Aardman's new short goes online

A new Wallace and Gromit film has been released after a six-year absence - but only on the Internet.

The BBC website today launched the first of ten minute-long films featuring the Oscar-winning animated duo.

In Soccamatic, Wallace invents a contraption to score against dog Gromit, though the wily pet thwarts him.

Lorraine Heggessey, controller of BBC1, said: "This is great news for Wallace and Gromit fans everywhere and a real coup for the BBC."

The other nine films in Aardman Animatoion's Cracking Contraptions each focus on a different Wallace invention, including the Autochef, the Tellyscope and the Bullyproof Vest.

Later episodes will be shown on a pay-per-view site from tomorrow, and on BBC1 later in the year.

The pair's creator, Nick Park told the BBC: "We wanted to get Wallace and Gromit out there again because we missed them.

"I was nervous at first because no-one has animated them for a long time. But it's worked a treat. I've been very impressed."

The new film can be seen here.

Published: 15 Oct 2002