The makers of popular "Wallace and Gromit" are back with a new 3D film called "The Pirates! In An Adventure With Scientists," which also stars British actor Hugh Grant in his first animated role. 　　At the premiere of the film, the now semi-retired actor said that he just couldn't resist playing the character of "Pirate Captain". 　　"It's true I don't do much acting anymore but occasionally a little curiosity comes up that seems tempting and this was such a hilarious script and the Aardman people are such geniuses and it didn't involve having to be in makeup at 5 'o clock in the morning," 　　The 3D film revolves around Pirate Captain, who is on a mission to beat his pirate rivals, played by Jeremy Piven and Salma Hayek, to the coveted 'Pirate of the Year' award. His journey takes him from an exotic island all the way to Victorian London. Along the way he battles a haughty queen, and meets scientist Charles Darwin, played by former Doctor Who star, David Tennant. 　　"The genius is the animators. The animators are the stars of the film - our contribution is minimal really but to be associated with anything Aardman does is an honour and a privilege really", 　　"They are the definition of national treasure. The work they produce is never less than brilliant. I'm just glad to be here really, just glad they let me in". 　　Director Peter Lord, the co-founder of Aardman studios, revealed the painstaking process of stop-motion, saying it took two hundred people a week to produce just a minute and a half of film. He also revealed how Hugh Grant, who is known as a romantic comedy actor, was chosen to play an animated pirate. 　　"It's a little bit counterintuitive isn't it - because people wouldn't expect that. We were looking for a leading man - a big star capital L capital M - big star, English - ok there's a range of names you could think of, but funny there aren't very many. A great comic actor, that's why we chose Hugh because he is a great comic actor." 　　"The Pirates! In An Adventure With Scientists" opens in cinemas in the United Kingdom on March 28.