SIFF 2026: Aardman's Will Becher on why stop-motion still matters

Aardman films have a timeless quality. That's the belief of Will Becher, animator and director at the legendary UK studio behind Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep. Becher, who is serving as a jury member for the Animation Feature category at the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival, spoke with CGTN's Zhang Meng about the enduring magic of handmade animation. After 25 years at Aardman, he knows the craft inside out. In the age of CG and AI, he believes Aardman's stop-motion films continue to carry something irreplaceable – a tactile, human warmth that transcends technique. On his first visit to China, Becher found deep inspiration in Shanghai's rich film history. He believes it's the perfect place to bring Chinese animation to the international stage.