This week, I ventured out to check out a preview screening of Sky and Aardman’s latest collaboration, a brand-new entry in the Shaun the Sheep franchise, Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom. Having been fairly distant from the franchise since its original series on CBBC, and having watched the first film in 2016, I was very excited to revisit my childhood.
The Beast of Mossy Bottom follows the iconic flock during the lead-up to Halloween on the Mossy Bottom farm, when the Farmer accidentally destroys his sheep flock’s secret pumpkin patch. Shaun becomes a mad scientist to fix the problem, but circumstances worsen subsequently; the Farmer goes missing, and a wild beast is found roaming the woods of Mossingham.
Halloween Fun For All The Family
The sequences where Shaun and the gang take on the roles of mad scientists are brilliant fun and incredibly inventive, though I do find myself gutted there were no clear nods or call-outs to another engineer within the Aardman-universe, Wallace. The scenes are matched with bubbling synths and pulsing electronics, giving the score a playful, retro-futuristic feel, which I found reminiscent of, oddly enough, some of the sequences found in Tron: Ares and Thor: Ragnarok.
A Little Kindness Goes A Long Way
Alongside the monster mayhem, there’s also a welcome message about looking after the environment, brought to the forefront of the film by the character of the vet. One sequence I particularly liked sees the vet interrupt her adventurous rescue mission to help animals caught in plastic waste. When her boat runs out of petrol, those same animals return the favour.
Having scenes like this, as well as a lovely nod to same-sex marriage, is such an effective and simple way of showing younger viewers both the impact of litter and the value of important messages. I did really like that the film makes room for these smaller moments of kindness among all the slapstick and chaos, without losing sight of the adventure.
A Familiar Kind Of Monster Mayhem
The plot is fairly predictable early on, but I still had plenty of fun watching Shaun’s attempts to save the flock’s pumpkins spiral out of control. There’s a simplicity to the setup that makes it accessible for younger audiences, with Shaun stepping into the roles of both hero and scientist as his solution creates an even bigger problem.
I also couldn’t help thinking of Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Between the vegetables, the mysterious beast and the townspeople rallying against a monster, there are certainly similarities to another of Aardman’s big-screen adventures.
Stop-Motion Madness
There’s plenty of the traditional slapstick comedy you’d expect from Aardman, but what impressed me most was how much the animation communicates with almost no dialogue, something the Shaun the Sheep franchise has done consistently well for so long. Every expression and movement helps tell the story, making it easy for younger viewers to follow without anyone needing to explain what’s happening. It’s a real credit to the animators that the flock can get so much across without saying a word.
The humour also strikes a lovely balance between jokes for younger children and moments for the adults. Shaun’s attempts at playing scientist provide plenty of chaos, while the Farmer has his own reasons for taking an interest in the growth potion, hoping it might restore his hair and help him impress the local vet.
We’re also treated to a short but lovely animated 2D sequence; the details of it, I’ll keep a surprise, but it fits in nicely during the film, and doesn’t take you out of the experience whatsoever. A lovely showcase of traditional and stop-motion animation all round.
‘Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom’ – Final Thoughts
Having spent so long away from the franchise, Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom is a lovely reminder of why I enjoyed watching these characters growing up. The story may be fairly predictable, and the similarities to The Curse of the Were-Rabbit are hard to miss, but the inventive mad-scientist sequences, expressive animation and plentiful slapstick make this a thoroughly enjoyable return to Mossy Bottom.
There’s plenty here for younger viewers and adults alike, with some welcome messages about kindness and looking after the world around us. If you’re looking for a family cinema trip as Halloween approaches, Shaun and the flock have you covered.
Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom releases in UK cinemas on September 18. Check out a trailer below:
