Bristol-based animation production studio A Productions has been shortlisted in a national award scheme for its work on the first Sesame Street animated special for HBO Max.
Sesame Workshop’s The Monster at the End of This Story has been nominated in the Best Longform category in the British Animation Awards (BAAs), which celebrate the very best of the UK animation industry. 
The winners will be revealed at a ceremony at the BFI Southbank in London on March 12.
Founded in 1985, A Productions is a creative-led, multi-discipline animation production studio with a strong reputation for producing award-winning children’s content for broadcasters and streamers.
It has grown to a 150-strong team and is now based across two studios on Colston Street and in Old Market.
The Monster at the End of This Story, is based on Sesame Workshop’s all-time best-selling picture book The Monster at the End of This Book.
Directed by A Productions’ joint managing director and founder Mark Taylor, the programme, pictured, is the official special of iconic kids’ TV show Sesame Street’s 51st season, which is available on HBO Max and is coming soon to PBS.
A Productions joint managing director Katherine McQueen said: “We are thrilled to have been shortlisted for this award, which is testament to the passion, creativity and commitment of our wonderful team who created this show together with Sesame Workshop during the challenges of lockdown.”
The shortlisting is the latest in a string of international and national awards nominations for the firm, which last year expanded into a second studio.
Last month it formed a strategic partnership with French animation film maker and distributor Cyber Group Studios which will involve them collaborating on new content for a global audience.
As part of the deal, Cyber Group, which is best known for its award-winning Gigantosaurus series, has acquired a majority stake in A Productions.
A Productions’ recent output includes JoJo and Gran Gran – the first UK pre-school animation to centre around a Black British family – for CBeebies; Love Monster and The Tweenies, also for CBeebies; and Furry Friends forever: Elmo Gets a Puppy for Sesame Workshop.
It has also created content for Sony, Disney, Channel 4, CITV, CBBC and BBC Education.
