Bath-based precision engineering firm RPI has played a leading role in helping produce the latest Aardman Animations movie Early Man, which went on cinema release last week.
RPI, which describes itself as a “leader in rotational innovation”, designs and manufactures products for firms operating in the aerospace, gas, academic and scientific research sectors.
While its precision products are traditionally used in advanced measuring and calibration equipment, it has also worked with Bristol-based, four-times Oscar-winner Aardman for the past 20 years – creating rigs to hold the cameras for its acclaimed stop-motion animations.
Aardman had been unable to find ‘off-the-shelf’ products that were strong and reliable but light enough for the highly specialised needs in its studio.
With cameras constantly getting smaller, Aardman needed extremely high-accuracy rotary equipment to help film Early Man, adding to the range of pan/tilt heads already supplied by RPI, which has its global headquarters on Brassmill Lane.
The custom-built small and lightweight motorised products created for Aardman by RPI, pictured, are used to rigidly mount a camera to allow it to rotate in horizontal and vertical planes.
This means it can be suspended over sets and between props and by providing a more flexible mounting – rather than mounted on a tripod – the camera has increased movement, so enabling better camera angles and shots that look straight down onto the set as well as way above the horizon.
The new design can also be mounted at 90 degrees for a traditional pan shot.
Aardman electronics & motion control engineer Dave Roberts said: “We use RPI as they are able to provide the design and manufacture of highly accurate bespoke pieces of kits, which is key in stop motion animation.
“Rotary tables have been used within the film industry for a while now; at Aardman we’ve used them since the beginning.
“We’ve built a good working relationship with RPI over the years and they are always happy to help us out in an emergency should we ever need it.”
RPI sales engineer Dave Smith added: “It’s been great working with Aardman over the last 20 years and being able to go and see the films that our products have helped to create.
“We sell a large range of products but being able to design and manufacture bespoke pieces can really make a difference to a client and fulfil their needs completely.”
RPIU has built four custom pan/tilt heads for Aardman over the two decades of their partnership, each adapting to meet the latest industry needs.
RPI has an extensive global reach with a worldwide network of distributors including in North America, Europe and South East Asia.
Early Man, directed by Wallace & Gromit creator Nick Park and featuring the voices of Eddie Redmayne, Maisie Williams and Timothy Spall, was co-financed by French production and distribution company StudioCanal. The British Film Institute is also a partner in the film and supported it with National Lottery funding.
Early Man photo copyright Aardman Animations
