Latest news with #AardmanAnimation
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Pokémon' Goes Real-Time: ‘Legends Z-A' Majorly Upgrades ‘Arceus' Combat, Mega Evolutions and Graphics on the Switch 2
'Pokémon' has officially gone next-gen: 'Legends: Z-A,' the sequel to 2022's successful open-world spinoff 'Pokémon Legends: Arceus,' is a major step-up with enhanced graphics and brand new combat that longtime fans and newcomers will appreciate. In a 20-minute hands-on demo, 'Pokémon Legends: Z-A' showed off its exciting real-time combat, a first for a mainline 'Pokémon' game. 'Z-A' departs in several ways from its predecessor 'Arceus': there's a brand new city, time period and battle system. Trainers are no longer stuck in ancient times in the Hissui region; instead, 'Z-A' takes place entirely in the modern-day Lumiose City from 'X and Y's' Kalos region. It's a great change of pace from the typically varied environments that most 'Pokémon' games are known for. Instead of running around plains, mountains and tundras, the Paris-inspired Lumiose City is constantly bustling with trainers to battle, Pokémon to capture and secrets to explore in its dark alleyways and sprawling metropolis. More from Variety Gotta Spoof 'Em All: 'Balls: The Monster-Catchin' Musical Comedy' Parodies 'Pokémon' With Original Voice Actors and 40 Puppets Heading to New York Comic-Con James Carter Cathcart, 'Pokemon' Star Who Voiced Prof. Oak, Gary, Meowth and James, Dies at 71 Pokemon, Aardman Animation Set to Collaborate on New Mystery Project The Switch 2 graphics make the system's debut 'Pokémon' game look more vibrant than ever before. Every Pokémon is bursting with character, and attacks jump off the screen with dust particles from a tackle, oozing goo from a poison sting or electric jolts from a thundershock. The draw distance in the massive Lumiose City is also impressive, and there aren't any more open, empty environments with Pokémon randomly popping into frame like in 'Arceus.' The most major change in 'Z-A' is the real-time combat system: You no longer have the luxury of time to methodically strategize your best plan of attack. When you lock eyes with an enemy, the battle is on! Depending on who engages with whom first, you'll either get a surprise attack off or start on the back-foot with your opponent's Pokémon landing the first blow. For once, time is of the essence. You can order your Pokémon to attack freely, but their moves are on a cooldown. In one battle, my Mareep was facing a Weedle, so I ordered it to start off with a thundershock, then followed that up with a tackle while it took damage from one hit. While its other moves were unavailable, Mareep used growl, then proceeded to use thundershock again after it cooled down to win the fight. You can also still switch out Pokémon mid-battle to maximize your type advantages, but if you're not paying attention, the other trainer can rattle off a string of attacks and knock out your Pokémon. The other portion of the demo featured a dramatic battle against an Absol that used a rogue mega evolution to grow bigger and stronger. I had a single Lucario to battle against the giant beast, but I could collect energy to fuel Lucario's own mega evolution and temporarily power-up its attacks. As the Mega Absol launched area-of-effect blasts, I had to protect my trainer by dodging to make sure he didn't faint — another first for a 'Pokémon' game. Once it mega evolved (and I gave it a few potions), Lucario blasted the Mega Absol with aura sphere, rock smash and bullet punch to win the battle. Afterwards, I got to add Absol to my team as a reward. Though it wasn't shown in the demo, the latest 'Z-A' trailer revealed that you primarily catch wild Pokémon during the day throughout Lumiose City and battle trainers at night as part of the Z-A Royale tournament. As your team grows stronger, you'll rise the ranks from Z to A to battle tougher trainers. There's also brand new mega evolutions to discover — which are returning for the first time since 'Pokémon X and Y' — like Mega Dragonite and more. 'Pokémon Legends: Z-A' releases on the Switch and Switch 2 on Oct. 16. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in August 2025 What's Coming to Netflix in August 2025
The Sun
29-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Trump humiliated Starmer with ‘politics for dummies' lesson – Donald understands voters in way Labour never will
AS humiliations go, it was a humdinger served with deadly disdain on home soil but with a global audience. And judging by the gritted teeth expression that suggested he'd been fashioned from clay by Wallace and Gromit creators Aardman Animation, our Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer knew it. It came from US President Donald Trump and it involved the F-word — Farage. 'Politics is pretty simple,' he shrugged, as he offered unsolicited advice on how Sir Keir should handle 'the thing going on between you and Nigel' as though they were a married couple going through a rough patch. He added: 'Generally speaking, the one who cuts taxes the most, the one who gives you the lowest energy prices, the best kind of energy, the one that keeps you out of wars . . . a few basics . . . And in your case, a big immigration component.' And there you have it, in a nutshell. Politics for dummies, yet still the incumbent Labour government just don't seem to get it. Unlike Tony Blair and 'New Labour,' who understood that attracting and maintaining wealth promoted the growth that any country needs to thrive economically, 'Same Old Labour' seems intent on strangling it. Consequently, its policies are causing a mass exodus of the wealthy, who are taking with them their assets, taxes, and the jobs they generate. Meanwhile, thousands in need of financial assistance are arriving on small boats, nurses/doctors are demanding more pay and state-funded civil service jobs are now at a 19-year high of 550,000. You don't have to be a financial expert to know that it's economically unsustainable. Meanwhile, a Sun report revealed that nearly 50,000 businesses in the UK are on the brink of collapse as costs put them under 'significant' financial stress — with Chancellor Rachel Reeves's recent increase in National Insurance payments being one of the key reasons. The 'critical' financial level among bars and restaurants alone is up by 41 per cent. As f ormer Reform MP Rupert Lowe posted earlier this week, there is so much bureaucracy and high cost involved in starting up a small business in the UK, 'Why bother?' Indeed. It also might explain why the UK's 'dark economy' is flourishing, with nearly 1,000 businesses fined a total of £37million for employing illegal workers last year. Awkward moment Trump blasts 'nasty' Sadiq Khan for 'terrible job'… before Starmer interrupts: 'He's a friend of mine!' It's unclear whether all the businesses — including, natch, car washes, barbers and salons — have paid the fines, but it shows that Immigration Enforcement teams are working hard to tackle the issue. Perhaps if they put the same zeal into preventing those working illegally from entering the country in the first place, the problem would largely disappear overnight. But, yet again, Labour is showing the same paralysis that blighted the Tories for so many years when it comes to implementing blindingly obvious solutions that would have the backing of the majority of the electorate. So little wonder that elections expert Sir John Curtice recently declared that Starmer has had the 'worst start' for any newly elected Labour or Conservative Prime Minister. 5 He says that voters 'still don't know what [Starmer] stands for' and right now it's looking like Sir Keir himself doesn't know what he stands for. Trump is a wrong'un in so many ways, but he understands the basic principle that if you let people work, impose fair taxes, tackle crime and keep state interference in their lives to a minimum, they will take personal responsibility and thrive. Slick operator Farage understands that, too, and, unlike the Tories and Labour, his claims that he will fix the UK's problems remain untested. So, unless Starmer sticks Trump's vote-winning 'basics' on the fridge at Downing Street and acts on them, his tenure will be as short-lived as Wallace and Gromit's trip to the moon. MOLLY HAVING A BAWL THE Instagram account of hugely successful 'influencer' (8.5million followers on Instagram alone) Molly-Mae Hague shows a carefully curated collection of artfully shot photos depicting a seemingly perfect life. Beautifully blow-dried hair, designer outfits, luxury cars and holiday destinations, she's selling her fans their dream existence while funding her own via lucrative brand deals. Yet, in a couple of her recent live streams to fans, she's seen sobbing and riddled with anxiety after having her chain yanked by online haters. So perhaps those close to her might advise a spell away from social media altogether or, at the very least, the comments section. And at the same time, those being outright nasty (rather than expressing any valid criticism in a measured way) to someone whose clearly struggling with their mental health should give her a break too. It might just improve their lives as well. As Nelson Mandela once said: 'Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.' Sexy Syd's a jeanius seller AN ad for American Eagle jeans featuring Hollywood actress Sydney Sweeney has sparked an online backlash. Why? Because the ad says 'Sydney Sweeney has great genes jeans.' Which, according to some, smacks of 'eugenics', 'Nazi propaganda' and promotes 'white supremacy'. Sigh. Is there literally anything now that someone, somewhere can't take offence at if they try hard enough? It's an eye-catching ad to sell jeans, featuring a gorgeous young woman with, yes, great genes. And that would apply equally if it was Naomi Campbell. A CASE STUDY IN FEES A VIRAL video shows a sobbing woman slumped to her knees at Sofia Airport in Bulgaria after a Ryanair flight left without her. Apparently, staff said her bag was too big to take on board, she rammed it in the measuring thing to prove it wasn't, they said no anyway, and she presumably refused on principle to pay the extra to put it in the hold. Who knows? But considering Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary said last week he's considering raising the current bonus staff receive for identifying passengers with 'oversized bags', it might explain why they're so intransigent when a suitcase wheel or strap is one millimetre above the measuring line. You need an 'ology in airline suitcase sizing to travel stress-free these days. Meanwhile, me and my 55 x 45 x 25 hand luggage are currently stuck in Marseille, France, after a fire in the vicinity of the airport caused multiple cancellations, my BA flight among them. I know, I know. Pray for me. No time to age 5 LOOKING sensational on the cover of Harper's Bazaar UK, diva songstress Mariah Carey has given her views on getting older. 'I don't allow it – it just doesn't happen.' Er, right. Best scrap the £50billion a year anti-ageing industry then. She adds: 'I don't know numbers. I do not acknowledge time.' Which might explain why she's notoriously late for pretty much everything. JENNIFER ANISTON is reportedly dating an American life coach and hypnotist called Jim Curtis. She has liked some of his posts and, rumour has it, indulged in a spot of hypnosis herself after reading his book called Shift: Quantum Manifestation Guide: A Workbook For Coding A New Consciousness. Cripes. The title alone is enough to send you to sleep.
North Wales Live
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Live
6 places in North Wales to enjoy a ‘summer of play' with the whole family
The summer holidays are just around the corner, which means endless opportunities for fun, shared experiences with the whole family. And if you're looking for inspiration, you're in luck. There are a number of places across North Wales, cared for by National Trust Cymru, that have an incredible programme of activities and events coming up. Sponsored by Starling Bank, the Summer of Play events* will run throughout the summer holidays, and are the perfect chance to get outdoors, explore, and make special memories together. Read on for a glimpse at some of the places and activities you won't want to miss this summer… Chirk Castle and Garden, Wrexham This summer, go on a Big Play Adventure at Chirk Castle. Explore nature-inspired zones and unleash your creativity by designing your own obstacle course or building a den. Finish your adventure by climbing the straw bale lookout posts to admire your creative efforts from above. On selected weekends, you can even have a go at archery** and fencing. Erddig Hall and Garden, Wrexham Step back in time and experience the garden at Erddig through the playful eyes of Philip and Simon Yorke, the children who once called Erddig home. Dress up and take to the lawn to put on a performance before enjoying traditional garden games, including large dominoes, skittles, and badminton. Plus, don't miss Storytelling Wednesdays with Jake. Plas Newydd House and Garden, Anglesey Take the perfect summer photo on the big green armchair at 1Plas Newydd's garden, before seeking out poetry pebbles to compose your own poem and competing in your very own sports day. Inside the house itself, dress up, spin, and dance in the music room. On Wednesdays during the summer holidays, the garden is open late until 8pm. Penrhyn Castle and Garden, Bangor Why not make the garden and grounds of Penrhyn Castle your playground over the summer holidays? Show off your talents on the performing stage, test your building and creative skills in the construction zone, and get the whole family involved in racket games. With plenty of places to picnic amongst the meadows, Penrhyn Castle is the perfect place to kick back and relax on a warm day. Powis Castle and Garden, Welshpool Enjoy a fun-packed summer's day on the great lawn at Powis Castle. Test your speed in a sack race, try your balance on the balance beam, or hop like a frog across the lily pad. If you're feeling sporty, you can even challenge your friends and family to a game of football, badminton or volleyball. Bodnant Garden, Conwy Experience Bodnant Garden in a whole new way as Aardman Animation brings its most famous characters to the beautiful garden with 'Wallace & Gromit: All Systems Go'. The perfect way to get everyone outside this summer, help Wallace and Gromit by completing a variety of activities and games around the garden using a fantastic new Augmented Reality (AR) trail. Following the release of the new movie 'Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl' earlier this year, the beloved characters will be familiar to kids and parents alike.
The Sun
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Iconic Wallace and Gromit character lands spin-off movie – but there's a catch
AN Iconic Wallace and Gromit spin-off character has landed another spin-off movie. However, for fans hoping to see Wallace and Gromit following the success of their Christmas flick, Vengeance Most Fowl, they will be left disappointed. 4 Shaun the Sheep has landed his THIRD movie but there will be no appearances from the much-loved Wallace and Gromit. Aardman Animation has confirmed that Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom, is in the works for release this Halloween. The movie will be produced in association with StudioCanal with Sky on board as UK distributor. Teasers for the flick reveal that the residents of Messy Bottom will be looking forward to a spooky and fun-filled Halloween but the clumsy Farmer soon wreaks havoc and trashes the beloved pumpkin patch. Shaun will then try to help and will don his best mad scientist hat to come up with a solution. But things are sure to go awry when Shaun is involved. When things spiral, a wild beast will soon be roaming around the woodlands. Sarah Cox, the chief creative director at Aardman, said of the new flick: 'Shaun the Sheep is an iconic character, beloved by viewers of all ages around the world. 'In our new animated movie, we bring family-friendly thrills to this light-hearted, spooky Halloween adventure. "Expect smashed pumpkins, wayward science, and a wild hairy beast on the loose in Mossy Bottom – all delivered with the Flock's trademark joyous comedy.' The previous instalment's director Steve Cox will be back to direct the movie. StudioCanal's Anna Marsh and Ron Halpern added: 'We have taken such pride in establishing Shaun the Sheep and the flock as a cinematic must for audiences across the globe and in this – our third feature film in the franchise – we have a tantalising seasonal hook in Halloween with thrills, spills, surprises, a touch of science and characters old and new. "We cannot wait to reveal more of this highly anticipated family treat in the coming months. "It's a genuine pleasure to be back in partnership with Aardman for Shaun's very welcome return to the big screen.' Wallace and Gromit: Films and TV Series Beloved animated characters Wallace and Gromit made their first appearance in 1989. Over the following decades, they have become ingrained in popular culture and have won prestigious awards. Let's take a look at their extensive filmography. Films A Grand Day Out (1989): The pair's very first adventure, a short film which premiered at an animation festival in Bristol. It was broadcast on Channel 4 on Christmas Day 1990. It was also the first time that Last of the Summer Wine actor Peter Sallis voiced Wallace. The Wrong Trousers (1993): This second short film premiered in 1993 and introduced the villain Feathers McGraw. It won the Academy Award for Best Short Film. A Close Shave (1995): The duo's third short film which also featured the debut of Shaun, the future title character of Shaun the Sheep. Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005): The first feature-length Wallace and Gromit film, which featured the voices of Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter and Peter Kay alongside that of Peter Sallis as Wallace. This film's critical acclaim included winning a number of awards, namely the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. A Matter of Loaf and Death (2008): The fourth Wallace and Gromit short film. This was a murder mystery which starred Peter Sallis, Ben Whitehead, Sally Lindsay and Geraldine McEwan. Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (2024): The second feature length Wallace and Gromit film. It features the return of Feathers McGraw and is also the first full film performance for Ben Whitehead as Wallace. He previously shared the role with Peter Sallis in A Matter of Loaf and Death. TV series Wallace and Gromit's Cracking Contraptions (2002): A series of ten stop-motion animation shorts of approximately one to three minutes each. All ten shorts were aired on BBC One. Wallace and Gromit's World of Invention (2010): A science-themed miniseries and Peter Sallis' last acting project before his retirement. Sallis died in 2017, at the age of 96. 4 4
Buzz Feed
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
18 Hidden Easter Eggs From DreamWorks Animated Movies That You Probably Missed The First Time
DreamWorks has a way of planting little details we often miss...I mean, the Easter eggs aren't just for Disney! But I bet you were too into the movies to even notice them. Fortunately for you, I picked up on them and these are the 18 that I noticed in particular: 1. Roxanne's dress color changes throughout Megamind. 2. In Penguins of Madagascar, Dave is seen drinking clam juice when the North Wind breaks into his submarine. Clams are actually known to be one of octopuses' main source of food. 3. The prison floor in Kung Fu Panda 2 resembles the Yin Yang symbol. 4. In the opening scene in Flushed Away, Roddy pulls out Wallace's outfit from the Wallace and Gromit series. 5. In that same scene, Roddy also pulls out a Wolverine outfit. Hugh Jackman, the voice of Roddy, also plays Wolverine in the Marvel films. 7. In Shrek 2, one of the potion bottles the workers put on a conveyor belt in Fairy Godmother's factory is marked "Fiagra"— a play on "Viagra." DreamWorks Animation 8. In Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Mort mimics the airplane wing walker from the Twilight Zone episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet." 9. When Puss first attacks Shrek in Shrek 2, he carves a "P" into the tree. 11. Plushes of Alex from Madagascar and Gromit can be seen in the little girl's bedroom in Flushed Away. DreamWorks Animation/Aardman Animation 12. In Shrek 2, the Big Bad Wolf is found reading a magazine called Pork Illustrated, a parody of Sports Illustrated. DreamWorks Animation 13. The monsters in Monsters vs. Aliens are all nods to classic monster movies. DreamWorks Animation Ginormica is a reference to Attack of the 50-Foot Woman, B.O.B. is a reference to The Blob, the Missing Link is a reference to Creature from the Black Lagoon, Dr. Cockroach Ph.D. is a reference to The Fly, and Insectosaurus is a reference to Mothra. 14. Mason and Phil from Madagascar make a cameo appearance on a newspaper in Turbo. DreamWorks Animation 15. In The Road to El Dorado, Tzekel-Kan's sacred book contains a picture of the DreamWorks logo. DreamWorks Animation 16. In Flushed Away, Roddy slides past various DreamWorks DVDs (how many can you spot?). DreamWorks Animation/Aardman Animation 17. General W.R. Monger wears a Shrek badge in Monsters vs. Aliens. DreamWorks Animation 18. And finally, during the DreamWorks logo in How to Train Your Dragon, Toothless can be seen flying in the sky in the background.
