In his first feature film, Shaun the Lamb, the world's smartest sheep, finds himself in an animal shelter and has to stand up for himself in a gourmet restaurant.

Before filming begins, storyboard artist Michael Salter creates the characters and their settings. A set of mouthpieces is prepared for each character so that different facial expressions are available. Modeller Elinor Weston and Gary Roberts fill in the silicone mould. Art director Matt Perry analyses the facial expressions of some of the characters. Animator Gareth Love makes the sheep move. Director Richard Starzak and animation supervisor Loyd Price shoot the footage. About six seconds of film are produced each day. Fashion designer Nigel Leach works on replacing the skirt. Last but not least, the attention to detail is what makes 'Shaun the Lamb' so special.

These are the everyday lives of animators who create animated film masterpieces with their hard work and imagination. Now, we can look behind the scenes and see the process of creating an animated film that has been loved by millions of viewers.

From: Spiegel.de