The Wrong Trousers is a 1993 animated film directed by Nick Park at Aardman Animations in Bristol, featuring his characters Wallace and Gromit. It was his second half-hour short featuring the eccentric inventor Wallace and his quiet but smart dog Gromit, following 1989's A Grand Day Out and preceding 1995's A Close Shave.

Summary

A lodger comes to stay with Wallace, pushing Gromit out of his room and winning Wallace's favour. The penguin turns out to be a ruthless criminal named Feathers McGraw (who the authorities believe to be a rooster due to his cunning disguise of wearing a red rubber glove on his head), and plans to use Wallace's latest invention to steal a giant diamond. The Techno Trousers, designed to alleviate the burden of walking dogs, are hijacked and what's worse -- Wallace is stuck in them!

As before, the 30 minutes are packed with sight gags and exaggerated physical comedy, as well as a few subtle film parodies. Voice acting is again the sole duty of Peter Sallis (the voice of Wallace), as both Gromit and Feathers remain silent.

Trivia

In-jokes and references

Here are a few subtle jokes from the film.

• One of the characters from Aardman Animation's Creature Comforts can be seen in the museum.
• When trying to get Gromit out of the house, the penguin plays music very loudly, including "How much is that doggy in the window" and "Tie a yellow ribbon 'round the old oak tree", the latter a hint of previous jail time.
• Wallace's spare money is found in a piggy bank, stored in a safe, to which only he knows the combination, which is stereotypically hidden behind a painting on the wall. The trouble with this 'hidden' wealth, however, is the painting the safe is hidden behind, is one of a piggy bank!!
• The Morning Post Gromit is reading at the start of the film has as it's main headline, "Moon Cheese prices soar!", an obvious reference to A Grand Day Out.

Sound Change

In the original film, when Gromit opens up his birthday card from Wallace at the start of the film, it plays "Happy Birthday" to him. However, on the 2000 BBC DVD release of all three Wallace and Gromit films, the card instead plays the song "For He's A Jolly Good Fellow".

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