Aardman’s most-loved characters Wallace, Gromit & Feathers McGraw will be joined by a brand-new character sculpture all of which will hit the streets of Bristol on 30 June 2025 to raise money for The Grand Appeal, the Bristol Children’s Hospital Charity.
Gromit Unleashed 3 will come hot on the heels of Aardman’s new Wallace & Gromit feature film, Vengeance Most Fowl, set for release this Christmas.
In celebration of the film release, Gromit Unleashed 3 will be taking visitors on a journey through the movies, with character sculptures inspired by cinema, famous films and the stories that inspired them.
The first three uniquely designed sculptures to be revealed feature Britain’s much-loved duo Wallace & Gromit, and their returning arch-enemy Feathers McGraw.
Designed and painted by The Grand Appeal’s Creative Lead Emily Golden, King of Diamonds is a playful Feathers McGraw that looks like it could have jumped straight out of the pages of Lewis Carrol’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Wallace takes on a new character as a homage to historical epic stories featuring Roman soldiers and heroic gladiators, created by local set and scenic artists Mawford Arts.
And Gromit is ready to light up the dancefloors of disco films such as Saturday Night Fever, Boogie Nights and Pulp Fiction as created by mosaic artist Lizzie Tucker.
In a cracking plot twist for the third Gromit Unleashed trail in Bristol, a brand-new prototype sculpture has been unveiled. Introducing… ‘Norbot’ the smart gnome, Wallace’s enigmatic new invention from Vengeance Most Fowl who joins the character line-up for the first time in 2025.
And this is just the teaser trailer! The Grand Appeal will soon be revealing more designs closer to the trail launch next summer.
Gromiteers (a term coined in 2013 for visitors to the trail) can expect the stars of this trail to include famous names, fable and story characters, movies and more, with local and international talent to feature in the line-up. Previous sculpture trails have featured designs from, Disney Pixar, Lego, Joanna Lumley, Sir Quentin Blake, Dreamworks and Jools Holland.
Nicola Masters, co-founder and director of The Grand Appeal, explains: “Aardman and Bristol go together like cheese and crackers, and we are ready to embrace Bristol’s pioneering, innovative, and creative spirit and Gromit’s inventiveness to develop Gromit Unleashed and deliver our next sculpture trail.
“Today we are unveiling our first designs, but we have lots of surprises in store for 2025 – this trail will bring the glamour of the silver screen as well as the magic of tales, fables and stories to the streets of Bristol. Since announcing the return of Gromit Unleashed last year, we have already received incredible support from businesses, artists, partners, and locations. For anyone wanting to be involved, now is the time to get in touch if you haven't already.”
Since 2013, Gromit Unleashed has generated more than £20 million for The Grand Appeal, the Bristol Children’s Hospital Charity.
Nicola continued: “Our partnership with Bristol Children’s Hospital goes back many many years, and in that time, we have seen the hospital grow and innovate to help save more lives and to pioneer new treatments for sick children from Bristol and across the region, something we are immensely proud to be a part of.”
What started as a one-off sculpture trail more than a decade ago has now evolved into an iconic and much-loved brand, spanning collectable figurines and giftware, a major online and in-store retail outlet at The Mall Cribbs Causeway, and multiple trails, exhibitions, events, auctions, and activities worldwide.
Sean Clarke, Managing Director, Aardman added: “We’re incredibly proud of our partnership with The Grand Appeal and all we’ve achieved together. We cannot wait to bring the excitement and energy of the trail to the streets of Bristol next year and create more memorable moments. The fact that it comes hot off the heels of the release of our next Wallace and Gromit film Vengeance Most Fowl, and as we celebrate 30 years of partnership with the charity, makes it even more meaningful.
The money raised provides direct support for sick and critically ill children and their families; funding life-saving medical equipment, groundbreaking research, family accommodation, and art, music and play programmes.”
Martin Gargan, Clinical Chair of the Women’s and Children’s Division at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, commented: “Our long-standing partnership with The Grand Appeal helps Bristol Children’s Hospital support sick children from Bristol and across the South West and South Wales. When the trails take place, the excitement is palpable, not just around the city but within the walls of the hospital – we have a few Gromits that are exclusively kept for patients' eyes only and we cannot wait to see more of what's instore for next year. It truly brings magic to patients, their families and of course everyone visiting the city.”
Businesses and organisations looking to get involved and sponsor a sculpture are invited to get in touch and find out more by visiting www.grandappeal.org.uk/gromitunleashed
To keep up to date with the latest news from The Grand Appeal and Gromit Unleashed 3, visit https://www.grandappeal.org.uk and follow @TheGrandAppeal and @gromitunleashed across Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.
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