Bristol independent animation studio A Productions has scooped a national TV industry award for an iconic series that has broken new ground in pre-school programming.
JoJo and Gran Gran: It’s Time to Go to the Hairdresser’s, pictured, won the Best Pre-School Programme category at the Broadcast Awards, which celebrate the best in British TV programming.
The first UK pre-school animation to centre on a black British family, it was created in-house for the BBC’s CBeebies children’s channel in collaboration with A Productions and based on the books by Laura Henry.
A Productions undertook extensive research and interviews in Bristol, creating a panel made up of a range of voices from local communities that worked closely with the JoJo and Gran Gran creative team.
A Productions, which has a 150-strong team in Old Market, is an internationally recognised, creative-led, multi-discipline animation production studio with a strong track record for producing award-winning children’s content for broadcast.
It specialises in traditional and digital 2D stop frame, CGI, AFX, Flash and live action, both in studio and on location.
Its output spans TV, including the BBC’s iconic pre-school series Tweenies and history programmes for BBC Bitesize, corporate work for clients such as Bloomberg and Bristol Waste, and design.
Joint managing director Katherine McQueen said: “This fantastic recognition is testament to the entire team who have thrown their hearts and souls into this important show.
“For us, it was crucial that JoJo and Gran Gran had an authentic voice and truly told the stories and experiences of the communities and characters it portrayed.
“We hope this series will help to pave the way for better representation in pre-school programming and beyond in the future.”
The Broadcast Awards recognise the UK’s most ground-breaking content, creators and channels. The winners were announced at a virtual awards show hosted by TV presenter Claudia Winkleman.
Fellow Bristol television production company Drummer TV was also successful in the awards, winnning the Best Children’s Programme category for I Want to Change the World, pictured.
Produced for the British Sign Language Broadcasting Trust (BSLBT), which commissions television programmes made in British Sign Language by deaf people for deaf people, it follows Daniel, a deaf teenager who wants to make the world a better place with the introduction of a BSL GCSE and more.
The accolade is the programme’s fourth following success in the Royal Television West Awards, Seattle Deaf Film Festival and Deaf Rochester Film Festival.
JoJo and Gran Gran production image copyright BBC Children’s Productions Ltd
