Anim18 & Scratch ‘n Sniff Cinema present Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit

30 July 2018 // News

Aaron Wood

Marketing Director & Writer

Prepare to experience Wallace & Gromit as you’ve never smelled them before! A brand new Scratch ‘n Sniff cinema event featuring Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, hits the big screen from August as part of the UK-wide project Anim18: A Celebration of British Animation.  From Stinking Bishop to Bunny Burps, immerse your senses in the duo’s first feature-length film from Aardman, complete with giant vegetables, ‘Anti-Pesto’, and a mysterious beast on the loose.

The screenings build on the success of Film Hub Wales’ previous Scratch ‘n Sniff offering – ‘Matilda’ – which tickled nostrils across the UK and internationally as part of Roald Dahl on Film. This time, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit promises to offer olfactory amusement for audiences of all ages, who can get even closer to their favourite stop motion heroes.

The experience has been specially commissioned for Anim18 and is the work of ‘Scratch ‘n Sniff Cinema presents’ – an occasional series from producer and artist Bren O’Callaghan and illustrator Simon Misra. The team have previously scored scent accompaniments to The Wicker Man (BFI Gothic season, UK tour 2014), The Goonies (Cornerhouse 25th Birthday), The Company of Wolves (AND Festival, Grizedale Forest), My Beautiful Laundrette (HUB Festival, Salford) and Gregory’s Girl (Edinburgh Festival Fringe).

“Smell is often ignored as a stimuli for playful response, but it’s a powerful emotional trigger,” says Bren. “It can remind us of a person, a place, or transport us to a sun-soaked day long since passed. “

The screenings form part of the wider Anim18 programme, which runs until November. This explores the history of British animation, from early techniques to modern technologies such as gaming and VR.  As well as Scratch ‘n Sniff, audiences will have the opportunity to see newly remastered films from the BFI National Archive’s unique animation collection, get involved in additional pop-up activities such as AniJams, GameJams and VR exhibitions, and singalong to 50^thanniversary screenings of Yellow Submarine. The programme complements BFI Animation 2018, a year-round celebration of animation.

Led by Film Hub Wales, Chapter (Cardiff) with the BFI Film Audience Network and a host of project partners, Anim18 aims to generate renewed interest in British animation, bring classic titles back to the big screen, and support innovation and experimentation by UK animators. Visit www.anim18.co.uk for details.

Merlin Crossingham, Creative Director for Wallace & Gromit added;

We spend ages working on how our films look and sound because that is how cinema works. Entertainment for your eyes and ears. So having the ability to add smell to the cinematic experience is tantalising, your nose will be left out no longer.

I also think that it is something that Wallace would have had simmering away in his workshop. The Smelly-Telly: Emanating entertaining aromas direct to your nostrils.

Details of screening dates and locations can be found at www.anim18.co.uk.

Anim18 is supported by the BFI, awarding funds from the National Lottery, by Arts Council England and the British Council.

Screenings

*Please note: Additional venues and dates will continue to be added to the schedule. Please check www.anim18.co.uk for the latest details.