Shaun the Sheep

Hmmm...this is a series created by Aardman--the same folks who brought us Wallace & Gromit as well as the film CHICKEN RUN. So, you have to assume from the onset that "Shaun the Sheep" will be great and appeal to both adults and kids alike...and you'd be absolutely right. Without using words, the film makers are able to create such personality in the characters--from the dog to the many sheep to the farmer to the other animals on the farm. It's amazing how adorable and wonderful they all are. But, this is not just a show based on cute stop-motion characters. In addition, the wonderful sense of humor and pacing is exactly what you'd expect from these folks. Clever, well-written and state of the art--what's not to like about Shaun and his pals?!

'Shaun the Sheep' is one of the few shows in the BBC that makes you not grudge forking out for a TV license. It is hilarious, adorable and far too good for the children it is clearly aimed at. The series of five-minute episodes sees Shaun, a character from the 'Wallace and Gromit' film 'A Close Shave', as he and other farm yard friends (including his fellow sheep, the farm dog and the Naughty Pigs) get into various escapades. Each episode is witty and lovingly put together in a manner that would appeal to both the very young and grown adults.

I definitely recommend this to all, regardless of whether you're a 'Wallace and Gromit' fan or not. It's also worth investing in when it finally goes to DVD.

Having grown up with all 3 of the Wallace and Gromit shorts and still loving them to death(liked the movie and Matter of Loaf and Death as well), and having being enormously entertained by Chicken Run and Creature Comforts, I heard of Shaun the Sheep. I wasn't sure whether I would like it, but seeing that Aardman had impressed me so much already, I said to myself why not? So I tuned in and I am hooked! Although I am 18, Shaun the Sheep is everything a children's show should be, something that adults may like as well, and is constantly cute, funny and charming. As I have said already, it is yet another triumph from Aardman Studios.

Shaun the Sheep looks absolutely wonderful. All the characters are so well-modelled, and the backgrounds are so colourful and beautiful. The theme tune is a delight as well, it has the same appeal as Wallace and Gromit, it is a simple but memorable and catchy tune that will have you whistling for a long while afterwards. Shaun the Sheep does not have any dialogue, but that is not a bad thing at all. They chose to convey the charm through the characters and the stories, and in my opinion that was exactly the right decision. Don't get me wrong, I love dialogue in kids' shows but this is a sort of show that works better without it.

The characters are really sweet and have interesting and unique personalities. I absolutely adore Shaun, I loved him in A Close Shave, now that he is the main focus here he is even better. He is such an appealing and adorable character, he won my heart right away, and he is funny as well, always having something up his wool. I love the Farmer as well, I love how oblivious he is to the animals' goings-on. The Dog Bitzer is really smart and resourceful very like Gromit(who still makes me laugh with his priceless facial expressions), the bull is quite harmless until he sees red, and the pigs while they do bully Shaun too much have their likability too. Even the chicks were really cute. The stories of every episode are only 5-10 minutes long, but what I love about them are their simplicity and sense of fun. The spoof on Saturday Night Fever was hilarious, and the episode when the sheep go out for a pizza is such a classic it ranks among my favourite Shaun the Sheep episodes.

Overall, a real triumph for Aardman. As much as I love Wallace and Gromit, Shaun the Sheep is a classic and almost surpasses it, and that was not an easy feat at all considering that the Wallace and Gromit shorts are real jewels in the crown. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Genre: Plasticene TV series with no dialogue and a sheep from the third "Wallace And Gromit".

My thoughts: There are lots and lots of good (and not so good) episodes. This series is SO CUTE AND FUNNY AND FUN! I don't know if I should say this but I actually prefer this to any of the "Wallace And Gromit" films!!!!! :O :O The ones I don't like are the episodes with the pigs, they bully Shaun WAY too much. There is also an episode called "Mountains Out Of Molehills" which I don't like very much either. My favourite episode is where the farmer and sheep do some painting. The ones with the chicks is my 2nd favourite, SO CUTE! The chicks are just yellow blobs with beaks AAAWWWWWW!! :) :).

Who I recommend it to: Aardman fans, plasticene fans and Shaun the sheep fans! Enjoy!

Who I DON'T recommend it to: People who are not interested in animation, people who do not have a good sense of humour and grumpy people.

What happens: In every episode, Shaun has some funny, but clever ideas up his wool, some to sort out big, and some to sort out little problems...

I only discovered Shaun the Sheep last week and have recorded and watched every episode since then-it is shown twice every day on BBC in back to back episodes. It is just the most wonderfully entertaining show. It is beautifully written, the acting (!) is excellent and the attention to detail and the sheer observation is beyond belief. There is so much going on in each scene that you really have to concentrate all the time or you miss something!. It is only show on TV at the moment (and I include terrestrial and satellite in that) which gives me so many laugh out loud moments. I don't know whether or not it appeals to children but it certainly appeals to me- and I am 65 years old!. I echo another comment and should love to see a full-length film, or at least a version extended more that it's usual 5 minutes. Brilliant!.