iWorld
Here are the winners of the second edition of Ann Awards
Mumbai: On 17 July, Animation Xpress concluded the second edition of KAM Kids Animation & More summit that successfully brought together all the stakeholders of the animation space from all across the globe. The summit was followed by a grand award ceremony titled the ANN Awards 2021 where the best talents in the world of animation were honoured and recognised for their artistry and creativity.
KAM Summit and ANN awards were presented by Nick and co-powered by Cosmos-Maya, Unreal-Engine and Discovery Kids. YOTTA served as the workstation partner and OTT service partner whereas Green Gold Animation was the summit partner. ABAI promoting Centre of Excellence (COE) were the associate partners and the event was supported by in10 Media – GUBBARE and HUION. Tokyo-based TBS’ Digicon6 Asia was the festival partner and ASIFA India was the community partner.
Animators, studios, and individuals from institutes participated across 66 categories, setting a benchmark in the animation space. Over 300 artists were judged by a well-qualified 10-member jury through an online mechanism. The jurors were Vidit Kundra, Shilpa Ranade, Yoshiya Ayugai, Sekhar Mukherjee, Joan Vogelesang, Indrajit Nattoji, Anil Wanvari, Vivek Ram, Jack Liang, Dhimant Vyas.
The winners will receive the Ann Awards trophy along with digital certificates.
This year to honour the creative genius and champion of Indian animation industry, the late Arnab Chaudhuri, AnimationXpress introduced a new recognition, ‘The Arnab Chaudhuri Director’s Award’. To select the winners, an Awards Committee was put in place that consisted of people who have been associated with Arnab and understood his philosophies- Vaibhav Kumaresh, Ashish Kulkarni, Pete Bishop, Orion Ross, P Jayakumar, Prakash Moorthy, Hari Varma, Anil Wanvari and Ashima Avasthi.
The winning student director under ‘The Arnab Chaudhuri Young Ace Award – Short Form content’ will be awarded with a cash prize of Rs 15,001 and the winner of ‘The Arnab Chaudhuri Young Ace Award – Long fort Form content’ will be awarded with Rs 33,001. The cash prize is a joint contribution from Ashima Avasthi, Vaibhav Kumaresh and AnimationXpress. The winners will also receive a digital tablet from our support partner HUION.
Here’s the list of Ann Awards nominations and winners:
PROGRAMMING
Best Preschool Show
· Mighty Little Bheem episode – A Royal Festival of Colors (Green Gold Animation)
Best Channel Packaging
· Warner Media India – Pogo Festive Packaging
Best Promo
· Kaal ka badla (Discovery Kids India)
· Kris Live Action Sport (Warner Media India – Pogo)
· Kris Live Action Stationary (Warner Media India – Pogo)
· Toons ki barish (Warner Media India – Cartoon Network)
· What’s Your Summer Plan (Sony Pictures Networks India)
Best 2D Animated Series
· Abhimanyu (Toonz Media Group)
· Ting Tong as Inventor (Viacom18 – Nickelodeon)
· Chhota Bheem Episode – Shrunken Kids (Green Gold Animation)
· Fukrey Boyzzz: Vanaar Sena (Discovery Kids India)
· Titoo (Cosmos-Maya)
Best 3D animated series
· Bhoot Bandhus Family Tree & Bhoot Bandhus Magic Show (Viacom18 – Nickelodeon)
· Rudra – Race to the mountain (Viacom18 – Nickelodeon)
· Bablu Dablu: Monster Plan (One Take Media)
· Motu Patlu (Cosmos-Maya)
· KickO and Super Speedo (Sony Pictures Networks India)
Best Animated Film
· Fatak Patak – Sheru Ban Gaya Champion (Nihodo Media)
· Rudra – The Land of Nowhere (Viacom18 – Nickelodeon)
· Bheem In The City (Green Gold Animation)
· Little Singham : Kaal ki Shatir Chaal (Discovery Kids India)
· Little Singham: Future mein Satakli (Discovery Kids India)
Best Animated Short Film
· Ting Tong as Kungfu Dancer (Viacom18 – Nickelodeon)
· Jungle Mangal (Saggitive TechnoCreative Solutions)
· Lamput – Transfer Gun (Warner Media India)
Best Music Composer
· Har Task with a Mask (Warner Media India)
· Move it Like the Animals (YoBoHo Digital Content)
· Kicko and Super Speedo vs Benaam Who (Sony Pictures Networks India)
Best Remotely Produced Content
· Bheega Diya na (Warner Media India)
· We for the World (Warner Media India – Pogo)
· Momo and Tulus (YoBoHo Digital Content)
DIGITAL/ OTT AWARDS
Best Animated Film
· Bombay Rose (Paperboat Design Studios)
· Titoo Ambulance (Warner Media India – Pogo)
· Christmas Ident (Warner Media India – Pogo)
· Simmba Biker Gang (Warner Media India – Pogo)
Best Animated Digital Series
· Gummy Bear & Friends (Toonz Media Group)
· Mighty Little Bheem Episode – Come Out and Play (Green Gold Animation)
Best Animated Music Video
· The Fortune & Julia Nem – Lost (Kiran Venugopalan)
· Titoo aisa kyun hain? (Warner Media India)
· Har task with a mask (Warner Media India – Pogo)
Best Remotely Produced content
· Toons ki barish (Warner Media India – Cartoon Network)
Best Animated Social Media Brand
· Cosmos-Maya WowKidz
Best Reels
· Pixoury Media
TECHNICAL AWARDS
Best Title Design
· Fukrey Boyzzz: Vaanar Sena (Discovery Kids India)
Best Title Song
· Keymon Ache (Viacom18 – Nickelodeon)
· Hope Song – Phhir Dil Bolega YAY! (Sony Pictures Networks India)
· Honey Bunny ka Jholmaal title song (Sony Pictures Networks India)
Best Editing in an Animated TV Series
· Motu Patlu (Cosmos-Maya)
Best Editing in an Animated Film
· Fatak Patak – Sheru Ka World Tour (Nihodo Media)
· Fatak Patak – Sheru Aur Masti Ki Pathshala (Nihodo Media)
· Honey Bunny in Ghost Palace (Sony Pictures Networks India)
Best Editing in an Animated Digital Series
· Momo and Tulus (YoBoHo Digital Content)
· Ace2Three Rummy (Skill Tool Studio)
Best Director of an Animated TV series
· Toonz Media Group
Chacha Chaudhary
· Cosmos-Maya
Selfie With Bajrangi
· Cosmos-Maya
Motu Patlu
Technical Awards
Best Director of an Animated Film
· A THEOREM (AK RAPOLU THEOREM)
DHIRA
Best Director of a Digital Series
· Skill Tool Studio
Ace2Three Rummy
Best Screenplay
· Fatak Patak – Sheru Ka World Tour (Nihodo Media)
· Fatak Patak – Sheru Ban Gaya Champion (Nihodo Media)
· Honey Bunny and Super Car Race (Sony Pictures Networks India)
Best Character Design
· Tiger in Jungle Mangal (Saggitive TechnoCreative Solutions)
· Gadget Guru Ganesha (Cosmos-Maya)
· Bapu (Cosmos-Maya)
Best Character Animation
· One Take Media Bablu
Dablu: Monster Plan
Best Voice Over Artist for a TV series – Male
· Sony Pictures Networks India
Honey Bunny Ka Jholmaal
Best Voice Over Artist for a Digital series – Female
· YoBoHo Digital Content Build
A Childrens Playground
Best Technical Innovation
· A THEOREM (AK RAPOLU THEOREM)
DHIRA
L&M (Licensing & Merchandising) Awards
Best Animated Character Merchandise
· Chhota Bheem Saregama Carvaan Mini (Green Gold Animation)
Best Animated Series Merchandise
· Fatak Patak (Nihodo Media)
Best Licensed Animated Character Programme
· Chhota Bheem (Green Gold Animation)
Best Licensed Animated Series Programme
· Bablu Dablu: Snow Daze (One Take Media)
Best use of Leveraging a Character for Brand Marketing
· Chhota Bheem Jelimal Candies (Green Gold Animation)
MAM (Media, Advertising and Marketing) Awards
Best Animated Brand Film
· Air India Animated Brand Films (ARTHA Animation)
· Ace2Three Rummy (Skill Tool Studio)
· TRAQ by Titan (Paperboat Design Studio)
Best Digital Campaign for an Animated Series
· Fukreyy Boyzzz Launch (Discovery Kids India)
· Kaal ki Shatir Chaal (Discovery Kids India)
· Ace2Three Rummy (Skill Tool Studio)
Best use of Animated Character in a Brand TVC
· Air India Animated Brand Advertisements (ARTHA Animation)
Best Experiential Marketing
· School Contact Programme (Discovery Kids India)
Best Brand Collaboration
· Fukrey Boyzzz x Britannia Krunch (Discovery Kids India)
Best Innovative Campaign
· SuperHero Academy (Discovery Kids India)
Student Awards
Best Student 3D Film
· Deep Trouble (MAAC Andheri – Mumbai)
· Let’s Go (MAAC South Extension – New Delhi)
· BOOND (MAAC Malad – Mumbai)
Best Student 2D film
· Story of a Beginning
Balaram J (National Institute of Design)
· Water Pollution
Vishnu Balal (UNESCO H2Ooooh! – Waterwise Program 2021 by Toonz Media Group)
· Blinding Lights Music Video
Dhruv Dhindale, Sakshi Singh & Aman Singh (DICE VFS)
SPECIAL AWARDS
Best Animator – Female
· Meera Latkar (Warner Media India – POGO)
Bheega diya naa
Best Animator – Male
· Mukund Bhaleghare (Skill Tool Studio)
ACE2THREE Rummy
Best Indie Studio
· Paperboat Design Studios
Young Animator of the Year
· Balaram J (National Institute of Design)
Story of a Beginning
Best Animated Music Video
· Jazyl Homavazir & Amandeep Singh
Homeless Homeboy Animated Opening
· YoBoHo Digital Content
Move it Like the Animals
· Discovery Kids India
Little Singham: Kaal ki shatir Chaal
· Kiran Venugopalan & Aishwarya Manoj Mankar
The Fortune & Julia Nem – Lost
Best Bollywood inspired animated IP
· Fukrey Boyzzz (Discovery Kids India)
Best use of animation in a public service message nominee
· Pollution Control Day 2020 (Digitalclay Studios)
· Mumbai Police Parivaar (ARTHA Animation)
· Fukrey Boyzzz: Swag wali Diwali (Discovery Kids India)
Best Syndicated Content
· Bablu Dablu: Sunsational Summer (One Take Media)
EDITOR’S CHOICE AWARDS
Best 3D Series Overall- TV and OTT
· Mondo Yan (Toonz Media Group)
· Mighty Little Bheem Episode – A Flower For Mom (Green Gold Animation)
Most Expansive Studio of the Year
Cosmos-Maya
The Arnab Chaudhuri Director’s Award
The Arnab Chaudhuri Young ACE Award – Short Form
· Notun Fasal (New Harvest)
Sovan Dutta (SRFTI)
The Arnab Chaudhuri Young ACE Award – Long Form
· Story of a Beginning
Balaram J (National Institute of Design)
The Arnab Chaudhuri Animation ACE Award
· Chandra’s Cafe
Krishna Chandran A. Nair
iWorld
Why Peaky Blinders is one of television’s biggest hits that still deserves more attention
Six seasons, multiple awards and the release of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man bring the Shelby saga back into the spotlight
In the crowded universe of streaming content, only a handful of shows manage to leave a lasting cultural footprint. Peaky Blinders is overwhelmingly considered one of the biggest global hits of the past decade. Yet many viewers still haven’t fully explored the dark, gripping world of the Shelby family.
Originally produced for the UK’s BBC and later finding a massive global audience through Netflix, the series quietly grew from a British period drama into a worldwide streaming phenomenon.
Created by Steven Knight, the show follows the rise of the Shelby crime family in post-First World War Birmingham. What begins as a gritty street-gang story gradually expands into a sweeping narrative about ambition, politics, power and survival.
At the centre of the saga is Thomas Shelby, portrayed with extraordinary depth by Cillian Murphy. The casting of Murphy is widely regarded as perfect for the role. With piercing eyes, restrained dialogue and an almost hypnotic screen presence, he transforms Shelby into one of the most unforgettable characters in modern screen storytelling.
Murphy’s brilliance lies in his restraint. He rarely shouts or performs theatrically. Instead, a quiet stare, a calculated pause or a subtle shift in expression conveys the emotional storms within the character. Beneath the ruthless gang leader is a war veteran carrying trauma, guilt and loneliness. Murphy captures this complexity with remarkable precision, making Thomas Shelby both terrifying and deeply human.
Beyond its central performance, Peaky Blinders stands out for its unfiltered portrayal of reality. The show does not romanticise crime. Instead, it exposes the harsh social conditions of early 20th-century Britain, from poverty and class struggle to political extremism and the psychological scars left by war.
The series also presents powerful female characters who hold their own within the Shelby empire. Polly Gray, played by Helen McCrory, is the strategic backbone of the family and one of the most formidable figures in the story. Women in the series shape decisions, influence power structures and challenge the rigid social norms of the time.
Across six seasons, the narrative grows dramatically in scale. What begins in the smoky streets of Birmingham evolves into a story involving political conspiracies, fascism and international criminal networks.
The series has also earned significant critical acclaim. It won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Drama Series in 2018 and multiple National Television Awards for Best Drama, cementing its reputation as one of Britain’s most celebrated modern shows.
Another defining feature of the series is its iconic music. The show’s opening theme, Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, became instantly recognisable and widely associated with the Shelby universe. Combined with a powerful soundtrack featuring artists such as Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead, the music helped shape the show’s dark, stylish identity and became hugely popular among fans.
And the Shelby story is not over yet.
In fact, its legacy is unfolding right now. The long-awaited feature-length continuation, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, was released on March 6, 2026, bringing the Shelby universe from streaming screens to cinemas and giving fans a new chapter in the saga.
For viewers who have not yet stepped into this world, the timing could not be better.
Six gripping seasons are ready to binge on Netflix. A new film has just arrived in theatres. And at the heart of it all stands one of the most magnetic performances in modern drama by Cillian Murphy.
So if Peaky Blinders has been sitting on your watchlist for years, this weekend is your moment.
So, by order of the Peaky fookin’ Blinders, consider this your cue to finally step into the ruthless world of Thomas Shelby. Pour yourself a drink, clear your schedule and press the play button. Because when the Peaky Blinders give an order, you listen.
