For this first time in its history, Cartoon Network was honored by the prestigious “Cartoons on the Bay, International Festival on Television Animation” with three top awards, including “Best Series for All Audiences.” The awards were distributed Sunday night, May 1. Full press release here:

Cartoon Network Wins Three Pulcinella Awards
at 9th Annual Cartoons on the Bay Animation Festival

Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends Takes Top Prize for “Best Series for All Audiences”

Cartoon Network received three Pulcinella Awards at the ninth annual Cartoons on the Bay, International Festival on Television Animation, including the top prize for “Best Series for All Audiences,” awarded to animator Craig McCracken’s (The Powerpuff Girls) newest production, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends. Additionally, Cartoon Network’s and Telemagination’s U.K. co-production The Cramp Twins Series 2 was honored as “Best Series for Children,” while Bloo (Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends) walked away as “Best Animation Character of the Year.” The “Best Series for Preschool” (and “Best European Program”) also went to Peppa Pig, a UK production soon to premiere in the U.S. as part of Cartoon Network’s Tickle U block targeted to kids 2-5 launching on August 22, 2005.

This marked the first time that Cartoon Network original programming was honored at Cartoons on the Bay, held April 27-May 1 in Positano, Italy. Forty different productions were submitted for review to a blue ribbon international jury that included Mussi Bollini, head of Children Programmes, Rai Tre, Italy; Heather Kenyon, director of original animation development, Cartoon Network, USA; Meredith Metz, senior vice president of creative affairs, Walt Disney TV Animation, USA; Raoul Servais, author, Belgium; and Iréne Wellershoff, head of preschool programmes, ZDF, Germany. The Pulcinella Awards were distributed Sunday, May 1, at an evening reception.

Among its accolades, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends was cited by the international jury “for the imaginative setting and world filled with unusual and humorous characters and the well-told, entertaining story.” Bloo was awarded for being “pure animation…he succeeds as the ultimate in simplicity, a simple and yet expressive character who may be small, but is personality.” The Cramp Twins Series 2 was noted “for its unusual, unconventional character design and interesting series concept, which is a funny depiction of real life.” And Peppa Pig, while not a Cartoon Network production, was singled out “for the story and well-designed simple graphics, which not only depict the main character with humor and warmth, but also a positive portrayal of a typical contemporary family.”

Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com), currently seen in 87.8 million U.S. homes and 170 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s ad-supported cable service offering the best in original, acquired and classic animated entertainment for kids and families. Overnight from 11 p.m.-6 a.m. (ET, PT), Cartoon Network shares its channel space with Adult Swim, a late-night destination showcasing original and acquired animation for young adults 18-34.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, is a major producer of news and entertainment product around the world and the leading provider of programming for the basic cable industry.