Wallace & Gromit's Cracking Contraptions

In a series of very short films, Wallace the inventor demonstrates his newest inventions to his faithful dog Gromit. Some are useful but more often than not they cause more trouble than they're worth. Trouble that usually has to be remedied by Gromit.

Who doesn't like W&G? For at least three Christmas times on the BBC we had a new 30 minute film from them that was always wonderful but now I understand they are working on a full length film they haven't been making them for the BBC anymore. Happily Christmas 2002 was different as they made a series of very short (3 minutes generally) films to be shown randomly throughout the BBC1 schedule. I wasn't able to see all of them but saw a few.

Generally they are clever, witty and to the point - a western-style stand-off between a cracker hoover and Gromit was a nice touch, and there are other examples in each short or their unique touches. It's always pleasing to hear Sallis as Gromit - I enjoy Last of the Summer Wine and Wallace just reminds me so much of Sallis' character in that.

I don't know where you are able to see these shorts. I suspect they will be made into a 30 minute video for sale or will turn up as extras on the DVD of the feature length movie at a later stage. By themselves they are just about worth trying to find - but at 3 minutes they'll be tricky. However spread over the Christmas schedule these were quite refreshing little treats.

... says Wallace to his faithfull dog Gromit in one of the 10 short clips 'Cracking Contraptions' contains. So the machines do the work: from going shopping to changing the channel and from building a snowman to making diner. It comes as no surprise these inventions aren't faultless...

Obviously, with a set-up like this, one likes the one story better than the other, and my favorite is the first one, with a robot doing shopping. Second favorite: the vacuum cleaner. The least bit in my opinion is the robot chef. But overall the stories are amusing and the clay animations incredible. They make up for a very fun 18 minutes or so, although it's not the level of geniality 'The Wrong Trousers' was in my opinion.

8/10.

This is a series of little sketches that feature Wallace testing out a series of new inventions. Naturally, they pretty much always go wrong in one way or another.

For what they are, they are amusing enough. Brief set up... silly nonsense... end. Not much more to it.

It is always nice to see Wallace and Gromit as they have actually got surprisingly few films given how long they have been around. But... due to the incredibly short length, these shorts just don't hold a candle to any of the longer projects.

Obviously, there is no time to build up any emotion... the jokes are swift... the background gags are minimal. Everything that you would expect from Wallace & Gromit is there... just significantly less than normal.

I recently rewatched "Wallace and Gromit: Cracking Contraptions," and I have to say, it's a fantastic little gem! From the moment it starts, you're drawn into the charming world of Wallace and his clever dog, Gromit. Each episode showcases Wallace's quirky inventions, which often go hilariously awry.

The animation is top-notch, as always, with that distinctive claymation style that makes everything feel warm and inviting. The humor is clever and family-friendly, making it enjoyable for viewers of all ages. I found myself chuckling at the clever gags and the priceless expressions on Gromit's face.

What I love most is how the episodes are short and sweet, perfect for a quick watch whenever you need a pick-me-up. The creativity in the contraptions themselves is impressive - you can't help but appreciate the imagination behind each one.

Overall, I'd give "Cracking Contraptions" a solid 10 out of 10. It's a delightful experience that never fails to put a smile on my face. If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend giving it a go!

I think the biggest problem with these shorts is that they are.. waaaay too short, Like.. I know that claymation is pretty expensive and time consuming, but seriously some of these shorts doesn't even hit the 2 minutes mark and some of the them (Like for example The Turbo Diner) doesn't even have a conclusion, It just.. ends and I found that kinda bizarre but other then that, This was a pretty enjoyable watch, I didn't mind it very much, It's always nice to see more Wallace & Gromit content.

The animation is beautiful and fluent as always, Peter Sallis was excellent as always as Wallace (RIP ❤) and the inventions and wacky scenarios that Wallace & Gromit get their selves into were pretty funny.

My favorite is the Shopper 13 one with Shuan The Sheep (also being the longest one outta the bunch) and generally these shorts were pretty enjoyable, Doesn't come close to the greatness that is The Wrong Trousers or The Cures of The Were-Rabbit but still, If you're a big Wallace & Gromit fan like me, You'll have a great time with these cracking shorts.