Wallace & Gromit's Cracking Contraptions

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.

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.

These here are a collection of 2 minute shorts of Wallace and Gromit.

They were made 3 years before the movie and 6 years after the Close Shave.

What's cool about them is each one features a different new gadget.

A lot of the gadgets are cool looking too.

Still features Peter Sallis as Wallace. And Gromit is still a smart dog.

Sure each one is short, but if you see them all at once, that's like seeing a 20 minute short film.

There's at least one laugh to each of the shorts. Some of them might features something familiar from the 3 old shorts too.

This collection of shorts is a must see for all the die hard Wallace and Gromit fans out there.

These use to be shorts only shown in England, but now it's easier to see now that it's released on the new Wallace and Gromit DVD.

I give this collection an 8 out of 10.

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!