Apr 30, 2018

Steven Hillenberg of "SpongeBob" wins Special Emmy Award

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards ceremony was held last Friday at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California.

The awards honor individuals and programs that aired between 2 a.m. and 6 p.m. during the 2017 calendar year, with many awards focusing on children's entertainment and animated works.

This year, an additional honor was given to SpongeBob creator Stephen Hillenberg, 56, who was diagnosed last year with the neurodegenerative disease ALS. Emmy organizers honored him "for his contributions and influence in the field of animation and in the broadcast industry."

Despite his diagnosis, Hillenberg said he will continue to work on Sponge Bob "as long as I can." Tom Kenny, who voiced Sponge Bob, presented Hillenberg with the award, after which Hillenberg came on stage to accept the award.

Voice of #SpongeBob @RealTomKenny pays tribute to @SpongeBob creator Stephen Hillenburg at the #DaytimeEmmys #CreativeArtsEmmys pic. 0QR774Ze

- Daytime Emmy Awards (@DaytimeEmmys) April 28, 2018

In the regular awards categories, no individual series dominated as they did last year when "Trollhunters" won six awards. Instead, 13 different animated series were recognized for various achievements, reflecting the overall production quality of the current animated television industry.

The following is a list of Creative Arts Emmy Award winners related to animation:

Outstanding Preschool Children's Animated SeriesTumble Leaf (Amazon)

Outstanding Children's Animated SeriesSpongebob Squarepants (Nickelodeon)

Outstanding Special Class Animated ProgramA Storybots Christmas (Netflix)

Outstanding Interactive Media - Enhancement to a Daytime Program or SeriesFruit Ninja Frenzy Force (YouTube Red)

Outstanding Interactive Media - Original Daytime Program or SeriesAsteroids! (Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear VR, Google Daydream, HTC Vive, Sony PSVR)

Excellence Award - Daytime Promotional Announcement Brand Image Campaign (Network or Program) Nick Jr: Girls in Charge: Girl Power Campaign (Nickelodeon)

Best Animated Program Performer Award Tom Kenny as SpongeBob SquarePants (Nickelodeon)

Outstanding Casting Award Elena of Avalor (Disney Junior)

Outstanding Screenplay Award Trollhunters (Netflix)

Animated Program Danger & Eggs (Amazon)

Outstanding Director Award for an Animated Preschool Program A Storybots Christmas (Netflix)

Outstanding Main Title and Graphic Design - Mind of A Chef (Facebook Watch)

Outstanding Sound Mixing - Animation All Hail King Julien (Netflix)

Outstanding Sound Mixing for an Animated Preschool Program Dinotrux ( Netflix)

Outstanding Sound Editing - Animation All Hail King Julien: Outstanding Sound Editing Dinotrux (Netflix)

Outstanding Music Direction and Composition The Tom & Jerry Show (Cartoon Network) Network)

Outstanding Screenplay in an Animated Program for Young Children Octonauts (Disney Junior)

Outstanding Individual Award in Animation Marie Torshleff (Production Designer) Through the Woods (Curious World)

Steve C. Myers, scenic layout artist, Puppy Dog Pals (Disney Junior)

Tom Caulfield, storyboard artist, Tangled: The Series (Disney Channel)

Michelle Park, Color Designer? Star vs. the Army of Evil (Disney XD)

Robin Janukos, colorist Tumble Leaf (Amazon)

Top photo via National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.