Feb 15, 2021

Kidscreen Awards2021: "Bluey", "Lamp Life" Lead Animation Winner

In the midst of the first-ever virtual Kidscreen Summit, the annual Kidscreen Awards were announced last week - also virtually. The awards, now in their 12th year, honor the best work produced in children's tv and digital media.

In terms of animation, the big winners of the night were Ludo Studio's series Bluey and Pixar's short film Lamp Life. Both took home four prizes, including best animated series (preschool) and best in class (kids) respectively. Bluey, which follows the adventures of a young anthropomorphic dog, premiered in the U.S. on Disney Junior and now streams on Disney+. Lamp Life, a Toy Story spin-off, is exclusive to Disney+.

Two awards apiece were given to Adventure Time: Distant Lands and Central Park. The former is a series of hour-long HBO Max specials based on the wildly popular Cartoon Network series; the latter is Apple TV+'s flagship animated series for older viewers. Another notable winner was Molly of Denali, a series produced by Atomic Cartoons and WGBH Kids for PBS Kids. The first nationally distributed children's show to star an Alaska Native character, it won one of Kidscreen's inaugural “best inclusivity” awards.

Across the whole ceremony, PBS Kids took home the most prizes of any producer: eight in all. Among the animation winners, however, Disney came out top with seven (including two for its subsidiary 20th Television).

The awards are selected by two panels of industry judges (bar the broadcasting category, which is determined by a public vote). They are exclusively sponsored by the Canada Media Fund.

Below is a list of animated winners in the programming categories. For the full list of winners, head to Kidscreen's website.

Best New SeriesMadagascar: A Little Wild Dreamworks Animation

Best Animated SeriesBluey Ludo Studio, BBC Studios, ABC Australia, Screen Queensland, Screen Australia

Best Short FilmLove is Love Hopster Studios, Picnic Animation Studio

Best New SeriesTales of Arcadia: Wizards Dreamworks Animation, Netflix

Best Animated SeriesForky Asks a Question Pixar Animation Studios, Disney+

Best One-Off, Special or TV MovieHere We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth Apple, Studio AKA

Best Short FilmLamp Life Pixar Animation Studios, Disney+

Best InclusivityMolly of Denali WGBH, Atomic Cartoons, PBS KIDS

Best in ClassLamp Life Pixar Animation Studios, Disney+

Best Animated SeriesCentral Park Apple, 20th Television

Best One-Off, Special or TV MovieAdventure Time: Distant Lands HBO Max, Cartoon Network Studios

Best in ClassCentral Park Apple, 20th Television

Best DirectingBluey Ludo Studio, BBC Studios, ABC Australia, Screen Queensland, Screen Australia

Best WritingBluey Ludo Studio, BBC Studios, ABC Australia, Screen Queensland, Screen Australia

Best MusicBluey Ludo Studio, BBC Studios, ABC Australia, Screen Queensland, Screen Australia

Best AnimationLamp Life Pixar Animation Studios, Disney+

Best Voice TalentLamp Life Pixar Animation Studios, Disney+

Best DesignAdventure Time: Distant Lands HBO Max, Cartoon Network Studios