We have some high-flying news! 

The Television Critics Association (TCA) has announced the nominees for the 39th annual TCA Awards, honoring outstanding achievements in television and enduring contributions to the medium’s heritage. We are delighted to share that not one but THREE of our animated series including Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood (PBS KIDS), Eva the Owlet (Apple TV+), and Ridley Jones (Netflix) are all nominated in the newly announced, Outstanding Achievement in Children’s Programming category, alongside Alma’s Way (PBS KIDS), Bluey (Disney+), Donkey Hodie (PBS KIDS), Molly of Denali (PBS KIDS), Sesame Street (HBO/Max), and Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures (Disney Junior/Disney+).

The Outstanding Achievement In Children’s Programming category recognizes shows catering to children seven years old and under. The TCA created both this category along with the new addition of Outstanding Achievement In Family Programming, which recognizes shows created for youths from seven years old and up, to replace and split the previous year’s Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming category. 

“The 2023 nominees for the TCA Awards boast an eclectic lineup from across the entertainment spectrum. This season truly had something for everyone — from innovative comedies and gripping dramas, to immersive documentaries and refreshingly cerebral storytelling set in a galaxy far, far away. I am eager to see which stars and series our members have chosen to honor when the winners are revealed.”

— Melanie McFarland, TCA President and TV Critic for Salon.com.

This marks Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood 8th nomination at the TCA Awards, the series also won in the Youth Category in 2016. Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is an Emmy-winning animated preschool program that models age-appropriate social-emotional strategies and practical life skills for young children. The first TV series inspired by the iconic Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood stars 4-year-old Daniel Tiger, who invites young viewers into his world, giving them a kid’s-eye view of his life.

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is co-produced and distributed by Fred Rogers Productions and our parent company 9 Story Media Group. The series is created with Angela Santomero (Blue’s Clues, Super WHY!) and animated out of Brown Bag Films’ Toronto studio.

Watch all six seasons of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood on PBS KIDS, and catch Daniel Tiger in over 180 countries around the world.

We are also incredibly thrilled to see our charming new animated kids and family original series for Apple TV+, Eva the Owlet, as a first-time nominee at this year’s TCA Awards, a wonderful testament to the show’s inspiring stories and high caliber production. 

Eva the Owlet stars Eva, a creative, cheeky owlet who lives next door to her best friend Lucy in the woodland world of Treetopington. With big ideas and an even bigger personality, Eva goes on high-flying adventures, expressing herself in her journal along the way! 

Produced by Scholastic Entertainment with production services and animation by Brown Bag Films' Dublin studio, Eva the Owlet also features original songs by critically acclaimed musician and singer-songwriter Fitz of Fitz and the Tantrums. With a fantastic voice cast to boot, which includes Vivienne Rutherford (Eureka!) as the titular character Eva, Jessica DiCicco (The Loud House, Puppy Dog Pals) as Eva's mom, Dino Andrade (Ba Da Bean) as Eva's dad, as well as Sascha Yurchak, Jon Olson, Evie Hsu, Sarah Vattano, Pressly James Crosby, and Kenna Ramsey.

The series is based on the New York Times best-selling Scholastic book series “Owl Diaries” by award-winning author Rebecca Elliott, since first being published the series now has eight foreign language translations and three million copies in print!

Watch the first season of Eva the Owlet now streaming on AppleTV+.

Finally, this is the second year in a row that our intrepid adventurer Ridley Jones has swooped in to scoop up a TCA Award nomination. Preschool series Ridley Jones follows six-year-old Ridley who, alongside her mother and grandmother, is a protector of the museum she calls home. Keeping the exhibits safe takes a real hero, especially when the lights go out and the exhibits — from Egyptian mummies to stampeding elephants — come to life!

The series launched its 5th season on Netflix in March this year, boasting more daring missions and epic adventures including time travelling both to the past and future, heading out on dino-tastic rescues involving rascally raptors, and swashbuckling on the open seas!

From acclaimed creator Chris Nee (Doc McStuffins) and Laughing Wild, Ridley Jones is animated by Brown Bag Films' Dublin and Bali studios for Netflix and features the voice talents of Jane Lynch, Sutton Foster, Andrew Rannells, Iara Nemirovsky, Laraine Newman, David Errigo Jr., Tyler Shamy, Ezra Menas, and Ashlyn Madden.

Catch all 5 seasons of Ridley Jones currently streaming on Netflix.

A HUGE congratulations to our entire Daniel Tiger, Eva the Owlet and Ridley Jones teams and to our partners at PBS KIDS, Fred Rogers Productions, Netflix, Chris Nee (Laughing Wild), Apple TV+ and Scholastic! We're so proud of the incredible work on both these shows and honoured to see them amongst the talented nominees.

The 2023 TCA Awards celebrate the best of the best from the 2022-2023 TV season, putting the spotlight on exceptional performances, series, creators, and stars spanning across all genres and platforms. The TCA is comprised of more than 200 professional journalists from the US and Canada, each covering television. TCA members made their nominations based on programming available on broadcast, cable and streaming outlets.

Winners are scheduled to be announced on Monday, August 7.

For the full nominee list, please visit: TCA Awards 2023 Nominees and for additional information about the TCA, visit www.tvcritics.org.