Black animation creatives are set to be honored thanks to the work of Black Women Animate (BWA) Studios. The production is partnering with Cartoon Network to create the first-of-its-kind Black Animation Awards.
“The honoring of our stories and contributions to the world of animation is long overdue,” BWA Studios Founder and CEO Taylor K. Shaw said in an interview, adding, “[we] hope it inspires more Black creatives to create our own narratives.”
BWA Studios is a creative platform that creates original content while offering productive services “to the industry’s top studios and production companies,” according to the organization’s website. They are proudly “powered by Black female talent across the animation pipeline.”
The Nomination Committee selected seasoned leaders in the industry to be honored in the inaugural event. The honorees include: “Vanessa Morrison, President of Streaming at Walt Disney Studios; Bruce Smith, EP and Director at Disney Television Animation; Dr. Ayoka Chenzira, TV Director and Experimental Filmmaker,’ among others.
The awards show will be hosted by Grammy Award-winning singer Estelle, who voiced a character on the hugely popular animated series Steven Universe.
It will be virtually available on December 6 at 5 p.m. PST or 8 p.m. EST at BWA Studios’ website here.
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