(29 November 2005 8:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Crest Animation Studios' Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks has won the The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta) Award for Best Animated Series in the International Category.

Crest Animation Studios produced the computer generated imaging (CGI) animation for Jakers and has produced two series of the same, comprising 26 and 14 episodes. It is currently producing the third series of 12 episodes.

The annual Bafta Awards reach out not only to film and programme makers whose expertise is recognised but also to children who are mobilised to vote for their favorite film via the Bafta Kids’ Vote. This is done through a nationwide poll, which is promoted on CBBC and CiTV websites and supported by free screenings at 20 Cineworld sites as part of their Cineworld Movies for Juniors programme.

Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks is a sophisticated, 3D, computer animated series that follows the adventure of a spunky eight-year-old pig named Piggley and his friends Dunnun the Duck and Ferny the Bull, who live on a farm in Ireland.

Crest Animation Studios CEO A K Madhavan said, "It is a matter of great pride for us to be recognised for our quality of work by one of the most powerful body representing the British Film and Television Industry. We have won accolades for our work in the past through the Apsara Award for Tenali Rama and a nomination for one of the most prestigious awards in the animation industry - the Annie Awards - for Jakers! It is a special feeling though, to be one of the best amongst the international players."

Crest Animation Studios is moving steadily ahead on its way to become a globally recognised CGI animation studio. Its US based subsidiary, RichCrest Animation (RCA), and Lions Gate Entertainment (LGE) have announced a three-picture co-production and co-financing arrangement to produce three top-quality, state-of-the-art animated feature films for worldwide theatrical release.

RCA and LGE would equally share the cost of production, as well as the profits. The rights to the first film under the agreement - Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, based on the caldecott medal-winning story by William Steig (the creator of the blockbuster Shrek) have been acquired, and the film is in development.

The other nominees in this category included Atomic Betty (Breakthrough Animation and CiTV), Black Hole High (Fireworks and Jetix) and Miss Spider’s Sunny Patch Friends (Absolute Pictures, Nelvana and Five).