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³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Worldwide is delighted to announce a Magnolia Award win for animated pre-school programme, 3rd & Bird!, at this year's Shanghai Television Festival.

3rd & Bird!, the latest pre-school offering from acclaimed producer Josh Selig and his company Little Airplane, won Best Foreign Animation Golden Award for episode one, "Fly Muffin". The jury sealed their winning verdict by commenting the episode had excellent production values including art direction & use of colour, along with a well told story and clearly defined characters. ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Worldwide holds the global distribution rights to 3rd & Bird!.

The Magnolia Award is specifically awarded to first-class international television productions at the annually held Shanghai TV Festival. The aim of the Award is to increase communication and cultural exchange, whilst developing strategies for the development of the TV industry across Asia.

Commenting on the award win, Joyce Yeung, SVP & GM Sales & Distribution Asia, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Worldwide said: "Winning the Magnolia Award is a great platform for raising the profile of 3rd & Bird! in Asia. The Shanghai TV Festival is a prestigious event and is instrumental is supporting the international television industry across the territory. We hope this Award facilitates interest in 3rd & Bird! from broadcasters in the region."

"I am very honoured to receive the Magnolia Award," said Josh Selig, President of Little Airplane Productions. "I look forward to partnering with Asian animation studios and broadcasters to make new programmes that will both entertain and educate children all over the world."

3rd & Bird! focuses around a vibrant community of birds that live, learn and play in the branches of a beautiful old tree. 3rd & Bird! uses Little Airplanes' own unique technique of photo-puppetry animation and is an irreverent, joyful series filled with humour, whistling, dancing and an eclectic cast of flying characters.

NOTES TO EDITORS
About Little Airplane Productions
Founded by Josh Selig in 1999, Little Airplane Productions created and produced The Wonder Pets! for Nick Jr., Go, Baby! for Playhouse Disney, Oobi! for NOGGIN (winner of a 2001 Gold Parents' Choice Award) and 3rd & Bird! for the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s CBeebies. Additionally, Josh Selig was the Head Writer for Little Bill on Nick Jr. He has received ten Emmy Awards for his writing on Sesame Street, and was the Resident Producer of the historic Israeli/Palestinian Sesame Street co-production (winner of the 1998 Japan Prize). Josh Selig writes a weekly column for Kidscreen Magazine called "Planet Preschool" which can be read at . In 2008, Little Airplane was honoured to receive a Crain's Small Business Award. For more information about Little Airplane Productions please visit .

Lisa Barker

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