Beakus, Je Suis Bien Content, Watch Next Media & Bardaf! Productions for CBeebies
Big Lizard was a labour of love six years in the making for co-creators Amaël Isnard and Steve Smith, having pitched the show at Cartoon Forum in 2018.
Set on the planet Proxmia, the nearest planet to Earth outside of our solar system, where prehistoric life is just beginning. When intrepid astronauts, Cosima and her Dad, crash land on the planet, along with their ships supercomputer called D.O.R.I.S, 7-year-old Cosima gets to hang out with Big Lizard.
Together with other animal friends, including a giant millipede called Twig, Dunk the dunkleosteus, Ammon the ammonite and Rex the trilobite, they explore volcanoes, caves, deserts, swamps, forests and the world under the sea.
The show’s animation is created using Blender, then lit, textured and rendered in real time with Unity, creating beautiful tactile 3D images.
It is written by a diverse team of writers and the cast includes Josh Widdicome (Dad), Mandeep Gill (D.O.R.I.S). and seven-year-old Lois Sefton as Cosima, while Big Lizard and his animal friends are played by Dan Chambers.
Judges praise the way the show “combined fun adventures with education, exploring a range of scientific topics, as well as themes such as friendship and figuring out the world around you”.
The series has been sold into Australia, Estonia, Belgium, Switzerland and the Czech Republic by distributor Aardman.
SHORTLISTED
Dodge’s Pup School
Brilliant Trees Media for BBC iPlayer
This joyful scripted preschool comedy, set in a dogs training school, is performed entirely by puppets, with no visual effects or digital production. Everything on screen, including props, set pieces and characters are handcrafted. The show blends comedy with heartfelt storytelling to explore the emotional and imaginative journey of three-to-six-year-olds heading towards school.
Jaime’s Yoga Adventures
Zodiak Kids & Cosmic Kids for Sky Kids
This series, which blends live action and animation, sets out to reimagine what screen time can be for young children by turning it into active time.
Children are encouraged to breathe and move along with the story, and there are two versions of each episode – a daytime one to get children moving, and a soothing bedtime one to wind down to.
Mixmups
Mackinnon & Saunders for Channel 5 Milkshake!
This British-made blend of stop-motion, CGI and 2D animation follows the fun adventures of three friends; neat and tidy Pockets, creative and inventive Giggle, and boisterous and physical Spin. In each episode, they use a magical wooden spoon to transport themselves on adventures. Judges commended the show’s natural and authentic presentation of disability.
Mojo Swoptops
Blue Zoo for BBC
This show, based on a Ladybird book series, features a character who can swap its top in order to channel different moods and skills to solve problems – showing children than big emotions can be navigated. It encourages children to be overwhelmed by emotions, but to see them as different perspectives they can learn from, fostering an early understanding of emotional intelligence.
Tiddler
Magic Light Pictures for BBC
This adventurous and heart-warming animated film set under the sea explores the power of imagination, and how storytelling can be a crucial tool in building relationships, identity, and encouraging self-expression. The story follows a fish named Tiddler as he shares the tall tales of his oceanic adventures, and includes the voices Hannah Waddingham, Lolly Adefope and Rob Brydon.
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