Aardman, the award-winning UK studio, has entered into a new licensing partnership for farm attractions and family entertainment centres (FECs) with Max-Matching Entertainments in China.
The collaboration will create fun and engaging outdoor and indoor visitor experiences based on Aardman’s iconic brand, Shaun the Sheep.
Expansion in China
The collaboration will expand on Aardman’s successful Shaun the Sheep farm attractions in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, and the UK. This will be combined with Max-Matching Entertainments’ track record of successfully launching themed entertainment projects in China featuring international intellectual property. Its projects include outdoor and indoor parks, themed hotels, and themed retail experiences.
Design and production are expected to start in 2024, with the first Shaun the Sheep attraction in China set to open in 2027.
Ngaio Harding-Hill, head of attractions and live experiences at Aardman, says: “Partnering with Max-Matching Entertainments provides Aardman with the opportunity to expand Shaun the Sheep’s presence within China, taking it into the strategically important LBE sector and offering fans the ultimate experience of immersing themselves in the world of Shaun the Sheep.”
Owen Zhao, president of Max-Matching Entertainments, comments: “Max-Matching Entertainments has been deeply cultivating internationally top IP-themed LBE projects, specialised in outdoor theme parks and indoor FECs. We will make every effort to facilitate IP projects beloved by Chinese consumers in China, cooperating with Aardman, a global leading animation and entertainments company.”
Earlier this month, Aardman revealed that it has collaborated with Locked In A Room, a leading provider of immersive entertainment experiences. This partnership will bring the Wallace & Gromit-themed escape rooms adventure A Grand Way Out to Milton Keynes, UK.
Locked In A Room aims to expand the experience to its other UK venues and also explore third-party opportunities. In this hour-long experience, visitors need to work together to find A Grand Way Out in time for Wallace to reveal his newest invention at the West Wallaby Street Science Festival.
