Who are the greatest inventors in the annals of cinema? A cheese-loving Englishman and his pet dog. In the eccentric, eye-popping short films from Aardman Studios, the jug-eared Wallace devises gadgets of various shapes and sizes. His pup, Gromit, reads Electronics for Dogs and is a whiz with a blowtorch. Their R&D is strictly analog - you see all the rivets, gears, and love that go into making their impractical widgets. "As we like to say in England, Wallace uses a sledgehammer to crack a nut," notes Loyd Price, supervising animator for the duo's first feature-length flick, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, due in theaters October 7. Like the shorts, the movie revolves around crazy gadgets, including the Dyson-inspired pest-catcher Bunvac 6000 (shown). Here's hoping the rest of their new contraptions are as cool as these classics.
Wallace & Gromit's Greatest Gizmos
THE ROCKET SHIP
This lunar lander is surprisingly Luddite, with its old wooden door, wall-papered interior, and license plate (WAL 1CE, not unlike British vehicle registrations). Cheese ahoy!
THE TECHNO-TROUSERS
"Ex-NASA," says Wallace as Gromit opens his birthday gift. The Techno-Trousers, sans wearer, can take the dog for a walk (whether said dog wants one or not) and scale walls.
THE KNIT-O-MATIC
After Wallace drops in a sheep, giant sponges buff it, electric clippers work it over, and - presto! - a sweater emerges. Too bad the knitter fell into the clutches of an evil robodog.…
THE TELLYSCOPE
An elaborate system of remote-controlled wheels and pulleys activate this telescoping TV, which scoots close enough for Wallace to reach out and change the channel.
- Jason Silverman
PLAY
The Gadgeteers
