South African scoops Emmy for Best Kids Animation

Who says South Africans aren’t up there with the best of them?

Zog, the keenest, clumsiest pupil at Dragon School has captured hearts across the world, scooping the International Emmy for Best Kids Animation.

The 27-minute short film co-directed by South African Daniel Snaddon of Stick Man fame, and two-time Oscar nominee Max Lang (The Gruffalo and Room on The Broom), proves once again that South Africa’s got talent. And lots of it.

Watch the nominated clips & acceptance speech from International Emmy Winner for Kids Animation! https://t.co/LvQoUojKJm
Congratulations to “Zog” produced by @MagicLightPics! #iemmyKIDS pic.twitter.com/GuVNZ6hoka
— International Emmy Awards (@iemmys) April 1, 2020

The film was animated in Cape Town by Triggerfish and produced by Magic Light Pictures.

Keenest but clumsiest pupil in Dragon school

Zog tells the story of the keenest, clumsiest pupil in his class who dreams of winning a gold star as he learns how to fly, roar and breathe fire. He keeps meeting a young girl who patches up his bumps and bruises, but can she help him with his trickiest school assignment yet: capturing a princess?

The film is based on Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s 2010 picture book, which sold over 1.5 million copies and won the Galaxy National Children’s Book of the Year Award in the UK. It premiered at the Cape Town International Animation Festival in South Africa in March 2019 in South Africa and then on Showmax in August that year.

The inspiring family short film is one in a string of acclaimed BBC Christmas adaptations produced by London-based Magic Light Pictures and the fourth animated at Triggerfish.

Also read: Charming children’s tale brought to life by Cape Town animation studio

Good news at a challenging time

Zog has already garnered the Children’s Programme Award from the Royal Television Society; Best Animation at the Shanghai International TV Festival; and the Audience Award for ages 3-6 at the New York International Children’s Film Festival. It was also nominated for a Kidscreen Award for Best One-off, Special or TV Movie; and Best Special Production and Best Storyboarding at the Annie Awards in 2020.

“[The Emmy] is some very welcome good news at a challenging time,” says Triggerfish CEO, Stuart Forrest.

“The crew poured their heart and soul into bringing to life a character that we all came to love, and to get one of the top TV prizes in the world is wonderful recognition for an incredible team.”
Stuart Forrest

Despite the lockdown in South Africa, Triggerfish are in production with their third feature film, Seal Team, and a Netflix Original series, Mama K’s Team 4. The company is working remotely.

Interested in a career in animation? Go to Triggerfish’s free digital learning platform, supported by the Goethe-Institut, the German Federal Ministry of Economic Co-operation and Development, and The Walt Disney Company.

Woohoo! Congrats to @MagicLightPics, directors @DanielSnaddon & Max Lang, and to the whole team at Triggerfish. https://t.co/6R77bXiqSe
— Triggerfish (@Triggerfish) March 31, 2020