Aardman Animations, the Oscar®-winning studio behind Wallace and Gromit, Chicken Run and the most recent Shaun the Sheep TV series has appointed HIT Entertainment to manage their licensing and home entertainment rights in the US and Canada. With immediate effect HIT will manage the rights of three properties, Wallace & Gromit™, Shaun the Sheep™ and Aardman Classics.

Aardman's much deserved reputation for producing global, award-winning children's productions continues with their latest production, "Shaun the Sheep". Aimed at 5 - 10 year olds and broadcast in over 145 territories, the series won the prestigious Cristal Award for Best TV Production at the Annecy Animated Film Festival earlier this year. Shaun the Sheep made its TV debut on The Disney Channel (US) last month. The series follows the comedic stories of a young sheep who leads his barnyard pals into all sorts of adventures. The character was first introduced in the Nick Park/Aardman Oscar(R)-winning "Wallace & Gromit" 30 minute film "A Close Shave".

"Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were Rabbit" is the recipient of over 100 international awards including the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature Film in 2006. A highly anticipated, and shortly to be announced, new Wallace and Gromit project will be released in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Stephen Moore, Chief Operating Officer , Aardman Animations says, "We are delighted at the prospect of partnering with HIT in the US and Canada on these our two most precious properties - their talent in managing top international brands will give Shaun and Wallace & Gromit a great springboard for tremendous success."

Peter Byrne, Executive Vice President Consumer Products Worldwide, HIT Entertainment commented, "HIT Entertainment continues to explore new and exciting children's properties, adding to our portfolio of world-renowned brands. We are delighted to be working with Aardman, whose reputation is second to none in creating and developing some of the most unique and endearing properties in the business."