Shaun the Sheep: The Farmer's Llamas
| Company type | Television special |
|---|---|
| Industry | Animation, Entertainment |
| Founded | November 13, 2015 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
Key people | Paul Kewley (producer), John Woolley (producer), Jay Grace (director) |
| Products | Stop-motion animated television special |
Shaun the Sheep: The Farmer's Llamas is a British stop-motion animated television special derived from the Shaun the Sheep franchise created by Nick Park. Under the production leadership of Paul Kewley and John Woolley and direction by Jay Grace, it debuted on Amazon Video in the United States on 13 November 2015 and later aired on BBC One in the United Kingdom on 26 December 2015. The special stars Shaun (voiced by Justin Fletcher) as he persuades the Farmer (John Sparkes) to bring home three llamas acquired from a county fair. True to the series’ style, it features minimal spoken dialogue, relying predominantly on visual narrative techniques.
Plot
During a festival cake competition, Shaun conceals himself inside the Farmer’s jacket and encounters three llamas—Hector, Raul, and Fernando—under the spell of a flutist’s hypnosis. Upon regaining consciousness, the llamas cause chaos at the contest before being hypnotized again and sold at auction. Shaun unintentionally prompts the Farmer and Bitzer to purchase them.
Back at Mossy Bottom Farm, Shaun quickly bonds with the llamas and arranges a football game pitting them against the flock. Timmy discovers that he can hypnotize the llamas using their flute but soon misplaces it. This loss results in the llamas wreaking havoc and betraying Shaun. The flock turns hostile toward him while the llamas seize control of the Farmer’s house, imprisoning him inside a wardrobe.
Bitzer and Shaun devise a plan to trap the llamas inside a caravan but are unsuccessful. When Shaun finds himself trapped on the roof, Timmy and the flock come to his aid by hypnotizing the llamas through music played on bottles. The llamas are returned to auction; however, in an ironic twist, the Farmer mistakenly purchases a rhinoceros.
The end credits reveal ongoing repairs from damages caused by the llamas, their subsequent transfer to an unkind owner, and the arrival of the rhino at Mossy Bottom Farm alongside Shaun’s flock.
Cast
- Justin Fletcher as Shaun the Sheep / Timmy
- John Sparkes as Bitzer / The Farmer / Hector
- Kate Harbour as Timmy's Mum
- Simon Greenall as The Twins / The Pigs
- Andy Nyman as Nuts
- Emma Tate as Hazel
- Richard Webber as Shirley
- Sean Connolly as Raul
- Chris Grimes as Fernando
Additional voices
- Dan Williamson
Production
The special was officially announced on 13 October 2014 and subsequently broadcast on BBC One on 26 December 2015. Production commenced following completion of Shaun the Sheep Movie.
Release
Its initial release occurred on Amazon Prime Video in the United States on 13 November 2015, followed by a UK television premiere on BBC One at 6:10 pm on Boxing Day 2015. StudioCanal distributed the DVD version in the UK on 8 February 2016, with an Australian DVD release by ABC DVD occurring on 2 March 2016.
Reception and ratings
The special garnered an audience of 6.04 million viewers during its BBC One broadcast. Melissa Camacho from Common Sense Media awarded it four out of five stars, describing it as a charming addition to Aardman’s body of work. Ed Power of The Daily Telegraph also rated it four out of five, highlighting its suitability for children during its Boxing Day timeslot. Ed Liu from Toon Zone commended its humor but remarked that its storyline resembled that of a standard episode of Shaun the Sheep. Despite generally favorable reviews, some critics expressed concerns over perceived xenophobic elements within the plot. In 2016, it earned a nomination for an International Emmy Award in the Kids: Animation category.
Accolades
| Award | Ceremony Date | Category | Nominee(s) | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Emmy Awards | 21 November 2016 | Kids: Animation | Jay Grace | Won |
| British Academy Children's Awards | 20 November 2016 | Animation in 2016 | Shaun the Sheep: The Farmer's Llamas | Nominated |
| Kidscreen Awards 2017 | 15 February 2017 | Best in Class | Shaun the Sheep: The Farmer's Llamas | Won |