Creature comforts is obviously a massive inspiration to me for this project, right through from the mockumentary style to the design of the characters and sets.  I remember watching the television series back in 2003, when I was 8 years old with my parents and just finding the whole concept and style really interesting and a  lot of fun. It's something that's stuck with me throughout the years and as I began to see myself wanting to make films it's always been a sort of dream to make a stop motion as a result. 

The original Creature Comforts short (1989), as seen below, shows animals living in a zoo commenting one what it's like to live there. I really love how non-actors were used as the voices, with the film makers taking the answers from the public and contextualising them into the animated zoo animals we see, based from their answers. It's amazing how changing the context a bit, such as turning a family into a bunch of polar bears through animation, can make such a difference. 

Aardman Animations

Aardman Animations is a household name when people think of stop motion animation and like Creature Comforts, Wallace and Gromit was a good part of my childhood television, created by the same people (Nick Park of Aardman Animations). I always loved the distinct style of Aardman, and how their work is automatically distinguishable as their own. 

Some of my favourites (other than Wallace and Gromit and Creature Comforts) are Chicken Run (2000) and Flushed Away (2006).  I'm aware that Flushed Away is not necessarily a stop motion film, and is rather computer animated, however as mentioned before that distinct Aardman style is kept nevertheless.

Tim Burton

Tim Burton has done a fair amount of work in the stop motion area meaning he is also a great inspiration for the project.  One of my favourites is Frankenweenie (2012), adapted from his earlier live action film of the same name (1985), mainly because it's a stop motion about a dog - which is something I'd find very hard not to like! I really love the style, the cinematography, the story and each of the characters very unique and odd personalities. I think the stop motion style works very well with their strange mannerisms and adds even more to that oddball feel that Tim Burton often displays.