Designing the Stop-Motion Sets of Aardman Animation's Early Man!

Even though a stop-motion animated film is shot at a smaller-than-life scale, the sets and environments that need to be built for its clay characters can still be massive. Adam Savage enters the production design room at Aardman Animations to learn how Early Man's sets are blueprinted, prototyped, and then finally built to be filmed, one frame at a time.
Watch the trailer for Aardman Animations' Early Man here: • Early Man - NEW Traile...
Shot and edited by Joey Fameli
Produced by Kristen Lomasney
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Adam Savage / donttrythis
Norman Chan / nchan
Simone Giertz / simonegiertz
Joey Fameli / joeyfameli
Kishore Hari / sciencequiche
Sean Charlesworth / cworthdynamics
Jeremy Williams / jerware
Ariel Waldman / arielwaldman
Gunther Kirsch
Ryan Kiser
Intro bumper by Abe Dieckman
Thanks for watching!

[@Willumpie]

I don't want to offend anyone but this Aardman animation series is the best content I've seen on Tested. And I like Tested A LOT. But the way it goes deeply into the workings of such a studio and all the information we get as a viewer. I think it's unique and amazing. Brilliant stuff Tested! Good job, Adam.

[@npthedarkside27]

Adam and Tested are just the coolest. No matter where he is, you can just feel the passion and love for craft radiating off of Adam and the Tested team.

[@vidm96]

Those sketches ( 5:49 ) are beautiful!

[@wobblysauce]

Artwork themselves.

[@cirusMEDIA]

Full points for including that final shot for proper scale.

[@florettekahn6264]

I am seeing this kind of video for the first time and I am blown away; not just by Aardman, but by Adam Savage who I think is quite the person who asks the best questions, I think, in order to get the ideas and the work that is being worked on across to the viewer. Thank you Adam Savage.

[@simonharmony8729]

Fantastic to finally see my brother Matt Perry being interviewed at Aardman about his work as Art Director :-)

[@zack3135]

Was he initially trained as an architect?

[@katepapi7233]

Yes!

[@cllris]

I love that the location of Aardman is on Spike Island in Bristol. Such a cool address.

[@LindsayDaly]

Love love love these videos. I was *obsessed* with Aardman as a little girl. When I was five I saw Chicken Run three times in theaters haha. It's certainly part of the reason today that I'm an animator! I certainly don't have the finesse for stop motion though, which is why I love watching their work here with Tested!

[@goosechase1822]

Lona Teague nobody is interested book bot

[@skrivkicken3006]

You can download a free app on your phone called Stop motion and animate from there.You take something to animate and move the character a bit take a pic and repate the process.Than you go in to a movie editor if you have one and edit the movie until you have the final film.Maybe ask a friend of yours for help.

[@zimmy1958]

I love this hole series of videos on the movie early man

[@stijnvth]

I know I'm watching basically a big commercial for EARLY MAN. But my god this amazing and beautiful.

[@ThoTruck]

Now I want to build a house in The Aardman Medieval-style - its beautiful! When will we see a fresh stop-motion from Adam, now that he has seen all the secrets...?

[@ScrapwoodCity]

So amazing work! I loved that movie

[@MichaelCouture87]

"I start to really start" is the story of anything I artistically endeavor in. I think about starting, then I start thinking, then I start...then I start to reeeally start. Love this whole series. Makes me wish I was opened to this kind of thing earlier in my life, in a way. I love bringing sculpey to "life" as a personal hobby/passion (mostly amphibians on leaves as ornaments), but to see that imagination taken so many levels further is just incredible. It's clear this team of people all really feel invested in the story and the process of creating it.

[@MrDunvegandunvegan]

Those drawings are amazing

[@dmitrybelogub7104]

I’m actually surprised they do it by hand and don’t use CAD!

[@MrDunvegandunvegan]

I found that even with years of daily CAD use I can do design work more easily on paper or a whiteboard, then I use cad finalize designs and make sure different parts fit together as expected. But i would certainly distribute designs to the model makers with CAD.

[@cherrysoda88]

Adam really gets excited like a kid, I love it, because thats how I would get excited if I were there, and Im 30

[@jaxnean2663]

I'm totally loving these Aardman videos!

[@thatadamwhitley]

This series of videos is just stunning. Such love and craft. I remember my Wallace and Gromit VHS box set from the 90's so Aardman and I go way back!

[@willierants5880]

8:33, love this shot, makes the set look massive, as if it's full scale.

[@bur2576]

these videos have been so interesting. I love how excited adam is about it all. It really is fascinating. I cant believe there are only two guys drawing...

[@Alzaar_The_Gunzel]

The craftsmanship of the sets are truly amazing!

[@MaGFarqui]

That is a massive project right there, and so many details! I love it!

[@SmokyFrosty]

I still haven't seen Early Man but I love Aardman so much that just can't wait to watch these episodes!! Thank you so much Adam and Tested!!

[@josephgreeley5569]

I am filled with admiration at the care and attention that Aardman takes with the sets of their films. It's incredible the small details they include that you barely notice while watching the film, but are there nonetheless. I want to work there so badly!

[@BoognShoogKids]

WOW. So much work! Very cool sets.

[@DigitalImpostor]

I love these behind the scenes videos.

[@richardalger8423]

I’ve been really enjoying this series of videos. Hopefully I’ll get some ideas to use on my own stop motion work.

[@christians8821]

This is awesome, I love stop motion and love filming it

[@ArnoldVeeman]

Really nice, there is an exhibition of Aardman in Groningen currently, I've been there and it's amazing!

[@valerin0]

Adam you’ve got the best job in the world, I may be 60 but can I be your apprentice?

[@qcmg6889]

amazing workflow!

[@rasmus9311]

Loving these videos!

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

Nice to see that stop motion animation is still alive and being passed down to future generations. I hope this continues for the foreseeable future.

[@commandrogyne]

this guy looks exactly like what I'd imagine a stop motion set designer would look like. this series is so cool, I love set design and it was so interesting to see the passion people have for the little things.

[@ianscott947]

From Morph onwards, its always a pleasure to watch anything from Aardman.

[@MrAnderson84]

*Tested is Awesome!*

[@Animatortor]

So epic! I love this series of videos so much. This reminds me of when I worked on Frankenweenie back in 2011 :)

[@thepuppethead1188]

ey Laika stuff is really cool

[@elena0691elena0691]

Oh that's so cool, I love Frankenweenie 😄

[@novafawks]

Cool! Loved the movie. Were you a set designer too?

[@Animatortor]

It was one of the highlights of my career so far to have been a part of it :)

[@Animatortor]

It was right at the start of my career. I helped on sets for a couple of days to gain experience... but I was mainly in the puppet hospital and the test animation bay where I made character blinks and tested that they animated properly on the characters :)

[@duncanthomson9623]

this aardman series has been amazing

[@joshuamorrisey6153]

Love these videos!

[@TheIdleGenius]

so amazing!

[@TheIdleGenius]

One like cannot express my fascination with these people and this incredible work they're doing

[@EricBorgen]

This was amazing to see - I had no idea

[@samhoward2618]

just saw the film 👌🏻 so good

[@ali49077]

Its amazing how much of story telling is actually in the tinniest details

[@brentowle9317]

This process of set constriction is very pre-Alberti style of architectural construction. Awesome insight! Love these

[@katepapi7233]

Matt trained as an architect

[@thomaschristopherwhite9043]

I am in love with this subject matter.

[@zacredington4776]

I don't know why but I really always imagine these sets as being tiny. Quite mind blowing to see how big they are, even if it makes total sense from a logic standpoint.

[@theegg7520]

Finally, someone at Aardman who looks like they're having fun!

[@JacobHepworth]

I enjoy how excited he is about all of this. You can tell he really loves his job.

[@dmomn9647]

Claymation is amazing and super hard!

[@yannickperret-gentil662]

Amazing!!

[@the_mad_ratter]

I'm lucky enough to have worked with a previous animator for Aardman... One of his favourite projects was apparently creating the teeth for the hens in Chicken Run. Nowadays he spends his time creating Warhammer style and scale models, and has designed a whole game for them! I'm somewhat envious :P

[@callumwarmington405]

This video is so sick

[@danujus77]

That last shot. Oh my God that last shot.

[@blenderixacadomenix4302]

this blows just my mind

[@ajy1974]

Dude I live in Bristol!!!!! YAY!

[@nailseaphil3989]

Lol so do I

[@ajy1974]

Nailsea Phil cool!

[@xvilleneuve]

Adam is in weathering paradise!

[@arthurbrown7501]

Can you tell me what camera was used to film this please?

[@MK_2023.]

Was this uploaded before?

[@IneptOrange]

I watched the movie myself on the first week of release. Amazing artwork went into the movie, but it just felt unfinished and weird storywise. I'd say it's certainly a kids movie, and that's probably obvious, but I had no idea. Despite the movie posters, I remained completley oblivious to the fact that it'd be a movie about football until I got into the cinema. Overall, it's another really great movie from Aardman, just don't go to see it if you're not into football movies or kids movies.

[@IneptOrange]

Lona Teague That is a scam nobody click that.

[@bandicootcollector]

I too was disappointed in the story...And the football...But, I had to appreciate the artwork and the great animation work. After accepting that it wasn't a movie for me, I spent my time paying attention to the animation and the artwork. I don't know about you, but the character of the queen was a real issue for me; she just didn't make sense. When we're first aware of the queen she's sending angry pigeon-messages to Nooth, saying how he'd be the fall of their great empire should they lose the game against the stone-age men, the pigeon even assaults Nooth so I had assumed she'd be an aggressive character. As the game commences she's still aggressive to Nooth, getting more and more angry as the Bronze start to lose to the stone. The whole reasons for Nooth putting in so much effort to cheat the game and win the match was for the queen, and so that their mighty empire wouldn't fall - and yet suddenly at the end of the film she ousts Nooth and kindly rewards the stone-age people with such grace as if she's this well balanced and lovely character. It just didn't play right. You'd have thought she'd have wanted Nooth to cheat, that at whatever cost she'd want the Bronze to win the match - That's her whole reason for being there, that's her whole reason for attacking Nooth in her pigeon messages, and yet she completely changes suddenly.

[@HeliZero]

The helmets with horns reminds me of the funny and crazy animationfilm Ronald the Barbarian.

[@assassinx6325]

I would love to have that job

[@greyareaRK1]

That place looks like heaven.

[@KaltatheNobleMind]

how do these "on the set" segments work? do they shoot them like a year in advance while they are shooting the movie and then just release them near the release date of the film?

[@sometimestrobe]

yep!

[@darrinplank]

I’d love to be able to build that

[@starkhandesh]

Nice

[@delusiongaming2506]

From what they made it?

[@Zenpaper]

Can we have a theme park just with movie sets? It will be amazing to be so close to it and have photos taken!

[@yurimaxdecarvalho8523]

You gotta love Aardman...

[@two-face1041]

Woah

[@andybisbee6817]

Why dount you do s predeter form the app move for comicon

[@snap-n-shoot]

As they are now obviously moving from all Plasticine Characters to Silicone, Foam and Plasticine models surely it makes sense now to create the models in Clay and then 3d scan them and then create the stop-motion effect etc in a 3d program?

[@emilyhughes4297]

Because that wouldn't be stop motion? Why not just make a digital model

[@afbennett3038]

Bronze ore?

[@awesomelegoproductionss]

How do I get into the film business?

[@TheOneAndOnlyLewis]

That is the second time I have heard "Umpteen" today, and the second time I have ever heard it.

[@danielaurista]

Aardman & LAIKA!

[@SuperHoneyOil]

Wowza

[@nalixl]

Is it me or is that arch in the gate (6:43) a wink to stargate?

[@Dane69]

English craftsmanship at its best

[@TheKento10]

They made a tricked tardus big on the outside bigger inside

[@juhelsacha6892]

J'adore aardman est se qui fons

[@RocketPunchArmy]

Sudden urge to watch Spinal Tap

[@eddyk3]

The exterior of the stadium pays homage to the Old Wembley Stadium towers.

[@sometimestrobe]

In the film there's a nod to the new wembley arch too!

[@cdplus2339]

This guy is totally one of my favorite interviews y'all have ever done. Right on up there with the New Zealander who sculpted his wizard-guinea pig rpg game. Miniatures are the BEST

[@christophercurrie5870]

I love this channel and would like it if they would do something doctor who related

[@account9595]

i think they use to have horns because bulls had horns which where powerful, haled shit, did work, so it signified there power

[@nathangrange8473]

I'm surprised Adam didn't ask if he could do some weathering...

[@waterup380]

wow must take forever to make

[@d0oz3yduck48]

Hey Adam, I know you like a lot about space. I also know that you and team are good a building things... so why don't you combine the two and attempt to capture an image of the curvature of the earth by making your own ameture rocket? Use a solid fuel hybrid rocket engine and fuel. There is plenty online to help and there is also a group called friends of ameture rocketry that have helped others in the last and would possibly help you! I think you'd love it and should really give it a shot.

[@jimmysgameclips]

How do they even animate stop motion work?! Madness..... It's like doing a painting and skipping the sketching/base work and just going right into the detail surely?

[@emilyhughes4297]

This is my dream job.... Idk where to get started though 😔😔

[@rontocknell5400]

BRONZE ORE??? Aardman are going to be getting letters...

[@whitepointstarproductions8905]

Matt is so likeable 😀

[@two-face1041]

Matt looks like a mad scientist lol

[@matthewschoen9827]

The forced perspective when the first show the size of the set makes it look like it's a full size building

[@TheJCInnes]

Get a set tour if flushed away.

[@kigabuma]

Early Man looks like AROG(2008) movie, a Turkish movie.

[@airlag]

Did he say "bronze ore" ???

[@starduck2]

I recently watched a very early Mithbusters episode and I realized how Adam behaves in TESTED in such a better manner, he is not the spoiled and explosive punk anymore and I think that's the best version of him, ever!

[@UmpaLoempa]

WOAH! I know what I wanna be when I grow up.

[@johnnyreality]

Where's Jamie?