Over the years, Feathers has popped up in other Aardman productions. In the 1995 Wallace and Gromit adventure “A Close Shave,” which also won the Academy Award, when Gromit gets sent to prison, there’s graffiti in his cell that reads “Feathers was ‘ere.” And the character can be seen, for a single frame, in a scene later on in the short.

The evil penguin has his beady eyes on the much-loved duo's own statue nearby. Nick Park was the guest of honour at the official opening of Preston's new Animate cinema and leisure complex.

Oscar-winner Nick Park unveiled the statue at the opening of a leisure complex in Preston A bronze statue of animated penguin villain Feathers McGraw has been unveiled close to his arch enemies Wallace and Gromit.

A 4ft-high bronze statue of evil penguin Feathers McGraw has been unveiled near to his arch enemies Wallace and Gromit.

Preston’s new cinema and leisure complex will become “a great centre to the city”, according to Wallace and Gromit creator Nick Park.