A case study of the Chinese toy industry." international Journal of operations & Production Management 36.9 (2016): 1065-1088.
Kamil M J M, Shaukat S A. The implementation of polycaprolactone (PCL) as an eco-friendly material in toy design development[J]. Journal of Graphic Engineering and Design, 2023, 14(1): 5-17.
Purves, Barry JC. Stop-motion Animation: Frame by Frame Film-making with Puppets and Models. A&C Black, 2014.
Roe, Annabelle Honess, ed. Aardman Animations: Beyond Stop-motion. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2020.
The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum. "Wallace & Gromit model" The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum,
https://www.bdcmuseum.org.uk/explore/item/91839/Date Accessed 10th December 2024.
The series, which revolves around Wallace, a intelligent, cheese-loving eccentric inventor, and Gromit, his devoted and intelligent anthropomorphic hound, comprises four short films and two feature films. It also spawned a number of ancillary products and television adaptations. The two legendary characters first appeared in the 1989 stop-motion animated short film entitled A Grand Day Out, which won substantial acclaim among the audience after being released and was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.
In contrast to the conventional approach of creating two distinct characters, the Wallace & Gromit model is designed to integrate seamlessly into the same scenario. In comparison to the models and toys that take the original character forms in the derivatives market of the same series, this model is more intriguing and has a more highlight the whole. It is one of a series of Wallace & Gromit models designed by the game maker to complement the intimate life scenes depicted in the anime. Furthermore, the model is suited to practical use with functionality beyond the value of IP, consumers who have not seen this series of movies can still use it to load shower gel. The new transmedia value derived outside the anime series, along with the collector's value for fans of the anime series, will permit the Wallace & Gromit intellectual property to be employed in a broader range of fields.
The model is constructed from rigid PVC, a material that is cost-effective, conducive to mass production, and prevalent in countries where inexpensive productivity is standard(Chen, 2016). Secondly, in Kamil M's(2023) study, it is mentioned that the material is readily painted in vibrant colours and can be preserved for an extended period of time. Ultimately, the visual characteristics of clay used in stop-motion animation can be replicated with this material, whereas the use of softer materials would be unsuitable for both storage and exhibition, given that they lack the necessary durability and fixity. Stop-motion animation is defined by its handmade and frame by frame nature(Purves, 2014), which is of particular significance in the context of archival preservation. As a transmedia, recreated product of video, this derivative work reproduces the visual and tactile sensations of the original animation through its material and shape, reflecting the material qualities of stop-motion animation. In the Wallace & Gromit stop-motion animation series, the original clay and puppets were crafted from a harder material. The texture and visual quality of this model are comparable, while effectively balancing cost efficiency with maintainability.
The Wallace & Gromit Shower Gel product has a significant adult fan base, extending beyond the demographic of children. The merchandise meets the emotional and practical needs of fans of the characters. Wallace & Gromit are well known in the UK and internationally. The target audience is not limited to children, as the story contains a great deal of technology and comedy that is enjoyed by the adult audience as well. Consequently, the product is not solely intended for use by children. Its IP value and the tangible benefits of the product, such as the convenience of loading shower gel, make it a more diverse and valuable item. It offers not only visual appeal but also practical utility, particularly in areas of daily life. In comparison to other models, it is more versatile and functional. This framework enables the spread of the epitome of British humor performed by Wallace & Gromit to transcend various cultural divides, embedding it into everyday experiences and encouraging the spread thereof. It represents both a tangible extension of the animated series and a vehicle for cultural recollection.
The collection of stop-motion animation generally includes traditional media such as original handcrafted models, production scripts, and original films; however, derivatives expand the archive's scope through their physical manifestation. These materials further serve the preservation of character representations while also documenting how animated characters have been insinuated into the texture of everyday life through processes of commodification and commercialization. Unlike the traditional video repositories, artifacts like Wallace & Gromit's Shower Gel Bottle have a very different conservation challenge. Its PVC constituent is vulnerable to degradation, abrasion, and on the other hand, minute details are at risk from erosion over time. However, the model stored at The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum has been well-preserved with bright colors and little evidence of decomposition apart from a few minor scratches and abrasions on Wallace's rear.
Conclusion This derivative product concerning Wallace & Gromit does not merely serve to preserve the integrity of the classic stop-motion animation intellectual property; it also carries high cultural value, which is generated through the representations of the animated characters and the economic potential of cross-media adaptations used as commodities in life. Moreover, this commodity does not only package the knowledge learned from intellectual property derivation but also exclusively carries the features of fan culture. Functioning as a memento, it reinvigorates the characterization of the characters and allows for easy storage and display. As a commodity, it carries qualities of outsourced production and distribution, not to mention the branding clout accorded to its copyright holder, Aardman Animation. This provides multiple perspectives for understanding the development of Wallace & Gromit's IP based development.
Works Cited:
A Grand Day Out with Wallace and Gromit (1989)
Brostow, Gabriel J., and Irfan Essa. "Image-based motion blur for stop motion animation." Proceedings of the 28th annual conference on Computer graphics and interactive techniques. 2001.
Chen, Dezhi, et al. "Survival strategy of OEM companies: A case study of the Chinese toy industry." international Journal of operations & Production Management 36.9 (2016): 1065-1088.
Kamil M J M, Shaukat S A. The implementation of polycaprolactone (PCL) as an eco-friendly material in toy design development[J]. Journal of Graphic Engineering and Design, 2023, 14(1): 5-17.
Purves, Barry JC. Stop-motion Animation: Frame by Frame Film-making with Puppets and Models. A&C Black, 2014.
Roe, Annabelle Honess, ed. Aardman Animations: Beyond Stop-motion. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2020.
The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum. "Wallace & Gromit model" The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum,
https://www.bdcmuseum.org.uk/explore/item/91839/Date Accessed 10th December 2024.
Source
Wallace & Gromit animated film franchise
Publisher
Wallace & Gromit Limited
Contributor
Aardman Studios
Rights
Wallace & Gromit LTD 1989
Format
Shower Gel Bottle in the form of characters,10 inches tall, 250g in weight.
Language
English
Type
Model, Toy, Star Portrait
Identifier
BDCM 91839
Coverage
Wallace & Gromit, British Film and Television, Stop Motion Animation
Files
Collection
Citation
“Wallace & Gromit's Shower Gel Bottle,” Archival Encounters: Digital Exhibitions form the Bill Douglas Cinema Museum, accessed January 22, 2025, https://humanities-research.exeter.ac.uk/archivalencounters/items/show/62.