A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Animation, Film production |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Founder | Peter Lord, David Sproxton |
| Headquarters | Bristol , United Kingdom |
Key people | Peter Lord, David Sproxton |
| Products | Animated films and television series |
Number of employees | 300+ |
| Website | www |
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon is a 2019 animated sci-fi comedy created by Aardman Animations. This film marks the feature-length directorial debuts of Richard Phelan and Will Becher, with a screenplay by Mark Burton and Jon Brown, based on an original concept by Richard Starzak. Serving as an independent sequel to Shaun the Sheep Movie (2015), it draws inspiration from the British claymation series Shaun the Sheep developed by Nick Park and Bob Baker, which itself originated as a spin-off from the Wallace & Gromit short A Close Shave (1995). The voice cast features returning actors Justin Fletcher, John Sparkes, Kate Harbour, and Rich Webber, alongside new additions Amalia Vitale, David Holt, and Chris Morrell.
The storyline centers on Shaun and his flock encountering a mysterious alien possessing remarkable abilities who crash-lands near Mossy Bottom Farm. Together, they strive to help her return home while evading capture by the Ministry for Alien Detection.
Following the release of the original film in 2015, plans for a sequel were initiated. Production commenced after the completion of Early Man in 2018. Although initially announced with Starzak as director, it was later confirmed in November 2018 that Becher and Phelan would helm the project.
The movie premiered in UK cinemas on 18 October 2019 and later debuted on Netflix in the United States on 14 February 2020. It garnered acclaim for its animation quality, character development, and comedic elements. Financially, it earned $43.1 million globally against a $25 million budget. The film received nominations for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, a BAFTA Award, and three Annie Awards. A follow-up titled Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom is currently underway.
Plot
In the village of Mossingham, John and his Border Collie Bingo witness a UFO landing. Meanwhile, Shaun the Sheep and his flock engage in mischievous antics until Bitzer intervenes to stop them. After being prohibited from hosting a barbecue, Shaun orders pizza but discovers the boxes are empty upon arrival.
The following day, Shaun tracks a trail of pizza crusts leading him to Lu-La, an alien resembling a tentacled dog from To-Pa who has the ability to imitate sounds and levitate objects. Introducing Lu-La to the flock results in accidental damage to a combine harvester and the creation of crop circles. Seizing on reports of alien activity, the Farmer establishes an alien-themed attraction called "Farmageddon" to finance a new harvester purchase.
Agent Red, leader of the Ministry of Alien Detection (M.A.D.), investigates claims regarding UFO sightings. Lu-La and Shaun locate her spacecraft while Bitzer, disguised as an alien for "Farmageddon," spots them. Onboard the ship, Lu-La reveals she inadvertently launched her parents’ vessel during childhood and needs an egg-shaped device she lost to reactivate it. Mistaking Bitzer for an extraterrestrial, M.A.D. captures both the ship—with Shaun, Lu-La, and Bitzer inside—and confiscates the device at their headquarters.
Shaun and Lu-La manage to escape captivity, recover the device, restart the spacecraft, and set off toward To-Pa. However, due to Shaun’s mishandling, they crash back at the farm, destroying the UFO and leaving Lu-La devastated. Discovering that the device can emit a distress signal from an elevated location, Shaun suggests climbing the "Farmageddon" tower.
With assistance from Bitzer and the flock, they ascend during a park event hosted by the Farmer. Agent Red pursues them up the tower but is knocked off by Shaun just as he sends out the distress signal. Lu-La’s parents arrive to reunite with her. Red comes to accept these aliens as those she had seen in her youth. The "Farmageddon" attraction receives enthusiastic reviews as visitors believe the events were special effects. During their return journey to To-Pa, Lu-La’s family inadvertently brings the Farmer aboard their UFO.
The next day sees Shaun, Bitzer, and the flock enjoying themselves while the Farmer tests his new harvester—until a frisbee causes it to explode.
Cast
- Justin Fletcher voices:
- Shaun, the leader of the sheep flock
- Timmy, Shaun's cousin and the smallest sheep
- John Sparkes portrays:
- Bitzer, the farm’s loyal sheepdog and Shaun’s companion
- The Farmer, owner of the farm
- Amalia Vitale provides voices for:
- Lu-La, a playful alien canine-like creature
- Me-Ma, Lu-La’s mother
- Kate Harbour voices:
- Timmy’s Mum, who is also Shaun’s aunt
- Agent Red, the head of the hazmat team pursuing aliens
- David Holt as M-U-G-G-1N5 (Muggins), Agent Red’s robotic assistant
- Richard Webber plays:
- Shirley, a notably plump sheep
- Ub-Do, Lu-La’s father
- Simon Greenall as The Twins, two sheep from the flock
- Emma Tate as Hazel, a member of the flock
- Andy Nyman as Nuts, a sheep characterized by large eyes
- Joe Sugg as Pizza Boy
Production
On 14 September 2015, StudioCanal revealed plans to partner with Aardman for a follow-up to Shaun the Sheep Movie. By 25 October 2016, Aardman confirmed that pre-production would commence in January 2017 under the tentative title Shaun the Sheep Movie 2, with co-director Richard Starzak returning and receiving funding from Creative Europe MEDIA.
In November 2018, Richard Phelan and Will Becher were appointed co-directors at Aardman, while Starzak took on roles as executive producer and story contributor. This change coincided with founders Peter Lord and David Sproxton transferring majority ownership to employees to safeguard the studio's independence. Production spanned from November 2017 through June 2019.
Music
The score for the film was composed by Tom Howe, succeeding earlier speculation that Ilan Eshkeri, who composed for Shaun the Sheep Movie, would return. The main theme song, "Lazy," was crafted by Justin Hayward-Young, Yoann Intonti, Timothy Lanham, Freddie Cowan, Arni Hjorvar Arnason, and Cole Marsden Greif-Neill and performed by The Vaccines alongside Kylie Minogue. Additionally, the film includes a remixed version of the series’ theme "Life's a Treat," performed by Mark Thomas, Vic Reeves, and Nadia Rose.
Theatrical release
The film debuted in Germany on 26 September 2019 and later in the United Kingdom on 18 October 2019. Initially planned for a US theatrical release on 13 December 2019 via Lionsgate, it was instead acquired by Netflix following disappointing box office results of Early Man and was released digitally on 14 February 2020.
Home media
In the United States, the film became available on Blu-ray and DVD on 18 October 2022 through Shout! Factory. In the United Kingdom, it was distributed on both Ultra HD Blu-ray and standard Blu-ray formats by StudioCanal.
Marketing
In January 2018, it was announced that a teaser for the film would be shown theatrically worldwide ahead of Aardman's Early Man, unveiling its new title and plot summary. On 7 December 2018, Aardman used social media to confirm that both the teaser trailer and release dates would be revealed within the following week. The teaser trailer was released online on 11 December 2018, followed by the official trailer on 1 April 2019. A second trailer was issued on 3 July 2019.
Box office
By 29 December 2019, A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon had accumulated $43.1 million in global box office revenue, surpassing its $25 million production budget. The film’s strongest territories included the United Kingdom ($9.2 million), Germany ($6.7 million), and France ($5.4 million). It stands as the 16th highest-grossing stop-motion animated feature worldwide.
United Kingdom
During its debut weekend in the UK, the movie generated $1.7 million, securing third place behind Maleficent: Mistress of Evil ($4.2 million) and Joker ($7.1 million). Its earnings declined by 20.3% to $1.3 million in the second weekend, resulting in a fifth-place finish, with continuing decreases in the following weeks.
Critical response
According to Rotten Tomatoes, the film enjoys a strong approval rating from critics, with an average score reflecting widespread acclaim: "A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon preserves the endearing qualities of its television origins while effectively broadening the protagonist’s universe." On Metacritic, it holds a score of 79 out of 100, signaling "generally favorable reviews."
Critics within the industry applauded the movie’s broad appeal and meticulous craftsmanship. Variety emphasized its vibrant, mostly wordless slapstick humor and intricate animation. The Los Angeles Times praised how unique character traits were expressed without spoken words. RogerEbert.com awarded it 3.5 out of 4 stars and recommended it to admirers of Aardman’s productions. The Wrap described it as a witty tribute to science fiction, skillfully executed through Aardman Animations’ stop-motion techniques.
Awards and nominations
|- | 2021 Gold Derby Awards | 16 April 2021 | Best Animated Film | Will Becher, Richard Phelan and Paul Kewley |
|} |- | Rotten Tomatoes 2020 Golden Tomato Awards | 11 March 2021 | Best Animated Movie 2020 | A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon |
|} |- | Hollywood Music in Media Awards | 27 January 2021 | Best Original Score in an Animated Film | Tom Howe |
|} |- | Music + Sound Awards UK | 21 July 2020 | Best Original Composition in a Feature Film | Tom Howe |
|} |- | National Film Awards UK | 1 July 2020 | Best Animated Film | Will Becher and Richard Phelan |
|} |- | London Critics Circle Film Awards | 30 January 2020 | Technical Achievement Award | Will Becher and Richard Phelan |
|} |- | Online Association of Female Film Critics | 1 March 2021 | Best Animated Film | A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon |
|} |- | Satellite Awards | 19 December 2019 | Best Motion Picture – Animated or Mixed Media | Will Becher and Richard Phelan |
|} |- | World Soundtrack Awards | 24 October 2020 | Discovery of the Year | Tom Howe |
|} |- }
Video game
A refreshed iteration of the Home Sheep Home series, named Home Sheep Home: Farmageddon Party Edition, was introduced on Nintendo Switch and Steam in October 2019. The game made its debut in the Japanese market in August 2020 through Greenlight Games and subsequently became available on PS4 and Xbox platforms in 2023. This version includes a party mode featuring various minigames designed for multiplayer engagement, with Lu-La serving as the host.
Sequel
Development of a follow-up titled Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom began as of 7 May 2025. The project is directed by Steve Cox and Matthew Walker, with a screenplay penned by Mark Burton and Giles Pilbrow. The film is planned for release in 2026, with distribution managed by Sky Cinema within the UK and StudioCanal overseeing international markets.