ACTF News

The animated adaptation of Shan Tan’s Tales from Outer Suburbia has been recognised for its excellence with two major international accolades in as many days.

The series, from Highly Spirited and Flying Bark Productions, won the prestigious Gold Trophy for Animation at the Venice TV Awards – an international competition recognising excellence in global television held annually in Italy, two weeks after the Venice Film Festival.

It also won the Special Prize at the NHK Japan Prize, which honours an exceptional production that stands out across all categories for fulfilling the educational and cultural goals of the Japan Prize, which include fostering international understanding, empathy, and learning.

Tales from Outer Suburbia has experienced tremendous success on the international awards circuit since premiering earlier this year on the ABC in Australia and BYUtv in the US.

The series has been named the Australian National Winner for Best Animation at the Asian Academy Creative Awards. It now advances to represent Australia at the international grand awards competition in Singapore this December.

It also won the Kids Jury Prize for Best Animated Series at the International Animation Festival ANIMATOR in Poland.

The kids' jury said: "We decided to give the award to Tales from Outer Suburbia because it's a really well-made animation, it stirs a lot of emotions, it's adventurous, we liked it the most, it's about the power of friendship and overcoming conflicts, Eric is a beautiful Creature, it's about nature, and that's it."

ACTF CEO Jenny Buckland said: “Tales from Outer Suburbia is a truly special series – a unique, moving and visually spectacular animation which invites young audiences to see the extraordinary in the everyday. While its look and feel has elements that are uniquely Australian, the themes of loss, love, resilience and adapting to change are universal, and it’s clear that this beautiful story is resonating with audiences all over the world.”

Tales from Outer Suburbia is streaming on ABC iview in Australia and BYUtv in the USA.

Tales from Outer Suburbia is a Highly Spirited and Flying Bark Productions production for the ABC and BYUtv. Major production investment from Screen Australia and the Australian Children’s Television Foundation in association with the ABC and BYUtv. Produced in New South Wales and Western Australia with Siamese and financed with support from Screenwest. International sales by the Australian Children’s Television Foundation. Adapted from Shaun Tan's multi-award-winning book Tales from Outer Suburbia. Directed by Noel Cleary. Creative Director: Shaun Tan. Producers: Sophie Byrne and Alexia Gates-Foale. Co-producer: Francesca Hope. Executive Producers: Barbara Stephen, Bernadette O’Mahony, Andra Johnson Duke, Francesca Hope, Jeff Simpson, Julia Adams, Karen Vermeulen, Libbie Doherty.