Nick Park warns AI could erode Wallace and Gromit's human touch as Preston exhibition opens
The Wallace and Gromit creator says a 'bit of a mush' could replace clay in a future dominated by AI
Animation legend Nick Park warned that artificial intelligence could erode the human touch that defined Wallace and Gromit, as the stop-motion duo's creator prepared for a new exhibition in his hometown of Preston.
Park told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that while there is excitement around AI and generative tools, there is fear about what they could mean for traditional craft. 'The human touch is so important and yet you know it is tempting when you think of an idea you will put it into a Chat GP whatever, bot, and see what it comes back with,' he said. 'But I fear the human touch going and everything becoming a bit of a mush.' He added that Gromit was born out of clay, and he doesn't know if it would've happened if he was CGI in the same way.
Park spoke ahead of the opening of a refurbished Harris Museum in Preston that will host his exhibition, which traces Wallace and Gromit's development from early concepts to the more recent work. The show includes the original models used in films, concept art, and early sketches.
Wallace and Gromit's latest appearance came with the feature-length Vengeance Most Fowl, which premiered on BBC on Christmas Day last year. The duo's film history also includes The Wrong Trousers (1993) and A Close Shave (1995), both of which won Academy Awards for Best Animated Short. The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005) likewise earned an Oscar.
Park, who grew up in Preston, said the retrospective at the Harris Museum represents a personal milestone and an opportunity to reflect on a craft that blends traditional techniques with modern storytelling. He noted how the Harris Library and nearby resources helped spark his early interest in animation before the internet became a central research tool.
The broader debate about AI's impact on filmmaking remains ongoing, with creators weighing the speed and convenience of tools like generative AI against concerns about eroding artisanal methods and the unique human signature that animators bring to their work. Park's comments add a personal voice to that discussion as he celebrates decades of Wallace and Gromit, and as Preston embraces a new chapter for its storied museum.