Wallace and Gromit
Background
Wallace and Gromit are the most famous creations of Aardman Animations, headed by Nick Park. They have so far appeared in three short (half hour) films shown by the BBC, a number of short clips published on the internet, and most recently, a full length feature film. In England they are a popular franchise and have spawned several product lines and have enabled Aardman Animations to create several movies. Although they may sound like children's programs, the films can definitely be enjoyed by anyone of any age.
The characters
Wallace
Wallace is the human of the pair and (mostly) the leader. Much is made of his love of Wensleydale cheese, and he has invented many useful and not-so-useful gadgets, such as the jam cannon, and his high-tech motorcycle.
Gromit
Gromit is Wallace's pet and best friend, and lives like a human, although he doesn't speak, espressing himself through body language. He is more resourceful and less eccentric than Wallace, and often saves the day in an emergency.
The films
A Grand Day Out
Wallace and Gromit make a trip to the moon on a homemade rocket to get some cheese, as the moon is obviously made of green cheese. While there, they also meet a sentient fridge and find an unusual way to solve its boredom problem. This was the first of the films, and is now somewhat dated, having been surpassed by the superior animation and plot of the second two.
The Wrong Trousers
Wallace and Gromit are running out of money, and so take on a new lodger, a penguin, who takes over Gromit's room and starts to take over Gromit's role in the house. At the same time they aquire a pair of techno-trousers, mechanical trousers which, among other things can walk up walls. The penguin, who turns out to be the vicious "chicken" Feathers McGraw in a red rubber glove, traps Wallace in the trousers and uses them to steal a diamond from the local museum. Gromit catches him when he returns to the house, and a high speed chase on Wallace and Gromit's model train set begins, resulting in a typically happy ending.
A Close Shave
Wallace and Gromit have started a window-cleaning company. While window-cleaning, Wallace meets Wendolene, and her dog, Preston, who run a local wool shop. At the same time, a mysterious group of sheep rustlers accidentally leaves a sheep at Wallace's house, who they adopt, and name Shaun, after an accident with Wallace's sheep-shearing machine. Gromit becomes increasingly suspicious of Preston, who is the sheep rustler, along with Gwendolene. Preston frames him and he is arrested, but is broken out by Wallace and a herd of sheep they rescued from Preston. Unfortunately, after discovering the truth about Wendolene and following the truck Wallace, the sheep, and Gwendolene are captured by Preston. Gromit turns up, and throws Preston into his stolen sheep-shearing machine, but it is revealed that Preston is in fact a cyber-dog, and everyone is tipped onto the conveyor belt for a dog food mincer. Shaun saves the day by knocking Preston back into the machine.
Sources:
www.aardman.com
A Grand Day Out
The Wrong Trousers
A Close Shave