Wallace and Gromit augmented reality experience launches after project involving USW research

Wallace & Gromit: Big Fix Up has been launched, with the University of South Wales (USW) having provided research support and expertise throughout the augmented reality (AR) project.

Iconic animation studio Aardman and Fictioneers have launched the app, which is the first-ever AR outing for beloved characters Wallace and Gromit.

The project involved USW working with multi award-winning animation studio Aardman, and Fictioneers: a consortium of British companies including Potato, Sugar Creative and Tiny Rebel Games, to produce the experience featuring Wallace & Gromit, and backed by funding from UK Research & Innovation (UKRI).  

Rendered in CG using the latest technology, app users are able to interact in a host of new ways and get closer than ever to the iconic duo. The experience is rich and multi-layered, and realised through innovative technology.  

Game users are able to join Wallace and his faithful hound as their latest business venture, Spick & Spanners, takes on the contract of a lifetime: to ‘Fix Up’ Bristol. They are invited to download a free app and play along at home, as an employee, and for the first time ever, be able to step directly into the world of Wallace & Gromit.  All brought together in a mobile app, used as a ‘window’ into their world. 

There are also some familiar voices in the game. Bafta-winning British actor Miriam Margolyes takes the role of BERYL: the Spick & Spanner’s AI bot, while Jim Carter takes on the role of puffed pie magnate and millionaire, Bernard Grubb.

The new Wallace & Gromit story is entirely home-based, meaning it is accessible to all with a recent smartphone.  

The Big Fix Up is set in the city of Bristol, the home of Aardman, but people from all across the UK will be able to take part in the full end-to-end adventure, which will see Wallace, Gromit, and an exciting cast of new characters appear in their very own homes!

Chosen by UKRI as part of its Audience of the Future programme, which is a key part of the Government’s Creative Industries Sector Deal, announced in March 2018, Fictioneers was awarded a multi-million-pound R&D grant to explore and pioneer cutting-edge immersive experiences.

Corrado Morgana, Academic Subject Manager Animation and Games at USW, said: “It's been an absolute pleasure to see the wonderful work that the collaboration between Fictioneers and USW has produced.

“USW students have been involved in the play testing and providing valuable user feedback and USW staff have co-ordinated further audience research, providing insights for the wider research and development community. All of this activity has contributed to the design and development of the project, and masterclasses and internships for students have provided excellent opportunities. 

“The project has been invaluable in highlighting new ways of working, collaboratively, online and proving the creative industries' adaptability to a changing environment, key skills for the future of our industries and our students.”