On 9 February 2021, actor/comedian Emma Hunter hosted the infamous Kidscreen Awards ceremony, exclusively sponsored by the Canada Media Fund, the year’s best work in children’s television and digital media.
The Kidscreen Awards Ceremony is a high-profile celebration of children’s content excellence paying tribute to outstanding TV and digital media work from around the world that keeps kids and families entertained.
The event was singled out and celebrated by the global kids entertainment community. Determined by two panels of esteemed industry judges, awards in the Programming and Creative Talent categories were given to the following entries:
PROGRAMMING—PRESCHOOL CATEGORY
Best New Series
Madagascar: A Little Wild
DreamWorks Animation
Best Animated Series
Bluey
Ludo Studio, BBC Studios, ABC Australia, Screen Queensland, Screen Australia
Best Live-Action Series
Sesame Street (season 50)
Sesame Workshop, HBO
Best Mixed-Media Series
Stories with Sound Effects
Lapost Estudios, Señal Colombia
Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie
Sesame Street’s 50th Anniversary Celebration
Sesame Workshop, HBO
Best Short Film
Love is Love
Hopster Studios, Picnic Animation Studio
Best Inclusivity
Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices
Netflix
Best in Class
Sesame Street (season 50)
Sesame Workshop, HBO
PROGRAMMING—KIDS CATEGORY
Best New Series
Tales of Arcadia: Wizards
DreamWorks Animation, Netflix
Best Animated Series
Forky Asks a Question
Pixar Animation Studios, Disney+
Best Live-Action Series
First Day
Epic Films, Kojo Entertainment, ABC Australia, Screen Australia, South Australian Film Corporation, Australian Children’s Television Foundation
Best Mixed-Media Series
Backyard Beats
BGM Sphere, TVOKids
Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie
Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth
Apple, Studio AKA
Best Short Film
Lamp Life
Pixar Animation Studios, Disney+
Best Inclusivity
Molly of Denali
WGBH, Atomic Cartoons, PBS KIDS
Best in Class
Lamp Life
Pixar Animation Studios, Disney+
PROGRAMMING—TWEENS/TEENS CATEGORY
Best New Series
Locke & Key
Netflix, Genre Arts, Hard A Productions, Circle of Confusion, IDW Entertainment
Best Animated Series
Central Park
Apple, 20th Century Fox Television
Best Live-Action Series
Locke & Key
Netflix, Genre Arts, Hard A Productions, Circle of Confusion, IDW Entertainment
Best Mixed-Media Series
About Sex
Echo Media, CBC Gem
Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie
Adventure Time: Distant Lands
HBO Max, Cartoon Network Studios
Best Inclusivity
The Unlisted
Aquarius Films, ABC Australia
Best in Class
Central Park
Apple, 20th Century Fox Television
CREATIVE TALENT CATEGORY
Best Directing
Bluey
Ludo Studio, BBC Studios, ABC Australia, Screen Queensland, Screen Australia
Best Writing
Bluey
Ludo Studio, BBC Studios, ABC Australia, Screen Queensland, Screen Australia
Best Music
Bluey
Ludo Studio, BBC Studios, ABC Australia, Screen Queensland, Screen Australia
Best Animation
Lamp Life
Pixar Animation Studios, Disney+
Best Voice Talent
Lamp Life
Pixar Animation Studios, Disney+
Best Acting
Locke & Key
Netflix, Genre Arts, Hard A Productions, Circle of Confusion, IDW Entertainment
Best Design
Adventure Time: Distant Lands
HBO Max, Cartoon Network Studios
There is also a set of Kidscreen Awards designed to spotlight the best efforts made by broadcasters to build stronger connections with kids and family audiences around the world. These winners were decided through online voting by Kidscreen readers in December. The winners are as follows:
BROADCASTING CATEGORY
Channel of the Year
PBS KIDS
Best Programming Block
CBC Kids Morning Block
CBC Kids
Best On-Air Host or Hosting Team
Kiruna Stamell—Play School
ABC Kids
Best Kids-Only Streaming Service
YouTube Kids
And rounding out the Kidscreen Awards program is a set of digital categories for preschool (zero to five) and kids (six and up). Here are the winners:
DIGITAL—PRESCHOOL CATEGORY
Best Learning App—Branded
LEGO DUPLO World
The LEGO Group, StoryToys, Touch Press
Best Learning App—Original
Duolingo ABC
Duolingo
Best Game App—Branded
PBS KIDS Games
PBS KIDS
Best Game App—Original
Bookful—Bringing Books to Life in Augmented Reality
Inception XR
Best Alternative Game
Scribbles and Ink
WGBH, Global Mechanic Media, PBS KIDS
Best YouTube Channel
PBS KIDS
Best Web/App Series—Branded
Sesame Street Monster Meditations with Headspace
Sesame Workshop
Best Web/App Series—Original
The Birthday Show
Hellosaurus
Best Website
PBS KIDS
DIGITAL—KIDS CATEGORY
Best Learning App—Branded
WWF Amazing Planet
WWF, Kids Industries
Best Learning App—Original
Square Panda
Best Game App—Branded
GoNoodle Games
GoNoodle
Best Game App—Original
Baba Yaga
Baobab Studios
Best Alternative Game
Baba Yaga
Baobab Studios
Best YouTube Channel
Dodo Kids
The Dodo, Group Nine Media
Best Web/App Series—Branded
Oddtube
Fred Rogers Productions, Sinking Ship Entertainment, PBS KIDS
Best Web/App Series—Original
My Stay-At-Home Diary
Lopii Productions, TVOKids, Shaw Rocket Fund, Canada Media Fund
Best Website
Odd Squad
Fred Rogers Productions, Sinking Ship Entertainment, PBS KIDS
and
CBC Kids News