Cartoon Network’s first Australian content commissioned for global distribution, Monster Beach, has taken home the 2015 ASTRA Award for Most Outstanding Children’s Program.
Monster Beach’s world premiere took place in Australia last Halloween after which it aired across Asia including Taiwan and Philippines and was dubbed in local languages. Later this year, it will enter the European market.
The original movie was commissioned by Cartoon Network and created by Melbourne-based animation studio Bogan Entertainment Solutions (BES). Monster Beach follows two siblings who visit their uncle on a secluded island for the summer, only to find the island in danger and the locals are surf-crazed monsters.
“The success of Monster Beach is a result of a collaboration between Cartoon Network’s executive production team in Hong Kong and BES in Melbourne,” said Turner International Asia Pacific chief content officer-kids content Mark Eyers. “It is a great example of how an international network can partner with Australia’s top talent to create locally-produced content that can reach audiences across the world”.
The feature-length special features three-time Gold Logie Award-winner Rove McManus, who voices four characters: Mutt, King Knutt, Brain Freeze and Hodad. ARIA Award-winning comedy group Tripod supplied music, with all members lending their voices as the Tiki characters.
“Taking a project from the kitchen table through to international release has been an amazing experience. As has partnering with those whose belief in the concepts and the potential of Australian animation has been unswerving in its support,” said BES’ Patrick Crawley, Director of Monster Beach. “Working with Cartoon Network has meant we’ve had the opportunity link some of the best Australian writing, design and animation talent with their contemporaries from around the world to deliver an outstanding project.”
Also receiving an award was Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time (which is soon to be made into a feature film), which is now in its sixth season, also received a 2015 ASTRA Awards nomination for Most Outstanding Children’s Program.
This year’s awards were held at The Star in Pyrmont, Sydney on 12 March 2015.