Wallace and Gromit first hit TV screens back in 1989. First created were three short films, those entitled above, and later came a feature length film, and a further short film. Each short film last for 20 - 30 minutes, and captured stop and start clay animation at its best. Creator Nick Park continues to use stop and start animation; planning not to use computer aided design in the future, instead keeping the series originality.

A GRAND DAY OUT
As Wallace and Gromit sit around the house bored one morning, wishing of a holiday in the sun. Soon it's Wallace's idea to make some tea and get out the crackers and cheese. Upon realising there's no cheese in the house, panic sets in and the two create a rocket to save the day. The plan is to go to the moon because everyone knows the moon is made of cheese. Once they find some cheese and tuck in, they are unaware that a robot on the moon is watching them, and has plans of having a holiday too.

THE WRONG TROUSERS
Wallace and Gromit are having trouble paying the bills, and so advertise their spare room for a tenant. It isn't long before a mysterious penguin comes along and moves in. Everything is fine to begin with, that is until Gromit realises the penguin is a thief. When the penguin hears of Wallace's new invention; a pair of self-walking robot trousers, he conjures a plan to steal the trousers and steal a lucrative diamond in the local museum. But when Wallace puts on the pre-programmed trousers instead of the penguin, he must stop them quickly, or be caught in the act.

A CLOSE SHAVE
Wallace and Gromit start up a window-washer service, but during the work, Gromit washes the windows while Wallace thinks up another invention. This time it's a machine that can clean and shear sheep. This cunning plan comes to light after a lamb left stranded enters their home. Soon they realise where this lamb has come from, and hear of evil antics that are happening to the sheep. Wallace and Gromit however fall victim of a terrible plan of the owners; to frame Wallace and Gromit for the harm of the sheep and steal the Knit-O-Metre (clean and shear machine). They must save the sheep before it's too late!

These short films make for excellent viewing. The story lines are always inventive and original and it's these films that remain the classics in animation of the early 1990's.

The characters of Wallace and Gromit are so cleverly depicted and even by the first short you are in tune with the characters and know everything you possibly need to. It's the later shorts that bring it all back, keeping up that connection and character development.

The humor of these films is subtle and works wonders. There's always the few laugh out loud moments and those that you chuckle away to by yourself and it's these that make the films as entertaining as they are. Not to mention the adverse gripping horror as Wallace and Gromit try to save the day from a evil villain. It's got it all, from the happy and cheerful moments, to the thrilling and shocking.

If you liked these why not try WALLACE AND GROMIT: THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT, and WALLACE AND GROMIT: A MATTER OF LOAF AND DEATH.