Magic Light Pictures’ animated/live action special The Velveteen Rabbit wins inaugural BAFTA Craft Award

Member News  |  29 April 2025

The Oscar-nominated family entertainment creator is celebrating after its heart-warming film celebrating the magic of unconditional love, The Velveteen Rabbit, won a BAFTA in the brand-new Children’s Craft Team category.

The Velveteen Rabbit

This latest award follows success for the film at the Children’s & Family Emmy® Awards last month where it picked up Best Fiction Special and Best Young Performer in a Preschool, Children’s or Young Teen Program for Phoenix Laroche.

Picking up the award on behalf of the creative team, of Tom Bidwell, Jennifer Perrot, Rick Thiele, Sarah Brewerton, Anna Rackard and James Mather, was screenplay writer Tom Bidwell.

This is an absolute honour 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. 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.

Tom Bidwell, Screenplay Writer of The Velveteen Rabbit
The Velveteen Rabbit

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 receives a new favourite toy for Christmas, discovering a lifelong friend and unlocking a world of magic.

The 40-minute special features an all-star cast including the voices of Alex Lawther as the Velveteen Rabbit, Helena Bonham Carter as Wise Horse, Nicola Coughlan as Playroom Fairy, Bethany Antonia as White Rabbit, Lois Chimimba as Mechanical Car, Paterson Joseph as King, Clive Rowe as Lion, Nathaniel Parker as Brown Rabbit, and introducing Phoenix Laroche starring as William. Magic Light Pictures co-founder Martin Pope produces with a screenplay by BAFTA winner Tom Bidwell.

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