Charles Copping

Director Of Photography

About Charles

Charles Copping is a Director of Photography in stopmotion animation. He has worked in the industry for 30 years on Aardman’s much-loved Chicken Run, Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep films and TV series.

Charles started working in stopmotion animation in 1994 as a runner on Wallace and Gromit: A Close Shave (1995) at Aardman Animations. Thirty years later Charles is delighted to have brought his in-depth expertise and experience as Director of Photography (DOP) to the flagship feature film Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (2023).

As Camera Assistant on Chicken Run (2000), Charles lit several scenes. From this springboard he went on to work as Lighting Cameraman and DOP on several broadcast projects: Wallace and Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death (2008), six Shaun the Sheep series (2007 - 2020) and two Creature Comforts series (2003 - 2006), as well as productions for the BBC and animation companies in the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands.

As Senior Lighting Cameraman on Aardman’s The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists (2012) Charles lit some of the most complex and challenging sequences. His next role on The Shaun the Sheep Movie (2015) saw him working as Co-DOP with his long-time mentor and colleague Dave Alex Riddett. He then took up the role of Senior Lighting Cameraman on Early Man (2018), again lighting key sequences. In 2017 Charles was sole DOP on A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon (2019).

As DOP on Chicken Run - Dawn of the Nugget (2023) Charles relished the creative leadership role, leading the extremely talented team to meet the creative and technical challenge of this prestigious and ambitious Aardman Animations project.

Charles has been a full member of BAFTA since 2012 and votes in the Cinematography, Animation and British Chapters of the Film Awards.