On Saturday at Lille’s second European Animation Awards, Denmark dominated the TV category with four wins for The Heroic Quest of a Valiant Prince and one for Vitello.

The 10x3’ TV series The Heroic Quest of a Valiant Prince directed by Christian Bøving-Andersen and Eva Lee Wallberg won Best Direction in the TV/broadcast competition, as well as Best Storyboard (Kenneth Ladekjær, Eva Lee Wallberg), Best Character Animation (Tina Lykke Thorn, Henrik Sønniksen, Mikkel Vedel, Eva Lee Walberg) and Best Background & Character Design (Mikkel Sommer, Birk von Brockdorff).

The series was produced by Turner’s Cartoon Network EMEA (who had previously collaborated with Bøvin-Andersen and Wallberg on their previous hit series The Amazing World of Gumball), in partnership with Denmark’s Sun Creature Studio and the Danish Film Institute’s Public Service Fund. The comical take on Sir Walter Scott’s historical novel Ivanhoe was broadcast on Cartoon Network Nordic on November 20, 2017.

Another major win for Denmark was the Best Writing Award in a TV/Broadcast Production category, handed out to the establish Kim Fupz Aakeson and Ida Mule Scott for the 7-minute episode Vitello Gets a Yucky Girlfriend, part of the 13-part TV series Vitello directed by Dorte Bengtson. The series was produced by Ja Film, in collaboration with SellOut Pictures and Zentropa, with support from Nordisk Film & TV Fond among others. A feature film version was released in Danish cinemas early February, attracting more than 33,000 people.

Elsewhere Magnus Igland Møller won Best Achievement in a Commissioned Film for A Most Precise and Nuanced Look into the Life of the Man, Legend and Visionary-Martin Luther produced by Tumblehead. Another Danish film was running in the same category, Lystfiskeren by Sara Aunbirk (The Open Workshop).

Other Nordic shows that were competing in the Feature Film category were:

  • Gordon & Paddy (SE), nominated for Best Writing and Best Storyboard
  • The Incredible Story of the Giant Pear (DK), nominated for Best Character Design and Sountrack 
  • The Tower (NO), nominated for Best Sound Design.

Gordon & Paddy and The Incredible Story of a Giant Pear were supported by Nordisk Film & TV Fond.