Press release from
To learn that dirtgirlworld was a finalist in the forthcoming Australian Film Industry awards was fantastic news.
But to find out the day before – almost by accident – that it had also been nominated for a BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Award), came as a delightful surprise to creators/producers Cate McQuillen and Hewey Eustace of mememe productions.
Co-creator Cate McQuillen says: “Just to be nominated is an honour. To see our work recognised alongside awesome programs like The Penguins of Madagascar, SpongeBob SquarePants in the UK and that of producers like Avrill Stark here at home is very humbling especially for those of us who are still very much newbies in the industry.”
Less than a year after it first hit television screens, dirtgirlworld is a worldwide hit with audiences.
It is the highest rating program on ABC2 for Kids so far this year and in August was the number one show on all digital channels across the UK.
And the success doesn’t stop there: it now screens around the globe in Canada, USA, France (in French), Israel (in Hebrew), the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Poland, Egypt and French-speaking Africa!
The program recently picked up two Australian Directors Guild awards: for Best Animation Direction; and the ADG’s inaugural GRASS award for environmental awareness – something very close to the hearts of the creators who live in the beautiful northern rivers region of rural NSW.
Describing the 52 episode series as ‘eco-tainment’, dirtgirlworld is based on the premise that we protect what we love. dirtgirlworld is a place where the real and unreal hang out together, where dirtgirl drives her big orange tractor, grows awesome tomatoes and knows cloud names.
With a supporting cast of stunt bugs, resourceful kids and a band of highly trained vaudevillian chickens, it aims to move the audience from viewing to doing, fostering in the young fans and those who care for them a love of the natural world.
The show has already sprouted a formidable online presence, with a fully interactive website hosted on ABC for kids (www.abcforkids/dirtgirlworld) and club site (www.dirtgirlworld.com) with a range of eco-merchandise like organic t-shirts, DVDs (Madman Entertainment) and CDs (kidindy).
Pilots for live performances are underway and apparently there are already plans for a theme park, too… watch this fertile soil for new growth.