Animation

"Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit": Steve Box and Nick Park

March 6, 2006

Helena Bonham Carter was a torn woman Sunday. She provided voices for two of the three nominees.

So there appeared to be a bit of Carter awkwardness when "Wallace" beat "Corpse Bride," directed by her fiancé, Tim Burton. She was sitting in front of the two winners, who kissed her, and beside her partner, whom she smiled at consolingly as Steve Box and Nick Park ran up on stage.

The film's Oscar brought a happy ending to tragedy suffered in October by Aardman Animations in Bristol, Britain, when fire destroyed the studio's props, sets and models just hours after the company learned that "Wallace & Gromit" had topped the U.S. box office in its opening weekend. The fire was not expected to affect future productions.

The disaster seemed a distant memory for the two Sunday, who wore huge comic bowties. They put mini versions on their statuettes.