ADA TWIST, SCIENTIST wins EMMY - OUTSTANDING PRESCHOOL ANIMATED SERIES at Inaugural Children & Family Emmy Awards

The #ChildrensEmmys Award for Outstanding Preschool Animated Series goes to #adatwistscientist (@Netflix @NetflixFamily). pic.twitter.com/fuKJugGwsB

— The Emmys (@TheEmmys) December 12, 2022

By Mercedes Milligan

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) presented the first annual Children’s & Family Emmy Awards, across two ceremonies held Saturday, December 10 (Creative Arts) and Sunday, December 11 at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles. Animation was a major part of the new awards — the first standalone expansion of the Emmy Award competition since 1979.

Netflix Animation really threw its creative weight around in this inaugural competition, taking the top category prizes for animation as across kids’ series (City of Ghosts), preschool (Ada Twist, Scientist), special class (Hilda and the Mountain King) and short-form (We the People), in addition to multiple craft awards for Maya and the Three and Centaurworld.

OUTSTANDING PRESCHOOL ANIMATED SERIES — Ada Twist, Scientist (Netflix)
Executive Producers: Andrea Beaty, Mark Burton, Tonia Davis, Cathal Gaffney, Chris Nee, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Darragh O’Connell, David Roberts, Priya Swaminathan
Co-Executive Producer: Kerri Grant
Creative Producer: Alex Pitz
Supervising Producer: Gillian Higgins
Producers: Nayanshi Shaw, Peedee Shindell
Consulting Producer: Jean Herlihy

ADA TWIST, SCIENTIST featured in MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE

By Bruno Cooke

Ada Twist, Scientist graced the streets of New York with her presence for the second time at the 2022 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Her first outing was in 2021. That year, Michelle Obama was among those celebrating the young scientist’s attendance. She’s an executive producer on the show. 

Originating in 2016, Ada Twist, Scientist started out as a children’s picture book. But many will have heard of her for the first time from a TV series adaptation of the same name that came out in 2021.

The Ada Twist, Scientist balloon is 51ft (15.5m) tall, 41ft (12.5m) long and 29ft (nearly 9m) wide.

Behind Ada Twist’s giant inflatable ear is a giant inflatable pen. It’s the size of 27 regular pens, but the perfect size for a 51ft eight-year-old.

A Mexican marching band preceded the Ada Twist, Scientist balloon at this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. They played saxophones and sousaphones.

“Netflix brings us this bright star in the sky,” read the voiceover on the television coverage of the parade.

The TV adaptation of Ada Twist, Scientist “follows the adventures of eight-year-old Ada,” it continued, “who’s out to discover the truth about, well, everything!”

“With the help of her friends, Ada unravels and solves mysteries, putting her knowledge into action, making the world a better place.”

ADA TWIST, SCIENTIST nominated for Three Emmys in the first Children's & Family Emmy Awards

By Michael Schneider

Nominations have been announced for the first-ever Children’s & Family Emmys, which will include around 50 categories. Netflix led the pack with approximately 85 nominations across the board, while the combined mix of Disney+, Disney Channel and Disney Junior was next, with around 78 nods.

Some of this year’s races have moved over from the Daytime Emmys, which New York-based NATAS also oversees, while others are new, to reflect the full scope of youth-oriented fare (including shows like “Heartstopper” that might have previously competed for the Primetime Emmy race, which is administered by the Los Angeles-based Television Academy).

According to the National Academy of TV Arts and Sciences, which administers the Children’s & Family Emmys, the content represents the fastest-growing genre that NATAS awards, with a 23% increase in related programming the past two years. With more than 3,000 submissions, NATAS said that the competition is now the largest that it oversees — which also includes Daytime, Sports and News/Documentary Emmys.

“Putting a spotlight on children’s & family programming after years of unparalleled growth in content quality and quantity in this space is an exciting moment for the television industry,” said Adam Sharp, President and CEO, NATAS.  “These programs entertain, inform and educate family members of all ages, and NATAS is proud to mark this milestone event and give these creators the stage they deserve.”

The first annual Children’s & Family Emmy Awards will be presented on Saturday, December 10 (Creative Arts) and Sunday, December 11 at the Wilshire Ebell Theater in Los Angeles.

OUTSTANDING PRESCHOOL ANIMATED SERIES

Ada Twist, Scientist   (Netflix)

Molly of Denali  (PBS)

Octonauts: Above & Beyond   (Netflix)

Santiago of the Seas    (Nickelodeon)

Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum  (PBS)

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A PRESCHOOL ANIMATED PROGRAM

Ada Twist, Scientist   (Netflix)            

Alma’s Way (PBS)       

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood  (PBS)                 

Molly of Denali    (PBS)                                  

Muppet Babies  (Disney Junior)                                      

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A PRESCHOOL ANIMATED PROGRAM

Ada Twist, Scientist  (Netflix)                                     

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood   (PBS)                    

Go! Go! Cory Carson   (Netflix)      

Muppet Babies  (Disney Junior)                

Stillwater (Apple TV+)                    

Storybots: Learn to Read (Netflix)                 

'Ada Twist, Scientist' Nominated for BAFTA’s Children & Young People Awards 2022

By Sadhana Bharanidharan

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced this year’s nominations for its prestigious Children and Young People Awards.

The BBC continues to be the heavyweight contender, with 11 nominations for CBBC, 10 for CBeebies and four for BBC One. But Netflix has 10 nominations and is well positioned to compete this year. The streamer’s presence was especially strong in the feature film category, where three of its projects (Klaus, The Mitchells vs. the Machines and Over the Moon) made the cut.

Channel 4 and Channel 5 scored two nods each, with Sky Kids and Apple TV+ both racking up four. London-based Magic Light Pictures was shortlisted four times—the most by an indie prodco this year.

Magic Light’s CG-animated special The Snail and the Whale (based on the same-name book by Julia Donaldson) is tied with live-action series Dodger for the most nominations by a single project, with three nods each. Another page-to-screen special nominated in the animation category is Lupus Films’ The Tiger Who Came To Tea (pictured), based on Judith Kerr’s same-name short story.

The BAFTA awards ceremony will take place in London on November 27.

BAFTA’s Children & Young People Awards 2022—Nominations

Animation

Hilda (Hilda Productions Limited, A Silvergate Media Company, Netflix and Mercury Filmworks)
Robin Robin (Aardman Animations for Netflix)
The Snail and The Whale (Magic Light Pictures/BBC One)
The Tiger Who Came To Tea (Lupus Films/Channel 4)

Content For Change

Ada Twist, Scientist (Laughing Wild, Higher Ground Productions, Wonder Worldwide and Netflix)
El Deafo (Lighthouse Studios in association with Apple/Apple TV+)
Only A Child (Amka Films/YouTube)
Waffles + Mochi (Higher Ground Productions for Netflix)

Director

Steve Cox - Shaun The Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas (Aardman Animations For Netflix/BBC One)
Mic Graves - The Amazing World Of Gumball (Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe/Cartoon Network)
Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon - The Snail and The Whale (Magic Light Pictures/ BBC One)
Rhys Thomas - Dodger (Universal International Studios for BBC/CBBC)

Feature Film

Klaus (Netflix)
The Mitchells vs. The Machines (Netflix)
Over The Moon (Netflix)
Wolfwalkers (Cartoon Saloon, Melusine Productions in association with Apple/Apple TV+)

Game

Astro’s Playroom (Asobi Team/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (TT Games/Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment)
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Sackboy: A Big Adventure (Sumo Sheffield/Sony Interactive Entertainment)

International

Bluey (Ludo Studio/Disney Junior)
City Of Ghosts (A Netflix Original Series/Netflix)
Kiri And Lou (Stretchy And Yowza Animation/CBeebies)
Maya and The Three (A Netflix Series/Netflix)

Non-Scripted

Crackerjack! (BBC Studios Children’s & Family/CBBC)
Deadly 60 (BBC Studios Natural History Unit/CBBC)
FYI: Ukraine Invasion Special (Fresh Start Media/Sky Kids)
Gym Stars (Drummer TV for BBC/CBBC)

Performer

Justin Fletcher - Mr. Tumble’s Busy Bus Day (BBC Studios Kids & Family/CBeebies)
Chris O’Dowd - Here We Are: Notes For Living On Planet Earth (Studio AKA/Apple TV+)
Cathy Tyson - Jojo & Gran Gran (BBC Studios Kids & Family Productions/CBeebies)
Julie Walters - Terry Pratchett’s The Abominable Snow Baby (Eagle Eye Drama/Channel 4)

Pre-School – Animation

Circle Square (Wyndley Animation Ltd, Kavaleer Productions Ltd/Channel 5)
Hey Duggee (Studio AKA/CBeebies)
Pip And Posy (Magic Light Pictures, Channel 5/Sky Kids)
The Very Small Creatures (Aardman/Sky Kids)

Pre-School – Live Action

Andy’s Aquatic Adventures (BBC Studios Natural History Unit/CBeebies)
Grace’s Amazing Machines (BBC Studios Kids & Family/CBeebies)
Lovely Little Farm (Darrall Macqueen Ltd/Apple TV+)
Something Special (BBC Studios Kids & Family/CBeebies)

Presenter

Braydon Bent – FYI Investigates: Brazil – Children Caught In The Crossfire (Fresh Start Media/Sky Kids)
Yolanda Brown – YolanDa’s Band Jam (BBC Studios Kids & Family/CBeebies)
George Webster – CBeebies Presentation (BBC/CBeebies)
Hamza Yassin – Let’s Go For A Walk (Hello Halo Kids Ltd for BBC/CBeebies)

Scripted

Dodger (Universal International Studios/CBBC)
Jamie Johnson (Short Form Film Ltd/CBBC)
My Mum Tracy Beaker (BBC Studios Kids And Family/CBBC)
Silverpoint (Zodiak Kids & Family Productions UK/CBBC)

Writer

Max Lang, Suzanne Lang - The Snail and The Whale (Magic Light Pictures/BBC One)
Joe Markham, Mic Graves, Tony Hull - The Amazing World Of Gumball (Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe/Cartoon Network)
Lucy Montgomery, Rhys Thomas - Dodger (Universal International Studios For BBC/CBBC)
Lee Walters - Silverpoint (Zodiak Kids & Family Productions UK/CBBC)

Young Performer

Bobby Beynon - The Adventures Of Paddington (Blue Zoo Animation, Nick Jr, Studio Canal, Heyday Films, Superprod/Nick Jr)
Ella Bright - Malory Towers (King Bert Productions/BBC iPlayer)
Keaton Edmund - Jamie Johnson (Short Form Film Ltd/CBBC)
Taiya Samuel - Jojo & Gran Gran (BBC Studios Kids & Family Productions/CBeebies)

Peyton List Cast in 'B-Loved' Supernatural Teen Romance

By Matt Villei

May 12, 2022

HBO Max has greenlit an all-new two-part supernatural romance special that is currently going by the working title B-Loved with Peyton List (Cobra Kai) in the starring role. The two-part event is set to release on HBO Max on Valentine's Day 2023.

B-Loved is written by Black List Nicholl Fellowship winner, Cesar Vitale and will be directed by Emily Ting (Tall Girl 2). The story of the two-part special follows a free-spirited teenage ghost named Bea, played by List. When a boy named Cole moves to town and into the house that Bea has been inhabiting for the last 100 years, the two form a special bond thanks to a magical ring that allows Cole to see Bea. Together, they will discover what it means to be alive again as well as what it means to let go. “I’ve played a lot of amazing characters and really grown with them over the years,” said List. “I’m looking forward to adding clever ghost girl from the 1920s. Even though she is from a different century, I think the feeling of having your first crush transcends time, and I hope the story of Cole and Bea resonates today.”

Amy Friedman, head of Kids & Family Programming at Warner Bros., also provided a statement about the upcoming special, saying, “Peyton List and Emily Ting are the dream duo for this special. They both bring humor, boldness, and humanity to the teenager experience. Partnering with Tamara Rothenberg and Endeavor Content, along with Wonder Worldwide, on this project creates the perfect opportunity for us to speak to and serve a more inclusive girl audience.”

The special is executive produced by Mark Burton, Aaron Parry, Tracy K. Price, William Andrew, Ryan Malachowsky, and Jill Sanford. The special is being produced by Endeavor Content and Wonder Worldwide. “The amazingly talented Peyton List and Emily Ting bring this romantic, emotional story to life in so many empowering and inclusive ways,” said Tamara Rothenberg, Senio Vice President of Family and Young Adult content at Endeavor Content. “We are excited to collaborate with Amy Friedman and the fabulous HBO Max team, whose passion, enthusiasm, and shared commitment to our vision confirmed that this was the right home for B-Loved. Along with Mark Burton and our Wonder Worldwide partners, we can’t wait for families to enjoy this innovative and uplifting special event together.” Mark Burton, CEO of Wonder Worldwide, also provided a statement, saying:

Beyond developing this charmed screenplay with the talented Cesar Vitale, we are thrilled that Peyton List, along with our incredible director Emily Ting, will bring this magical special event to life. Amy Friedman and her thoughtful, engaged, and committed teams' alignment with our vision, made it clear that HBO Max was the only home for 'B-Loved!' Together with Tamara Rothenberg and our good friends and partners at Endeavor Content, we are excited for families to enjoy this Valentine's Day treat together!

B-Loved will arrive on HBO Max on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2023. You can read the synopsis of the special down below.

In 'B-Loved', Bea is an adventurous, funny, curious teenager who also happens to be a ghost from the 1920s trapped in present day. Though she might find herself getting into precarious situations at times, she loves to explore unknown places. Bea gives her heart passionately to the things she loves, and with the help of new friend Cole, she starts to experience the world again.