A HALF-TERM week of stop-motion animation inspired fun has started with the opening of the Aardman Expression Lab at the National Media Museum.

The attraction opened as part of the In Your Face exhibition at the museum, with lots of activities to keep children busy during the week away from school.

Aardman Animations is one of the most famous stop-motion production companies in the world, with its best known characters including Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep, and has also produced films such as Flushed Away and Chicken Run.

At the lab children can take part in interactive activities and see how the characters are brought to life. Today, storyboard artist Jay Clarke will host talks showing how the animations are planned out and made, and on Thursday model maker Jim Parkyn will demonstrate how the characters are created. Tomorrow, co-founder Peter Lord will be speaking about the history of the company from 7pm.

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