On Saturday night, March 15, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences celebrated the creativity and excellence in children’s programming by announcing the winners of the 2025 Children’s and Family Emmy Awards at a prestigious ceremony held at Television City in Los Angeles. This event marked a significant occasion in the entertainment industry, showcasing the outstanding contributions made in children’s television over the past year.
The third annual Children’s and Family Emmy Awards, hosted by renowned Looney Tunes voice actor Eric Bauza, highlighted the best of the best in children’s entertainment. The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences emphasized that the awards represent the “pinnacle of creativity and innovation in children’s entertainment,” recognizing the vital role these programs play in shaping young minds and fostering imagination.
During the main ceremony, several beloved projects took center stage, with Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Velveteen Rabbit, Orion and the Dark, and Sesame Street each winning two prestigious awards. These accolades reflect the exceptional storytelling and artistic direction that resonates with both children and their families, showcasing the significance of quality content in the realm of children’s media.
Among the notable winners, Percy Jackson and the Olympians was awarded best young teen series and also received recognition for directing excellence for the episode titled “I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher,” which shared the directing honor with “The Big City” episode of A Real Bug’s Life. Additionally, The Velveteen Rabbit was honored as the best fiction special, with its star Phoenix Laroche winning the title of younger performer in a preschool, children’s, or young teen program. Orion and the Dark took home the award for best animated special, and Jacob Tremblay was recognized as the younger voice performer in a preschool, children’s, or young teen program. Furthermore, Elmo and Jesse Remember Uncle Jack from Sesame Workshop won best short form live-action program, while outstanding puppetry performer was awarded to Sesame Street’s Leslie Carrara-Rudolph.
Additional awards will be revealed during a separate creative arts ceremony, which promises to showcase even more exceptional talent and creativity within the industry.
Outside of the competitive categories, the evening also honored Fran Brill, a beloved performer and puppeteer known for her work on Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, who received the prestigious lifetime achievement award from The Muppets’ Dave Goelz. This recognition is a testament to her enduring impact on children’s television and the arts.
The evening also saw honors for outstanding individual achievement in animation, awarded to talented creators such as Philip Vose (background designer), Elena Najar (animation supervisor), and Guillaume Fesquet (art director) for their work on Merry Little Batman; Miho Tomimasu and Lauren Zurcher (visual development artists) for Orion and the Dark; Lesego Vorster (character designer) for Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire; and David Lux (storyboard artist) for Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin. These awards celebrate the incredible artistry and hard work of individuals who contribute to the animation industry.
For a complete list of winners from the 2025 Children’s and Family Emmy Awards, including future updates on additional categories announced in the creative arts ceremony, please refer to the source below. Billboard Family will provide ongoing coverage and updates to keep fans informed.
Best Preschool Series Winner
Blue’s Clues & You! (WINNER)
Nickelodeon
Donkey Hodie
PBS Kids
Lovely Little Farm
Apple TV+
Sesame Street
Max
Outstanding Children’s or Family Viewing Series
Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock (WINNER)
Apple TV+
La Fuerza de Creer: Dulce Sazón
Univision
Jane
Apple TV+
Malory Tower
BYUtv
Raven’s Home
Disney Channel
Award for Best Young Teen Series
Goosebumps
Disney+
Heartstopper
Netflix
One Piece
Netflix
Percy Jackson and the Olympians (WINNER)
Disney+
The Spiderwick Chronicles
Roku Channel
Best Fiction Special Recognition
Monster High 2
Nickelodeon
The Naughty Nine
Disney Channel
The Slumber Party
Disney Channel
The Velveteen Rabbit (WINNER)
Apple TV+
World’s Best
Disney+
Outstanding Non-Fiction Program
All-Round Champion
BYUtv
Elmo & Tango Holiday Helpers
Max
Kids Baking Championship
Food Network
A Real Bug’s Life
National Geographic
Stand Up & Shout: Songs From a Philly High School (WINNER)
HBO | Max
Best Preschool Animated Series Award
Frog and Toad
Apple TV+
Interrupting Chicken
Apple TV+
Rosie’s Rules
PBS Kids
StoryBots: Answer Time
Netflix
The Tiny Chef Show (WINNER)
Nickelodeon
Outstanding Children’s or Young Teen Animated Series
CURSES!
Apple TV+
Hilda
Netflix
Iwájú
Disney+
Kiff
Disney Channel
Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (WINNER)
Disney+
Summer Camp Island
Cartoon Network
Award for Best Animated Special
Merry Little Batman
Amazon Prime Video
Orion and the Dark (WINNER)
Netflix
Peter and the Wolf
Max
Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind Marcie
Apple TV+
The Tiger’s Apprentice
Paramount+
Tiny Chef’s Marvelous Mish Mesh Special
Nickelodeon
Outstanding Short Form Live-Action Program
Elmo and Jesse Remember Uncle Jack (WINNER)
Sesame Workshop
GIRLS’ VOICES NOW: The Beauty in Being Different
Girls’ Voices Now
Here TV
Healthy Minds Thriving Kids
Child Mind Institute
Kid Gloves
Kid Gloves Show
Best Short Form Animated Program
How Not to Draw
Disney Channel
I Am Groot
Disney+
Once Upon a Studio (WINNER)
Disney+
Take Care with Peanuts
Snoopy – Official Channel
The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse: Steamboat Silly
Disney+
Innovative Interactive Media Presented
Cousin Hodie Playdate
Donkey Hodie
PBS Kids
Cyberchase: Cyber Sound Quest
PBS Kids
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood
PBS Kids
Molly of Denali
PBS Kids
Stu’s Super Stunts!
PBS Kids
Lead Performer in a Preschool, Children’s or Young Teen Program
Lola Blue as Addie Darrow
A Kind of Spark
BYUtv
Ella Bright as Darrell Rivers
Malory Towers
BYUtv
Justin Long as Mr. Bratt
Goosebumps
Disney+
Raven-Symoné as Raven Baxter
Raven’s Home
Disney Channel
Christian Slater as Mulgarath (WINNER)
The Spiderwick Chronicles
Roku Channel
Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Preschool, Children’s or Young Teen Program
Adam Copeland as Ares
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Disney+
Amanda Lawrence as Matron Shipley (WINNER)
Malory Towers
BYUtv
Elizabeth Mitchell as Carol / Mrs. Claus
The Santa Clauses
Disney+
Sarah Rafferty as Katherine Walter
My Life with the Walter Boys
Netflix
Lance Reddick as Zeus
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Disney+
Eric Stonestreet as Magnus Antas / The Mad Santa
The Santa Clauses
Disney+
Recognition for Younger Performer in a Preschool, Children’s or Young Teen Program
Pyper Braun as Natasha Williams
Erin & Aaron
Nickelodeon
Noah Cottrell as Simon Grace
The Spiderwick Chronicles
Roku Channel
Mykal-Michelle Harris as Alice Baxter
Raven’s Home
Disney Channel
Alaya High as Lay Lay
That Girl Lay Lay
Nickelodeon
Leah Sava Jeffries as Annabeth Chase
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Disney+
Phoenix Laroche as William (WINNER)
The Velveteen Rabbit
Apple TV+
Acknowledgment of Puppetry Performer Excellence
Leslie Carrara-Rudolph as Abby Cadabby & Tango (WINNER)
Sesame Street
Max
Eric Jacobson as Bert, Oscar the Grouch & Grover
Sesame Street
Max
Donna Kimball as Mokey, Storyteller & Cotterpin
Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock
Apple TV+
Karen Prell as Red & Icy Joe
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