Inside Aardman: Bringing Clay to Life - Characters, Voice & Performance with Merlin Crossingham 

In this episode of High Notes, Melissa talks to Merlin Crossingham, Creative Director for Wallace and Gromit at Aardman Animations. Merlin shares some surprising stories from his childhood that led him onto a very specific career path in animation, as well as thoughts on the timeless appeal of Wallace and Gromit. 

The conversation explores the intricacies of voice performance, character development and the evolving landscape of voice acting, in an era of AI and immersive media. Melissa and Merlin also discuss the importance of physicality in voice acting, the challenges of directing new talent, and magic moments in the booth that can really bring animation characters to life.

Find out more about the wonderful world of Aardman https://www.aardman.com/

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00:00 Introduction to High Notes Podcast

00:51 Meet Merlin Ingham: Creative Director for Wallace and Gromit

01:42 Merlin's Journey: From Circus Skills to Animation

03:34 The Timeless Appeal of Wallace and Gromit

06:11 The Art of Silent Storytelling

08:31 Casting Voices for Animation

19:03 Directing Voice Actors for Stop Motion

25:29 The Evolution of Morph and Voice Acting

28:41 Challenges of Interactive Storytelling

31:20 The Human Touch in Animation

32:34 Keeping Wallace and Gromit Fresh

35:10 Advice for Aspiring Voice Actors

37:23 Reflections on Success and Future Projects

39:12 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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