Oscar-nominated family entertainment company Magic Light Pictures is toasting its live-action/animation hybrid adaptation of The Velveteen Rabbit, which has just won a BAFTA in the brand-new Children’s Craft Team category. The 2025 BAFTA Television Craft Awards were announced April 27 at a ceremony in London, and recognize exceptional creativity, skill and craft behind-the-scenes in television programming.
The Velveteen Rabbit adds this inaugural honor from the BAFTAs to previously awarded prizes from the Children’s & Family Emmy Awards (Best Fiction Special and Best Young Performer for Phoenix Laroche).
The Children’s Craft Team award was accepted by screenplay writer Tom Bidwell, who was one of the named winners alongside Jennifer Perrot, Rick Thiele, Sarah Brewerton, Anna Rackard and James Mather.
“This is an absolute honor and I’d like to thank BAFTA, everyone at Apple TV+, producers Bianca Rodway and Martin Pope and the team at Magic Light Pictures, who only produce quality TV,” said Bidwell. “I’d also like to thank every single person on the animation side and every single person on the live action side who proved with their talent and their kindness that collaboration really is the beating heart of television.”
Launched on Apple TV+ in November 2023, The Velveteen Rabbit is based on the treasured, classic children’s book by Margery Williams, which celebrates the magic of unconditional love when seven-year-old William (Laroche) receives a new favorite toy for Christmas, discovering a lifelong friend and unlocking a world of magic.
The 40-minute special features CG-animated characters voiced by Alex Lawther (the Velveteen Rabbit), Helena Bonham Carter (Wise Horse), Nicola Coughlan (Playroom Fairy), Bethany Antonia (White Rabbit), Lois Chimimba (Mechanical Car), Paterson Joseph (King), Clive Rowe (Lion) and Nathaniel Parker (Brown Rabbit).
The BAFTA Television Craft Awards also present an award for Special, Visual & Graphic Effects, which this year was awarded to Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, to the team of Jason Smith, Richard Bain, Ryan Conder and Chris Rodgers. Learn more about this year’s award winners at bafta.org.
