 Animate Morph in the studio where he was made, taught by the people who made him. Five weeks, one ball of clay, and your own short film on the big screen.
Application Open. Only 12 places available.
- 5 weeks, in person, Monday to Friday
- Aardman Studios, Bristol
- 16 November to 17 December 2026
- ÂŁ3,710
- 12 places
From a ball of clay to the Aardman Cinema
Clay animation is Aardman's home ground. This course takes you inside it.
Over five weeks you'll learn the craft from the animators who defined it: sculpting to camera, timing and spacing, performance, sound and comedy. You'll animate Morph, the character who started it all, and finish with a 60 to 90 second film you devised yourself.
Every week includes 1:1 check-ins, peer review and masterclasses from Aardman crew. You're not in a classroom. You're working in a live studio.
Only 12 people per course.
YOUR TUTOR
Learn from Will Becher
Will started at Aardman as a teenager on a summer placement, making clay wings for Chicken Run. After graduating he was invited by Nick Park to animate on Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, becoming one of the youngest feature animators in the studio's history.
Since then he's been Lead Character Animator on The Pirates! and Shaun the Sheep Movie, Animation Director on Early Man, and Supervising Animator on Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. His directing debut, A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, was nominated for an Academy Award® and a BAFTA.
Will has spent over 25 years at Aardman. Now, as Head of Aardman Academy Studios, he's passing on everything he's learned to the next generation of clay animators.
WHAT YOU'LL LEAVE WITH
- Your own finished Morph short, premiered at our graduation screening
- Hands-on skills in clay sculpting, timing, performance and comedy
- Feedback and mentoring from working Aardman animators
- A showreel piece made at one of the most famous animation studios in the world
WHO IS IT FOR?
Stop Motion Clay is for anyone serious about learning clay animation the Aardman way.
It's a great fit if you're:
- An animator who wants to add clay to your skills
- A student or recent graduate looking for studio experience and a standout showreel piece
- A model maker, illustrator or filmmaker ready to bring your work to life
- Someone who's always wanted to animate Morph, and is ready to commit five weeks to doing it properly
You don't need:
- Previous clay animation experience. Week 1 starts with the basics.
- Your own equipment. Cameras, software and materials are provided at the studio.
You do need:
- To be 18 or over
- To attend in person, Monday to Friday, for all five weeks in Bristol
- Patience, curiosity and a sense of humour. Clay rewards all three.
Not sure if it's right for you? Come to an Open Day and meet the team.
5 WEEKS, WEEK BY WEEK
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
CLAIM 1 OF 12 PLACESÂ
Starts 16 November 2026. Fees are paid in full before the course begins.
