South African filmmakers Jac Hamman and Sarah Scrimgeour won an International Emmy Award for their direction of Tabby McTat, an animated Christmas special. The 25-minute film claimed the Best Kids Animation award, beating out competitors from Brazil, France, and Singapore. Premiering on BBC One and BBC iPlayer last Christmas, the film garnered over 8.6 million viewers and is now streaming on Showmax. Hamman expressed pride in the achievement, acknowledging the hard work and dedication of the team, especially as it was directed remotely from Cape Town during the pandemic.
Hamman and Scrimgeour worked with a crew of over 80 people, many based in the U.K., though several South Africans, including art director Shannan Taylor and lighting lead Armand Filmalter, also contributed. Despite their success, the filmmakers were unable to attend the ceremony due to their busy schedules. Hamman shared in an interview that South African animators are increasingly in demand globally, highlighting the industry’s growth and recognition.
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The win for Tabby McTat follows the success of The Smeds and The Smoos in 2023, marking the second consecutive year a South African-directed film has won the International Emmy for Best Kids Animation. This victory adds to the growing recognition of African-led animation on the international stage, following other notable projects like Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire and Iwaju, which have showcased African creativity in global markets.