{
  "id": 9388243,
  "title": "15 years after being rejected, Aussie animator lands gig at dream studio",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/15-years-after-being-rejected-aussie-animator-lands-gig-at-dream",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-23T18:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-24/shaun-the-sheep-aardman-sammy-lewis/107184504"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Australian animator Sammy Lewis pursued a childhood passion for claymation, eventually securing a role at Aardman Animations, a renowned British studio. Despite initial rejection, Lewis revisited Aardman and contributed to the latest Shaun the Sheep film. Aardman, known for classics like Chicken Run and Wallace & Gromit, has shifted towards digital methods amid a post-generative AI era. Lewis advocates for the importance of handmade and tactile mediums in animation. Upon returning to Australia, Lewis plans to reconnect with local animator communities, emphasizing the value of finding like-minded individuals in the field.",
  "summary": "Wallace & Grommit studio Aardman Animations was always the dream for Sammy Lewis. It just took them 15 years to get there.",
  "key_points": [
    "Sammy Lewis, Australian animator, pursued claymation passion",
    "Rejected initially, Lewis returned to Aardman Animations",
    "Lewis advocates handmade animation in post-AI era"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}