2023 Kidscreen Awards announce shortlist nominees
Skwigly
Kidscreen, host of the global kids entertainment industry’s leading awards for excellence, is delighted to announce the shortlisted entries that are continuing in the competition through a final round of judging.
The nominees in the Programming Categories are:
PRESCHOOL
Best New Series
- Deepa & Anoop (Mattel Television, Netflix)
- Get Rolling with Otis (9 Story Media Group, Brown Bag Films, AppleTV+) Pretzel and the Puppies (HarperCollins Productions, House of Cool, AppleTV+)
Best Animated Series
- Bluey—Season 3 (BBC Studios Kids & Family, Ludo Studio, ABC Australia) Mecha Builders (Sesame Workshop)
- Octonauts: Above and Beyond (Silvergate Media, Netflix)
Best Live-Action Series
- Gary’s Magic Fort—Season 2 (CBC Kids)
- Helpsters (Sesame Workshop, AppleTV+)
- Sesame Street (Sesame Workshop, HBO Max)
Best Mixed-Media Series
- JoJo & Gran Gran—Season 2 (BBC Children’s Productions, CBeebies)
- Takalani Sesame—South African version of Sesame Street (Sesame Workshop, Pulp Films) The Tiny Chef Show (Imagine Kids+Family, Tiny Chef Show Productions, Factory, Nickelodeon Animation, Dunshire Productions)
Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie
- Mickey and Minnie Wish Upon a Christmas (Disney Television Animation) Mickey’s Tale of Two Witches (Disney Television Animation)
- Thomas & Friends: Race for the Sodor Cup (Mattel Television, Nelvana Enterprises)
Best Holiday or Special Episode
- “Dragon Island”—Pocoyo (Zinkia Entertainment)
- “Holiday Goose Chase”—Madagascar: A Little Wild (DreamWorks Animation) “Martin Luther King Jr. Day”—Sesame Street (Sesame Workshop, HBO Max)
Best Podcast
- Gardenkeeper Gus (Headspinner Productions, Spotify)
- Little Stories Everywhere (Wondery, Amazon Music)
- The Sesame Street Podcast with Foley & Friends (Sesame Workshop, Audible)
Best Inclusivity
- Ada Twist, Scientist (Flashing Lights Media, CBeebies)
- Deepa & Anoop (Mattel Television, Netflix)
- Sesame Street (Sesame Workshop, HBO Max)
KIDS
Best New Series
- Big Blue (Guru Studio, CBC Kids)
- Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight (DreamWorks Animation)
- The Boss Baby: Back in the Crib (DreamWorks Animation)
Best Animated Series
- It’s Pony (Nickelodeon)
- Kid Cosmic (Netflix, Mercury Filmworks)
- Miraculous:Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir (Zagtoon, Method Animation, Disney Channel)
Best Live-Action Series
- Raising Dion (Netflix)
- Silverpoint (Zodiak Kids & Family Productions UK, CBBC, ZDF)
- The Friends and the Green Light (DR B&U, DR Ramasjang)
Best Mixed-Media Series
- Ahlan Simsim (Sesame Workshop)
- Backyard Beats—Season 2 (Sphere Media, TVOKids)
- The Brilliant World of Tom Gates (TG Entertainment, Wild Child Animation, Black Camel Productions, Sky Kids)
Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie
- Luck (Skydance Animation, AppleTV+)
- Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas (Aardman, Netflix)
- Superworm (Magic Light Pictures, BBC One)
Best Holiday or Special Episode
- It’s the Small Things, Charlie Brown (WildBrain, AppleTV+)
- Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne (WildBrain, AppleTV+)
- Snoopy Presents: To Mom (and Dad), With Love (WildBrain, AppleTV+)
Best Podcast
- Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest (Pinna)
- Opal Watson Private Eye (Pinna)
- The Story Pirates Podcast (Story Pirates)
Best Inclusivity
- Best Foot Forward (Muse Entertainment, AppleTV+)
- Karma’s World (9 Story Media Group, Brown Bag Films, Karma’s World Entertainment, Netflix) Raising Dion (Netflix)
TWEENS/TEENS
Best New Series
- Heartstopper (See-Saw Films, Netflix)
- Star Wars: Visions (Kamikaze Douga, Lucasfilm, Disney+)
- Theodosia (Cottonwood Media, HBO Max)
Best Animated Series
- Bob’s Burgers (Bento Box Entertainment, 20th Television)
- Central Park (20th Television, Apple TV+)
- Star Wars: Visions (Kamikaze Douga, Lucasfilm, Disney+)
Best Live-Action Series
- First Day—Season 2 (Epic Films, Kojo Studios, ABC Australia)
- Heartstopper (See-Saw Films, Netflix)
- Like Me (NRK)
Best Mixed-Media Series
- Lost Ollie (21 Laps Entertainment, Netflix)
- Tales from Dun Draiochta (Igloo Animations)
Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie
- Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts (Warner Bros. Unscripted Television, Warner Horizon, Casey Patterson Entertainment, Pulse Films, HBO/HBO Max)
- Nickelodeon Slime Cup (Nickelodeon)
- Rescued by Ruby (Fezziwig Studios, Netflix)
Best Podcast
- Tara Tremendous (Wonkybot Studios, Apple Podcasts)
- Tomorrow—The Continuing Adventures of Annie Warbucks (Gen-Z Media) Whose Amazing Life? (Wondery, Amazon Music)
Best Inclusivity
- Heartstopper (See-Saw Films, Netflix)
- Rebel Cheer Squad: A Get Even Series (Boat Rocker Studios, BBC Children’s Productions) The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (Bar Productions, Disney Television Animation, WildBrain)
Shortlisted entries in the Programming categories will be reviewed and assessed by a fresh panel of judges, including Rick Clodfelter (Disney Branded Television), Libbie Doherty (ABC Australia), Rafael Garcia (Disney Branded Television), Chris Hutchison (Disney Branded Television), Kate Morton (BBC Children’s), Sarah Muller (BBC Children’s), Lucy Murphy (Sky Kids), Zack Olin (Nickelodeon), Adriano Schmid (PBS KIDS), Vicky Schroderus (YLE Children), Heather Tilert (Netflix) and Kristofer Updike (NBCUniversal)
Best Inclusivity entries were reviewed and assessed by a jury that includes Mounia Aram (Mounia Aram Company), Musa Brooker (Six Point Harness), Farrell Hall (9 Story Media Group), Christina Jang (Disney Branded Television), Lisa Jones (WGBH), David Levine (Lightboat Media),
Debbie Macdonald (children’s media consultant), Saxton Moore (Lion Forge Animation), Maria Perez-Brown (TIME Studios), David Siegel (Exceptional Minds), Karissa Valencia (Netflix) and Zulema Uriarte (Netflix).
The nominees in the Broadcasting Categories are:
Channel of the Year
- CBBC
- CBC Kids
- PBS KIDS
Best On-Air Host or Hosting Team
- Miranda Cosgrove, Rob Gronkowski—The 2022 Kids’ Choice Awards (Nickelodeon) Spencer, Alex, Melony, Tyra, Duhin, Riki and Misu—The Zone, Zone Weekend and Big Fun Movies (YTV)
- Zachary Noah Piser, Mia Weinberger—Camp TV (THIRTEEN)
Best Kids-Only Streaming Service
- Amazon Kids+
- HappyKids
- Sensical
The nominees in the Digital Categories are:
PRESCHOOL
Best Website
- Alma’s Way (Fred Rogers Productions, Makefully Studios, PBS KIDS)
- Donkey Hodie (Fred Rogers Productions, Curious Media, PBS KIDS)
- PBS KIDS (PBS KIDS)
Best Web/App Series—Original
- Gus Plus Us (Caster Studios)
- Luna Muna (Hellosaurus)
- Miikshi (Shaftesbury, Gazelle Automations)
Best Web/App Series—Branded
- Blaze’s Amazing Race Through Time (Nickelodeon, YouTube)
- #ComingTogether Word of the Day (Sesame Workshop)
- Kids Meet (Sesame Workshop, HiHo Kids)
Best Game App—Branded
- LEGO DUPLO MARVEL (The LEGO Group, Marvel Entertainment, StoryToys) PAW Patrol Rescue World (Budge Studios, Nickelodeon)
- PBS KIDS Games (PBS KIDS)
Best Learning App—Original
- ABCmouse Early Learning Academy (Age of Learning)
- DuolingoABC (Duolingo)
- Lingokids (Lingokids)
Best YouTube Channel
- Blue’s Clues & You (Nick Jr.)
- PBS KIDS (PBS KIDS)
- Sesame Workshop India (Sesame Workshop India)
Best Alternative Game
- On the Job: Astronaut (Noggin)
- Speedy Delivery (Fred Rogers Productions, Curious Media)
- Xavier Riddle Museum Maker (9 Story Media Group, Relish, PBS KIDS)
KIDS
Best Website
- CBC Kids (CBC Kids)
- Talk with Jenna (IMC Toys, Kitoons)
Best Web/App Series—Original
- Colossal Questions (Peacock Kids)
- Feel Your Best Self (University of Connecticut, Puppet Motion, Luminous Creative Agency) Street Cents (CBC Kids)
Best Web/App Series—Branded
- Matchbox Adventures: World Tour (Mattel, Relish)
- My Little Pony: Tell Your Tale (eOne, Lil Critter Workshop)
- Polly Pocket: Adventure Studios (Mattel, Relish)
Best Game App—Original
- Kuato Dino Tales (Kuato Studios)
- Super Spy Ryan: Rumble Arena (Ryan’s World, Amazon Kids+ Original Games, p.w. Games, Sunlight Entertainment, pocket.watch, Amber Studio)
Best Game App—Branded
- Nickverse (Paramount Games, Dubit)
- Super Spy Ryan (Ryan’s World, Amazon Kids+ Original Games, p.w. Games, Sunlight Entertainment, pocket.watch, Amber Studio)
Best Learning App—Original
- ABCmouse Early Learning Academy (Age of Learning)
- Da Vinci (Da Vinci)
- DIY (DIY, Kyt Technologies)
Best Learning App—Branded
- Cyberchase: Duck Dash (The WNET Group, Bridge Multimedia, Relish, PBS KIDS) Zigazoo (Zigazoo)
Best YouTube Channel
- Dodo Kids (The Dodo, Vox Media)
- Peacock Kids (Peacock Kids)
- Plaza Sésamo (Sesame Workshop)
Best Alternative Game
- Cha-Ching Money Adventures (Prudence Foundation, Two Moos)
- Mr. Skaeg’s Letter Hunt (DR Ramasjang, Hello Monday)
- Warrior Cats: Ultimate Edition (Coolabi, Aldrich-Callen Studios)
Shortlisted entries in the Digital categories will be judged in a final round by Jenny Gioia (Sesame Workshop), Marc Goodchild (IpDipSkyBlue), Beth Goss (Outright Games), Sunil Gundaria (Age of Learning), David Hutchinson (WildBrain Spark), Fredrik Loving (Spin Master), Lydia Mossahebi (BBC Children’s), Susanna Pollack (Games for Change), James Rubin (Hellosaurus) and Christine Thompson (Dark Slope).
All winners will be announced and celebrated at a special awards ceremony at Kidscreen Summit 2023 in Miami on Tuesday, February 14. The show will be hosted by drag performers and child educators Fay Slift and Fluffy Soufflé, who are featured in WildBrain Television’s The
Fabulous Show with Fay and Fluffy. All registered Kidscreen Summit delegates are invited to attend the awards ceremony during the event.
Additional details about the Kidscreen Awards—including categories, eligibility, judging and entry process—can be found at awards.kidscreen.com