TV News A quick chat with Oscar nominee Nick Park

Nick Park talks about his bid for a fifth Oscar with A Matter of Loaf and Death and reveals his favourites animated films of all time!

So which is your own favourite Wallace and Gromit film?
“I’m not sure. I look fondly on The Wrong Trousers [his second Wallace and Gromit short film] actually as probably the best one and it’s kind of hard to beat that. That’s because it’s hard to be fresh again. You try, but freshness kind of comes with a sort of naivety really.”

So how do you feel about going for a fifth Oscar?
“I feel so honoured to be in this situation. Just to be able to go again over to Hollywood and be there alongside famous people!”

What are your memories of your last Oscar trip in 2006?
“Peter Sallis (who voices Wallace) and I got locked out last time. We were a bit late because we’d been to the loo just before it started, and they wouldn’t let us into the ceremony until after the next commercial break. Peter was chatting to this chap who was stood with us and it was Mickey Rooney! Somebody like that is quite a hero of mine actually. The old stars are the ones who really make me think, 'Wow!'"

You must have met plenty of big stars?
“Yes, George Clooney, Tom Hanks and Jennifer Lopez, who was very nice, I must say. She was on the next table, and I was leaning over and chatting to her. That was just bizarre in itself.”

What was the weirdest thing?
“They send you this DVD instructing you how to do the perfect acceptance speech. It tells you not to make long speeches, remember that there’s 40 billion people watching and to be funny.”

And what is it like when you do win?
“You're whisked off on this whirlwind of photographers, interviews and then you go to the parties. Elton John’s party is always really wild actually. There’s kind of a bit that’s cordoned off, so unless you know Elton you can’t really meet him. But, both times I’ve been to his party I’ve been invited in because he’s very keen to congratulate all the Brits. He gives you a great big hug and says, 'Well done'. We all took pictures with him and that kind of thing. I was starstruck by Elton because I bought his songs when I was 12. Crocodile Rock was one of the first records I ever had.”

So what are you working on now?
“It is a six-part primetime series called Wallace and Gromit’s World of Inventions and the premise is that they’ve been asked by the BBC to present this show from Wallace’s basement. So it’s like they have a little TV studio and they’ll demonstrate inventions together. Well, Wallace mainly, with Gromit as his assistant. It’s Tomorrow’s World, really, with plasticine!”

Park’s picks! Nick names this top five animated films of all-time

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
"It’s probably the first film I ever saw. I remember going to the pictures with my dad and a couple of my brothers and I was just so absorbed by it. I was horrified by the scary moments and I also loved the comedy. There’s the famous bit where Dopey swallowed the soap and, as a six-year-old, I was just so charmed by it."

Jason and the Argonauts (1963)
"It’s all Ray Harryhausen model animation, but there’s live action as well. I was about 12 and I was beginning to make my own films. And I just couldn’t believe what could be done and I love adventure, heroes and monsters, and it just had everything really. I was greatly inspired by that and it’s probably what spurred me on as an animator."

Tale of Tales (1979)
"It’s just a beautifully crafted piece of work. It’s just very beautiful in terms of the music, the atmosphere, the design, and the way it’s animated. It’s somehow a very evocative film. It’s quite a personal film for the animator. It’s to do with World War Two and living in Russia and his memories of his childhood."

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
"It’s stop-motion animation by Henry Selick, written and designed by Tim Burton. I think it’s a wonderful example of Tim Burton’s work and design. There’s some really great songs in it, it’s beautifully made and it’s a lovely story. It’s quite a warm Christmas tale, but with a dark side that’s funny as well."

The Incredibles (2004)
"I feel I have to put a Pixar film in there, and I just loved that. It’s a very good, well told and exciting story. And there are few films where I’ve come to love the actual characters as much by the end."