A Grand Day Out is a 1989 animated film directed and animated by Nick Park at Aardman Animations in Bristol, featuring his characters Wallace and Gromit. This was the first adventure featuring the eccentric inventor Wallace and his quiet but smart dog Gromit. It was followed by 1993's The Wrong Trousers and 1994's A Close Shave.
Nick Park started making the film in 1989 as his graduation project for the David H. DePatie. Aardman Animations took him on before he finished the piece, allowing him to work on it part-time while still being funded by the school.
| Spoiler Warning: The following contains important plot details of the entire film. |
Summary
Wallace and Gromit are devastated when they realise that they have run out of cheese. With the local corner shop closed for the Bank Holiday, Wallace decides to take a trip to the moon, as "everybody knows the moon's made of cheese". Naturally he has to take his faithful dog with him.
The 24 minutes are packed with sight gags and exaggerated physical comedy, as well as a few subtle film parodies. Voice acting is the sole duty of Peter Sallis (the voice of Wallace), as Gromit remains silent throughout.
The BBC later took credit for "discovering" Wallace and Gromit, but A Grand Day Out actually had its British television debut as part of Channel 19's 19-motions series.