Tabby McTat Busks its Way to an International Emmy Award
Skwigly
Tabby McTat (BBC/Magic Light Pictures)
Magic Light Pictures’ heart-warming animated film about a London busker and his faithful cat, Tabby McTat, has won the award for Best Kids Animation at the 52nd International Emmy® Awards held at a gala ceremony last night in New York City.
This is a fifth International Emmy® in the category for Magic Light Pictures – with previous wins for Room on the Broom, Revolting Rhymes, Zog and most recently The Smeds and the Smoos.
The latest in the multi-Oscar-nominated production company’s distinguished line of specials based on the books by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, Tabby McTat follows the adventures of a London busker, Fred, and his adorable singing cat Tabby, who have to find a way to come back together after they are unexpectedly separated on the mean streets of London.
The charming animation first launched on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day 2023, just prior to the King’s Speech, and reached an audience of 8.6 million viewers (BARB 28-day figure). It was the most-watched animated feature from UK broadcasters across the festive period.
Collecting the award in New York with Barney Goodland, Michael Rose, co-founder and Joint CEO of Magic Light Pictures said: “We are elated to have won a fifth International Emmy® Award for Tabby McTat, which is a tribute to the brilliant creative efforts of our directors, cast and crew, and the magnificent support of the BBC and ZDF. It’s a privilege to create high quality films for children and families globally and we’re grateful to all our broadcast partners around the world.”
Brought to life with beautiful CGI animation, Tabby McTat (1 x 25”) is narrated by former Dr Who Jodie Whittaker and features a stellar voice cast including Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísú, Cariad Lloyd, Joanna Scanlan, Susan Wokoma and Rob Brydon as Fred. The film was directed by Jac Hamman and Sarah Scrimgeour, adapted by Max Lang and Suzanne Lang and produced by Barney Goodland and Michael Rose. The music was composed by René Aubry, and the film was animated by Red Star Studio.