Behind the International Emmy win for Best Kids’ Animation, ‘The Smeds and the Smoos’ is a South African force of creativity!
New York City, USA (21 November 2023) — The 51st International Emmys brought together creatives and visions from around the world yesterday at a glittering gala in New York City. Among them were proud South African contenders, including the team who took home the iEmmy for Best Kids’ Animation!
‘The Smeds and the Smoos’ was up against stiff competition in animation, including Menino Maluquinho (Brazil), Moominvalley Season 3 (Finland) and Rilakkuma’s Them Park Adventure (Japan).
But ultimately, the United Kingdom’s Magic Light Pictures’ retelling of two warring alien families whose children fall in love and run away together across space, won the hearts of the judging panel.
Although the Smeds and the Smoos reflects a win for the UK, the vision behind the Best Kids’ Animation winner was largely South African.
It was co-directed by South Africans Daniel Snaddon and Samantha Cutler. Additionally, it was adapted for the animated version by South African Julia Smuts Louw, who made the children’s bestselling book by renowned writer Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler, come to life in a new way.
Daniel and Julia Smuts Louw are married with children, who also had a hand to play in the animation’s magic thanks to their little one Frank playing test audience for the early storyboards.
The animation has also welcomed several other awards: the NHK Japan Prize for Best Preschool Media, the Audience Award at the New York International Children’s Film Festival and the Rockie for Children’s Animation at BANFF.
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