Magic Light Pictures’ animated film The Smeds and the Smoos won the award for Best Kids’ Animation at the 51st International Emmy Awards, presented at the gala ceremony Monday night in New York City. This is the fourth International Emmy for Magic Light Pictures, with previous wins for Room on the Broom, Revolting Rhymes and, most recently, Zog.
Based on the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, The Smeds and the Smoos was watched by nearly 8 million viewers on BBC One and has since been sold to 91 territories and will be shown by ZDF in Germany this Christmas. The story is set on a remote planet, where the red Smed family never mix with the blue Smoos. One day, a young Smed Janet befriends Bill, a young Smoo, and as they grow up they fall in love. Desperat to escape their feuding families, Janet and Bill sneak away to escape in a rocket. Realizing they’ve lost their children, Grandmother Smoo and Grandpa Smed are compelled to work together to try to find the young couple.
Collecting the award in New York, Martin Pope, Co-Founder & Joint CEO of Magic Light Pictures, said, “It’s a huge honor to have won a fourth International Emmy Award, which is a reflection of the brilliant work on The Smeds and the Smoos by our directors, cast and crew. Our commitment to delivering high quality films to children and families worldwide wouldn’t be possible without our wonderful broadcast partners around the world especially the BBC and ZDF, and we’re so grateful for their support.”
The Smeds and the Smoos was narrated by Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins and featured the voices of Adjoa Andoh, Bill Bailey, Daniel Ezra, Ashna Rabheru, Meera Syal and Rob Brydon. The film was directed by Daniel Snaddon and Samantha Cutler, screenplay by Julia Smuts Louw and produced by Martin Pope and Barney Goodland.
The U.K. production was nominated alongside Menino Maluquinho (The Nutty Boy) from Chatrone (Brazil), Moominvalley Season 3 from Gutsy Animations (Finland) and Rilakkuma’s Theme Park Adventure from dwarf studio and Field Management Expand (Japan).
See the full list of International Emmy Award winners at iemmys.tv.
