The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) presented the fourth annual Children’s & Family Emmy Awards during a ceremony at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall in New York on Monday night. The event recognized exceptional creativity and production in children's and family programming.
Leading individual winners included Joe Locke for best lead performer in Heartstopper, John Lithgow for voice performance in Spellbound, Ana Gasteyer for voice performance in RoboGobo, and Tabitha Brown for best children’s personality for Tab Time, which also earned an award for writing.
The Walt Disney Company achieved the highest number of honors, securing 22 awards across its various content brands and studios.
NATAS president and CEO Adam Sharp addressed attendees, acknowledging the extraordinary dedication involved in serving young audiences and their families. He emphasized the role of creators in touching the global family's soul, educating, informing, entertaining, and inspiring amid societal divisions.
The ceremony was hosted by actor John Tartaglia and featured an opening performance of “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” by singer Regina Spektor. This year marked the first time all Children’s & Family Emmy Awards in every competitive category were presented on a single night.
Key Winners
Series Awards
- Outstanding Preschool, Children’s or Family Viewing Series: Sesame Street (HBO Max)
- Outstanding Young Teen Series: Star Wars: Skeleton Crew (Disney+)
- Outstanding Informational Program: A Real Bug’s Life (National Geographic)
- Outstanding Preschool Animated Series: The Tiny Chef Show (Nickelodeon)
- Outstanding Children’s or Young Teen Animated Series: Win or Lose (Disney+)
- Outstanding Animated Special: Ultraman: Rising (Netflix)
- Outstanding Fiction Special: Descendants: The Rise of Red (Disney+)
Performer Awards
- Outstanding Lead Performer in a Preschool, Children’s or Young Teen Program: Joe Locke as Charlie Spring, Heartstopper (Netflix)
- Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Preschool, Children’s or Young Teen Program: Nonso Anozie as Tommy Jepperd, Sweet Tooth (Netflix)
- Outstanding Younger Performer in a Preschool, Children’s or Young Teen Program: Christian Convery as Gus, Sweet Tooth (Netflix)
- Outstanding Puppetry Performer: Leslie Carrara-Rudolph as Abby Cadabby & Tango, Sesame Street (HBO Max)
- Outstanding Voice Performer in a Preschool Program: Ana Gasteyer as Crabitha, RoboGobo (Disney+ / Disney Jr.)
- Outstanding Single Role Voice Performer in a Children’s or Young Teen Program: John Lithgow as Bolinar, Spellbound (Netflix)
- Outstanding Multiple Role Voice Performer in a Children’s or Young Teen Program: David Errigo Jr. as Hamton J. Pig & Plucky Duck, Tiny Toons Looniversity (HBO / Max)
- Outstanding Younger Voice Performer in a Preschool, Children’s or Young Teen Program: Christopher Sean Cooper Jr. as Tate, Wonder Pets: In the City (Apple TV+)
- Outstanding Children’s Personality: Tabitha Brown, Tab Time (Tab Time YouTube Channel)
Writing and Directing
- Outstanding Writing for a Preschool or Children’s Series: “When We Lose Someone,” Tab Time (Tab Time YouTube Channel)
- Outstanding Writing for a Young Teen Series: “Journey,” Heartstopper (Netflix)
- Outstanding Writing for a Preschool Animated Series: “The Fall,” Carl the Collector (PBS Kids)
- Outstanding Writing for a Children’s or Young Teen Animated Series: “Pickle,” Win or Lose (Disney+)
- Outstanding Directing for a Live Action Series: “A Trip to the Moon,” Sesame Street (HBO Max)
- Outstanding Directing for a Preschool Animated Series: “Tiny Chef’s Spooky Stump Spectacular,” The Tiny Chef Show (Nickelodeon)
- Outstanding Directing for an Animated Series: “Home,” Win or Lose (Disney+)
- Outstanding Voice Directing for an Animated Series: “If This Be My Destiny…,” Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (Disney+)
Other Notable Production Awards
- Outstanding Music Direction and Composition for a Live Action Program: “Open Your Mind a Little,” Secrets at Red Rocks (BYUtv)
- Outstanding Music Direction and Composition for an Animated Program: “Heart,” WondLa (Apple TV+)
- Outstanding Cinematography and Technical Arts for a Single Camera Live Action Program: “The Road Ends Here,” Sweet Tooth (Netflix)
- Outstanding Editing for a Preschool or Children’s Live Action Program: “Love in the Forest,” A Real Bug’s Life (National Geographic)
- Outstanding Editing for a Young Teen Live Action Program: “The Real Good Guys,” Star Wars: Skeleton Crew (Disney+)
- Outstanding Editing for a Preschool Animated Program: “Tiny Chef’s Spooky Stump Spectacular,” The Tiny Chef Show (Nickelodeon)
- Outstanding Editing for an Animated Program: “Mixed Signals,” Win or Lose (Disney+)
- Outstanding Sound Mixing and Sound Editing for a Live Action Program: “You Have A Lot To Learn About Pirates,” Star Wars: Skeleton Crew (Disney+)
- Outstanding Sound Mixing and Sound Editing for a Preschool Animated Program: “The Battle of Tenoo,” Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures (Disney+)
- Outstanding Sound Mixing and Sound Editing for an Animated Program: Ultraman: Rising (Netflix)
- Outstanding Art Direction / Set Decoration / Scenic Design: Descendants: The Rise of Red (Disney Branded Television)
- Outstanding Costume Design / Styling: “Joy,” Dandyland (TELUS STORYHIVE YouTube Channel)
- Outstanding Hairstyling and Makeup: Descendants: The Rise of Red (Disney Branded Television)
- Outstanding Original Song for a Preschool Program: “Grow Your World,” Rise Up, Sing Out (Disney+ / Disney Jr.)
- Outstanding Original Song for a Children’s or Young Teen Program: “Red Christmas,” Descendants: The Rise of Red (Disney+)
- Outstanding Show Open: Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld (Netflix)
- Outstanding Visual Effects for a Live Action Program: Star Wars: Skeleton Crew (Disney+)
- Outstanding Casting for a Live Action Program: The Primrose Railway Children (BYUtv)
- Outstanding Casting for an Animated Program: Dream Productions (Disney+)
- Outstanding Choreography: Descendants: The Rise of Red (Disney Branded Television)