Shaun The Sheep: a full length movie feature.
Peppa Pig: 15 minutes of new material, and some old episodes.
Lets start with some history.
The first episode ofPeppa Pigscreened back in 2004.
Yet ask any parent of a child under 10, and theyll likely know lots about the show.
Not least how wonderfully useless Daddy Pig seems to be.
In truth, I really likePeppa Pig.
Plus, it makes me laugh.
And my daughter loves it.
And the two contrasting approaches taken are illuminative of how different companies tackle cinema for a younger age group.
Listeners to the excellentKermode & Mayo Film Reviewprogramme on Radio Five (or Radio Five Live.
There are so many of the buggers).
The listener in question took his young daughter, and she was in awe of the whole cinema experience.
And Tinkerbell was her stepping stone to that.
Both Peppa Pig and Shaun The Sheep offer a similar path to the movies.
Both are also amongst this half term holidays film choices.
Which is what makes the treatment ofPeppa Pigon the big screen all the more disappointing.
In the case of those behindPeppa Pig?
In fact, youre not getting anything close to a film.
Instead,The Golden Bootsis actually a 15 minute new episode ofPeppa Pig.
Then, you also get 45 further minutes.
So, a bit like watching kids telly then, just at your local Odeon.
Contrast that with what Aardman is doing withShaun The Sheep: The Movie, for the same admission price.
Its put years into realising a Shaun film, and has done so in majestic style.
Without, you know,words?
Theres graft, craft and art in abundance.
It just gives the impression of a rushed cash-in job.
But I do feel theres a missed opportunity.
Say what you like about those Tinkerbell films, but they do at leasttry.
If theres justice, I cant help hoping that Aardmans woolly wonder will win this particular box office showdown.
And that when we next see Peppa at the movies, itll be in a full length feature.
Id pay to watch that in an instant.
