Steven Shapiro (pictured left) and Harry Lindon (pictured right) are joining Aardman Animations as the stop-motion specialist readies a growing slate of projects over the next five years.

In his newly created role of chief technology officer, Shapiro is heading up the UK-based company’s technology teams and creating a strategy to serve Aardman’s long-term growth plans. He will also be responsible for strengthening Aardman’s properties via new platforms and emerging technologies. Shapiro reports directly to director of finance and operations Kerry Lock and will start in his new role on March 28.

He most recently served as principal architect of motion picture innovation at Walt Disney Studios, working across all of the company’s banners, including Marvel Studios, Walt Disney Animation and Pixar. Prior to this, Shapiro was Marvel Studios’ director of software and production technology and has held numerous senior technical roles during his 20-year career with credits on more than 30 features and episodic series, including Spider-Man: No Way Home and Loki.

Meanwhile, Lindon has been brought in as Aardman’s first head of stop frame production to bolster the company’s specialist teams and its expanding pipeline across feature films, shorts, specials and series. He will report to executive director of production Carla Shelley and work closely with head of CG production Jess McKillop.

Lindon started on March 14, coming off a stint at Canadian prodco Deluxe Animation as a line producer. He previously served in this position at a number of companies, including Yowza! Animation, Rainmaker Entertainment and Laika.

He is also no stranger to Aardman, having previously collaborated with the company as floor manager on feature film Wallace and Gromit: A Close Shave and production manager on Aardman’s first movie Chicken Run. Lindon has worked on features and series in live action and 2D, 3D, stop-motion and CG animation during his 25-year career.

These new hires come as Aardman is preparing new Wallace & Gromit and Chicken Run features, as well as cross-media IP in a previously announced partnership with games publisher Bandai Namco.