The 2022 Kidscreen Hot50 has been announced, and we are thrilled to share that Brown Bag Films and 9 Story Media Group have been voted NUMBER ONE in Production for the second year in a row!

Now in its ninth year, the Hot50 rankings are determined by an industry vote that Kidscreen’s 16,500-plus print and digital subscribers are invited to take part in. We’re proud to be placed among such high-performing companies and to celebrate the superb work that our teams have produced this past year. Cathal Gaffney (9 Story COO and Brown Bag Films’ Managing Director) had this to say:

“It means a tremendous amount for all of our staff to be acknowledged in this way. Most awards ceremonies recognize individual productions, but the Kidscreen Hot50 honours studios as a whole. This acknowledges talent in every department from HR, Finance and Tech alongside our Directors, Producers and Animators. A Studio award voted by our peers, and not a jury is truly very special.”

2022 has been a year of innovation and exploration for both Brown Bag Films and our 9 Story family. This year, 9 Story's new live-action division delivered Hello Jack! The Kindness Show, a hybrid live-action show featuring animation from our Brown Bag Toronto studio, to Apple TV+, and are now producing an adaptation of the book A Kind of Spark for CBBC. Our studios have continued their dedication to diversity and inclusivity, with 9 Story hiring our first ever Chief Inclusion Officer, Farrell Hall, and we have also made strides towards our pledge to be carbon-neutral by 2025.

This year, we are proud to say, also marks a back-to-back win in this category for 9 Story and Brown Bag Films!

Cathal Gaffney (9 Story COO and Brown Bag Films’ Managing Director) said this about our 2022 ranking in Production:

“Every year brings challenges and changes that help us constantly evolve. This year, we produced our first live-action show, and we are well on the road to becoming a carbon-neutral studio. Our teams work hard to foster an environment where career progression can thrive, and having the opportunity to see our people create, develop, and direct their own shows is always exciting. Ultimately, it’s about enjoying the process of producing quality shows – we love animation, and having a great culture is the heart of it all.”

See the full list of Kidscreen Hot50 Production honorees below:

1. 9 Story Media Group/Brown Bag Films
2. Aardman
3. DreamWorks Animation
4. Daily Madness Productions
5. Blue Zoo Animation Studio
6. Sinking Ship Entertainment
7. Atomic Cartoons
8. Ludu Studio
9. Fred Rogers Productions
10. Pipeline Studios

Our PHENOMENAL first place accredation in Production isn't the only fantastic news to share. Three additional shoutouts go to our 9 Story family who placed #1 in Distribution, #5 in Licensing, and #5 in Digital Media!

Check out the full Distribution, Licensing, and Digital Media honoree lists below:

Distribution

1. 9 Story Distribution International
2. WildBrain
3. Jetpack Distribution
4. Aardman
5. Hasbro/eOne
6. Sesame Workshop
7. BBC Studios
8. CAKE Entertainment
9. Boat Rocker Media
10. Sinking Ship Entertainment

Licensing

1. WildBrain
2. The LEGO Group
3. The Pokemon Company International
4. Spin Master
5. 9 Story Brands
6. Funko
7. Aardman
8. Sesame Workshop
9. Mattel
10. Jazwares

Digital Media

1. Sesame Workshop
2. PBS KIDS
3. Moonbug Entertainment
4. WildBrain Spark
5. 9 Story Media Group
6. LEGO Creative Play Lab
7. Aardman
8. Headspinner Productions
9. Cartoon Network
10. Spin Master

To see the full list of Kidscreen honorees, visit kidscreen.com and check out the Kidscreen Hot50 special digital issue.

The number-one ranked companies will be honored at the 2023 Kidscreen Awards ceremony taking place during Kidscreen Summit in Miami on Tuesday, February 14.

A huge thank you again to our extraordinary crews at 9 Story and Brown Bag Films, without whom opportunities like these would not exist. It’s truly incredible to see what we can achieve together!

And finally, an enormous congratulations to all the 2022 Kidscreen Hot50 honorees!