The next feature length animated film to be made in Bristol will be Shaun the Sheep’s first big screen adventure, due to be released in spring 2015.

Nick Park’s creation,  who first appeared in A Close Shave in 1995 before getting his own television series, is now getting an “epic adventure” in which Shaun and friends have to go to the big city to rescue the Farmer.

Aardman Animations is teaming up with StudioCanal from France to make the film, which will be directed by Richard Starzak, creative director on the Shaun the Sheep TV series for the last five years, and Mark Burton, co-writer of Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.

David Sproxton, Aardman’s executive chairman, said: “Shaun and his friends have a massive global following and we are very excited about being able to put them into a bigger adventure for the big screen.”

Olivier Courson, StudioCanal’s CEO, said: “Shaun is a character you love at first sight whatever your age. We are really happy to work with Aardman; it’s such a talented team.”