Manchester Animation Festival

Richard Beek is a BAFTA & International EMMY Award-winning British film producer best known for his work with Aardman Animations, where he has been a key figure in stop-motion animation for over two decades. His career has spanned multiple beloved franchises, including Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep, and his work has contributed to some of the most cherished animated films of recent years.

Richard began his journey at Aardman in 2000, working as a production runner on Chicken Run (2000). His early career saw him gaining hands-on experience across different departments, allowing him to rise through the ranks. He later served as Production Manager on The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! (2012) and Supervising Production Manager on Shaun the Sheep (TV series, 2007–2014).

His first feature-producing credit came with Early Man (2018), a prehistoric adventure-comedy directed by Nick Park. He followed this by co-producing A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon (2019), which earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature. This success was followed by the International Emmy Award winning TV special – Shaun the Sheep: Flight Before Christmas (2021).

In 2024, Richard produced Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, marking the much-anticipated return of the beloved claymation duo. The film was met with critical acclaim and went on to win Best Animated Film and Best Children’s and Family Film at the 2025 BAFTA Awards. It was also nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 97th Academy Awards.