SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE BEAST OF MOSSY BOTTOM movie poster | ©2026 GKids

Rating: PG
Stars (voices): Justin Fletcher, John Sparkes, Nina Sosanya
Writers: Mark Burton & Giles Pilbrow, characters created by Nick Park
Directors: Steve Cox & Matthew Walker
Distributor: GKids
Release Date: September 18, 2026

SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE BEAST OF MOSSY BOTTOM subscribes to the notion that mid-September is not too early to celebrate Halloween. Hence the film’s embrace of the holiday and its September 18 theatrical release date.

However, it is manifestly safe for little ones. The movie playfully declares its intentions at the start, with shapes that look scary resolving into the harmless and comical Farmer, his devoted dog Bitzer, Shaun and the rest of the flock, as they get up in the morning at Mossy Bottom Farm.

SHAUN THE SHEEP began as a stop-motion English children’s TV series, a spinoff of WALLACE & GROMIT, that premiered in 2007 and has continued in various forms ever since, including two previous feature films, 2015’s SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE and 2019’s A SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE: FARMAGEDDON.

It isn’t necessary to have seen any of Shaun’s previous adventures to comprehend what’s happening in SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE BEAST OF MOSSY BOTTOM. The farm is a safe place for its residents, with no threat of the Farmer selling (or doing anything else) to them.

Indeed, it’s not even required to speak English to take in the narrative, as no one has any dialogue. Human characters make affirmative, negative or quizzical noises that our species are prone to in certain situations; everyone has expressive faces and gestures.

Shaun is especially clever, an inventor and planner who communicates with the other sheep not only in bleats, but via diagrams and drawings.

These inarticulate utterances are still made by actors, including Justin Fletcher as Shaun and his nephew Timmy, John Sparkes as Farmer and Bitzer, and Nina Sosanya as an amiable and curious veterinarian.

Directed by Steve Cox & Matthew Walker and scripted by Mark Burton & Giles Pilbrow, based on characters created by Nick Park, SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE BEAST OF MOSSY BOTTOM begins with the onscreen introduction “A few days before Halloween …” The sheep have been growing pumpkins to use as decorations for the holiday.

The Farmer, meanwhile, would like to take the local Vet to the town’s Halloween celebration. He’s benignly oblivious to the fact that all the animals on his farm are not only civilized, but generally smarter than he is.

When a Rube Goldberg-style accident decimates the pumpkin patch. Shaun, not wanting the flock to be disappointed, devises a scheme to restore the gourds via a bit of mad science.

One thing leads to another, and soon there’s a giant hairy beast bigfooting his way around the farm and the woods and even the town. It’s up to Shaun to save the day.

Again, even very small children probably won’t be alarmed, as this BEAST shows us exactly what’s happening and why. Minus dialogue, there’s no exposition, but there’s no need for it either. In those rare moments when someone (not the audience) needs something explained, the movie just shows us the start of the information being provided, and then gets on with the action.

And the action is fairly nonstop, with everyone rushing around to restore order, creating more chaos in the process. There are sight gags galore, and more Easter eggs than can be taken in on first viewing. (Don’t worry if you miss one, another is coming right up.)

It’s all very charming, silly but with solid internal logic (and a brief lesson about plastic pollution in the ocean, for those who want some educational benefit). The sheep have a knack for disguise that is unfailingly amusing, and the Beast has a wonderful design.

SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE BEAST OF MOSSY BOTTOM is, like the rest of its creative flock, a product of Aardman Animation. The end credits are miraculously short for an animated feature. This may be due to the style of the animation. The production notes state that this is still stop-motion. While the character design remains distinctly Aardman, the film has an oddly smooth look, a bit more like Pixar than Aardman in movement. It may have made production easier, but it doesn’t feel as tactile as the Aardman of yore.

SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE BEAST OF MOSSY BOTTOM is a genuine family film, easy to understand, fast and funny for youngsters, and deft and quick-witted enough for grown-ups.

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