New York – South African directors Jac Hamman and Sarah Scrimgeour won the prestigious International Emmy for Kids: Animation at the 2024 awards for their work on Tabby McTat, which was adapted from the bestselling Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler picture book. The BBC Christmas special triumphed over contenders Mystery Lane, Sharkdog, and Wake Up, Carlo! to take home the award.
This marks the second consecutive iEmmy win for South African directors in this category, following last year’s victory for The Smeds and The Smoos, another Donaldson-Scheffler adaptation, directed by Daniel Snaddon and Samantha Cutler.
In a statement, Jac expressed his joy at the win, acknowledging how unlikely such achievements felt growing up in South Africa. “It feels great to win after all the hard work. We’re very proud of the team,” he said.
Though Jac and Sarah could not attend the ceremony in New York, they were thrilled with the recognition. Sarah explained, “Being on the other side of the world makes it difficult to attend such big events, but we’re hopeful that Tabby McTat will be on the awards circuit for a little longer.”
Now streaming on Showmax, Tabby McTat tells the story of a musical cat and her busker friend Fred, who is injured while chasing a thief, leaving his beloved cat alone on the streets of London. The charming tale explores themes of friendship, loss, and change.
Julia Donaldson, the author of the original book, shared that the story was particularly meaningful to her, combining her passions for singing and cats. “We both love cats — in fact, we’ve just acquired two new kittens named Tabitha and McTat,” she revealed.
For Sarah, a cat lover herself, Tabby McTat was a natural fit. “I adore cats, and this is a story about a musical cat. Honestly, how could I resist?” she said. Jac was drawn to the emotional depth of the story, which touches on relationships, personal growth, and the temporary nature of life’s connections.
The 25-minute animated special features BAFTA nominees Rob Brydon and Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísú as Fred and Tabby, with Jodie Whittaker serving as the narrator. Tabby McTat was one of the most-watched shows on Christmas Day 2023 in the UK, drawing over 8.6 million viewers.
Earlier this year, Tabby McTat also won the Animation: Preschool category at the BANFF World Media Festival and the Audience Award at the New York International Children’s Film Festival. It has since received further nominations for the Rose d’Or Award, Royal Television Society, and Venice TV Awards.
Produced by Magic Light Pictures, Tabby McTat is the 11th animated special based on Donaldson and Scheffler’s works, and it joins the ranks of The Gruffalo and iEmmy winners Zog and The Smeds and The Smoos on Showmax.
Jac and Sarah, who worked remotely from Cape Town, directed a team of over 80 people, mostly based in the UK. Tabby McTat marks their sixth BBC Christmas special, following the success of Superworm, which won Best One-Off, Special, or TV Movie at the 2023 Kidscreen Awards.
The South African influence extended beyond the directors. Art director Shannan Taylor, who moved to the UK for the project, played a key role in bringing Axel Scheffler’s illustrations to life. Sarah also acknowledged the contributions of fellow South African team members, including animators and lighting experts, highlighting the strong work ethic and talent within the South African animation industry.
Finally, Jac and Sarah are excited that their work is now available for their friends and family to watch on Showmax, after two years of hard work. Sarah reflected, “It’s fantastic to be able to finally share it with everyone we know.”
In addition to Tabby McTat, another title on Showmax, The Sixth Commandment, won Best Actor for Timothy Spall at the 2024 International Emmys.