Review A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon 2019
Introduction
I watched A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon once in theaters, and the scene where the farmer accidentally boards a spaceship, followed by Lu-La’s parents having to return, really stuck with me. The music in that moment, leading into the film’s conclusion, was so moving that I left the theater feeling emotional, even though I’m a huge fan of the movie.
Back home, I planned to write a review of Farmageddon right away, but after checking some details, I realized I’d missed something important. So, I decided to rewatch it when the full version was available and write a more thorough review. I previously reviewed A Shaun the Sheep Movie 2015 – Sheep on the Streets, and you can check that out if you’re curious. The Shaun the Sheep animated series has many parts, so I’ll try to review as many as I can and compile them later.
Content Warning
In the content section, I’ve summarized the movie’s plot, so if you want to avoid spoilers, skip to the review section.
Plot Summary
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon opens with a homeless man and his dog, Bingo, buying fries at a fast-food joint. As they step outside, Bingo senses something odd, growls, and bolts into the woods. The man chases after him and, in a clearing, spots an alien spaceship landing. Terrified, he and Bingo flee, but the alien follows, snatches the fries, and accidentally leaves behind a control device.
Agent Red, a stern investigator, arrives with her robot Mugg-1NS and a team to examine the scene, guided by the homeless man and his dog. But the spaceship is gone, so Agent Red dismisses the man and leaves. The story shifts to the sheep farm, where Shaun and the flock are tossing a frisbee around. Shaun’s wild throw sends the frisbee into a combine harvester, then toward Bitzer, the farm dog, who’s cleaning a window. When Bitzer turns, the frisbee lands in his mouth.
Furious, Bitzer bans Shaun’s games, even their barbecue plans, so Shaun orders pizza online. While placing the order, Shaun overhears a news report about the homeless man’s alien encounter. Shaun orders three large pizzas, and the delivery guy arrives, but a noise in the woods distracts him. He investigates, missing the alien sneaking into the delivery basket.
At the farm, the delivery guy hands over the pizzas to a strangely dressed figure—Shaun in disguise—who grabs the boxes and slams the door. The flock celebrates, but Bitzer confiscates the pizzas. Disappointed, Shaun reveals one last box, only to find it empty. When Bitzer gives the other boxes to the farmer, they’re empty too, and the farmer angrily hits Bitzer with the boxes.
Bitzer, fuming, takes away the sheep’s feed, glaring at them with a warning gesture. The next morning, Shaun, bored with farm chores, finds the flock has eaten all the feed. Spotting a pizza crumb, he follows a trail into the barn, where he meets Lu-La, the alien. Initially startled, they bond, and Shaun introduces Lu-La to the flock, who are wary at first.
Lu-La, curious, explores the farm and climbs onto the combine harvester. Shaun joins her, and with her alien powers, Lu-La starts the machine, speeding toward a hill. The harvester launches into the air and crashes, breaking apart. Shaun panics, and Lu-La vanishes. Bitzer arrives, confiscates the keys, and the farmer shows up. As Bitzer points to Shaun, he disappears. Before Bitzer takes the blame, the farmer notices alien crop circles in the field.
Inspired by the news, the farmer grabs supplies and magazines, tasking Bitzer with building a stage to mimic an alien landing for profit. In the barn, Shaun finds a sad Lu-La drawing symbols. Using her powers, she shows Shaun she’s from another planet and her spaceship landed near a fast-food place. Shaun recalls a flyer and points out the location.
Ecstatic, Lu-La and Shaun head there, with Shaun disguising a decoy sheep to avoid suspicion. At a supermarket, Lu-La causes chaos, burping loudly after drinking fruit wine, alerting Agent Red’s team. Meanwhile, Bitzer, tasked with handing out flyers, spots Shaun and chases him but gets stuck in glue, mistaken for an alien by Agent Red’s cameras.
Shaun and Lu-La reach the spaceship, but without the control device, it’s useless. Lu-La shares memories of why she came to Earth. Bitzer arrives, only to fall into a sleep trap. Agent Red’s team seizes the spaceship, and Shaun and Lu-La sneak into her base to retrieve the device. Bitzer, waking up, causes a distraction, allowing them to grab it.
After a chase, Shaun, Lu-La, and Bitzer board the spaceship and head to Lu-La’s planet. Shaun accidentally triggers a pizza-making button, sending the ship back to Earth, where it crashes. Agent Red, tracking them with Mugg-1NS, arrives at the farm. Shaun discovers the device can send a distress signal but needs height. He climbs the farmer’s stage, pursued by Agent Red.
At the top, Shaun and Lu-La struggle, but the flock sabotages Agent Red’s robot. Bitzer uses fireworks to destroy it, and Shaun sends the signal just in time. Lu-La’s parents arrive, saving them from a fall. Agent Red resolves her grudge, and Lu-La returns home with her parents, but the farmer, accidentally on board, is brought back to Earth.
In the end, the farmer buys a new harvester, only for Shaun’s frisbee to wreck it.
Review
The plot’s pretty straightforward, right? But its value goes deeper, especially for me. This movie, alongside Oggy, Scaredy Dog, and Kayako Saeki, has had a big impact. I’ve watched it so many times I know the script by heart, and though some parts aren’t perfectly logical, it doesn’t detract from the joy it brings me. This review is all about praise, not criticism.
Compared to the first A Shaun the Sheep Movie, Farmageddon steps up in story, visuals, and sound. The 2015 film felt like an extended episode, but Farmageddon invests heavily in content and aesthetics, making it a big leap forward. Its humor, from short episodes to this feature, is undeniable—kids and adults alike can’t help but laugh.
The movie’s charm lies in rekindling childhood memories. Agent Red represents those moments when we saw something extraordinary as kids, but no one believed us. Her quest to capture an alien is about proving her truth, not caring if others doubt her. In the end, she realizes that some experiences don’t need sharing—they’re enough as personal treasures.
Shaun, the clever sheep, mirrors our playful, rebellious childhood selves. He stirs up fun with the flock, ignoring Bitzer’s rules. His mistake on the spaceship—hitting the pizza button out of frustration—leads to consequences, but he redeems himself by climbing the tower to save Lu-La.
Bitzer, the dutiful dog, is the responsible, no-nonsense type, blindly following orders. By the end, after the alien adventure, he loosens up, joining the flock’s frisbee game, though their antics destroy the farmer’s pricey new harvester.
Lu-La, the mischievous alien kid, learns the value of home only after her ship crashes. The film’s core message—cherishing home and revisiting childhood—shines through, reminding us that no matter how far we stray, returning home is what matters.
Visuals
Farmageddon’s stop-motion animation is stunning, possibly the brightest and most vibrant in the genre. It’s rare for a stop-motion series to become a feature-length film, let alone one nearly two hours long. Compared to the first movie, which reused designs from the shorts, Farmageddon elevates everything—characters, effects, and vibrancy. The fingerprints on the models, visible in HD or 4K, add authenticity. One scene, at 1:17:30, is hand-drawn, a unique touch.
Sound and Music
With minimal dialogue, the film relies on actions and sounds to tell its story, like a silent comedy. This makes directing trickier, as stop-motion typically needs dialogue to guide viewers. The characters’ vocal tones and familiar background music (from the series) carry the soul of the film. In Farmageddon, the music peaks at the climax, unlike the first movie. New tracks add excitement and tension, perfectly complementing the dialogue-free narrative. The soundtrack is lively and engaging, elevating the experience.
Awards
The film won the British Independent Film Award for Best Effects, a testament to its dazzling visuals and effects, which truly shine.
Conclusion
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon is a must-watch for all ages. It stands out among animated films by focusing on childhood mischief and nostalgia. Its simple story, packed with humor, is the heart of the Shaun the Sheep brand. Though it flew under the radar in theaters, especially in Vietnam due to limited promotion, it’s perfect for families and kids.
