The competition for best kids programming and marketing initiatives

Late Entry Deadline: January 20, 2012  |  Awards Ceremony: June 2012

From the most outstanding achievements in content creation, marketing and promotion, Cynopsis: Kids !magination Awards honor the best in kids international programming and marketing. This unique awards program from the industry’s most trusted brand, Cynopsis Media, raises the bar on what’s good on and about TV. Now’s your chance to win a crystal Cynopsis: Kids !magination Award.

Even during these challenging economic times, so many new excellent TV shows, series, movies, web sites, apps and games—and the marketing, public relations and advertising campaigns that support them—have not only entertained millions of kids, but have set higher standards of creativity within the industry. The Cynopsis Kids !magination Awards honor the year’s most outstanding and imaginative achievements in content creation, marketing and promotion—the efforts that will have lasting impact and make us proud to be part of such a creative community.

We look forward to seeing your entry and saluting the winners at the June 2012 Awards program in New York City.

Who Should Enter?
Eligibility Period
Categories
Deadlines
FAQs
Sponsorship Opportunities
Contact Information

Who Should Enter?

The Cynopsis Kids !magination Awards are open to all individuals and teams worldwide including: production companies/studios, producers, networks, composers, lyricists, animators, video game developers/producers, website developers, app developers/producers, e-book creator/producers, licensing companies, marketing companies, pr firms, ad agencies, creative services teams, developers, toy companies. Vendors are also eligible to compete on behalf of a client.  The program is open to national and international entrants.

Eligibility Period

To be eligible, the show/series/campaign must have taken place (either in part or in full) between October 1, 2010, and December 31, 2011. Some of the work must have occurred during this time, but it’s not necessary for it to be completed during the eligibility period.  In addition, although we welcome international entries, part of it must have been used in the North American market.

Categories

Content Categories:

•  Preschool Series – This category recognizes excellence in long-form series produced specifically for preschool aged kids (0-5) in live-action, puppetry, animated or a hybrid.
  
  
• Preschool Special – Recognizing outstanding long-form one-off specials produced specifically for preschool aged kids (0-5) in live-action, puppetry, animation or a hybrid of these.
  
  
• Kids 2-11 Series – Character loyalty begins here. This award honors long-form series produced specifically for K2-11 in live-action, puppetry, animated or a hybrid.
  
  
• Kids 2-11 Special/TV Movie – Honoring the creativity within a long-form special or TV movie produced specifically for K2-11 in live-action, puppetry, animated or a hybrid.
  
  
• Tweens 9-14 Series – This category recognizes the impact of a long-form series produced specifically for Tweens 9-14 in live-action, puppetry, animated or a hybrid.
  
  
• Tweens 9-14 Special/TV Movies – Recognizing a remarkable long-form special or television movie produced specifically for K2-11 in live-action, puppetry, animated or a hybrid.
  
  
• Song for a TV Series – What original song created specifically for a long or short-form series aimed at kids of any age thoroughly captured the spirit of the series?
   
• Song for a TV Special/TV Movie – This category honors an original song created specifically for a TV special or TV movie aimed at kids of any age, a song so great that you can imagine it having an impact beyond the movie or special, if it hasn’t already.
   
• Score for a TV series – Recognizing the power of an original score created specifically for a long or short-form series aimed at kids of any age.
   
• Score for TV Special/TV Movie – Great original scores don’t call attention to themselves, but enhance the storytelling. This award does call attention to music created specifically for a TV special or TV movie aimed at kids of any age.
   
• Educational Series/Special Parent/Teacher Curriculum – Learning can certainly be more fun and this category honors the best online support curriculum content/activities to support the content of an educational TV series or special aimed at kids of any age.
   
• Website for a TV Series or TV Special – Did your online content raise TV viewing numbers, extend the life of the series or special, or even become a destination in its own right? This category recognizes a website and/or microsite created for an animated, live-action or hybrid series targeted to kids (preschoolers, K2-11, and/or Tweens 9-14).
   
• Video game for a TV Series or TV Special – Let the games begin! Recognizing a video game for console, handheld device, phone or online created to support a TV series or TV special for kids (preschoolers, K2-11, Tweens 9-14).
   
• Interstitial series – Sometimes, what’s between the programming is just as entertaining. Honoring a short-form (six minutes or less) live-action, animated, puppet or hybrid TV or web-based series aimed at kids (preschoolers, K2-11, Tweens 9-14).
   
• TV Series based on Books – This category recognizes the remarkable translation to TV of a kid/young adult/family-targeted a literary work.
   
• TV series based on Feature Films – Recognizing the impact of a live-action or animated kid-targeted series based on a feature film (e.g. Penguins of Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda).
   
• Feature Film based on a Book – This category honors a kid/young adult/family targeted feature film based on a literary work (e.g. The Hunger Games, Twilight, Harry Potter).
   
• e-Book – Mommy, why was that book made of paper? This category recognizes interactive books created for electronic devices aimed at kids.
   
• App – There’s an app for just about everything and now, a category to recognize the outstanding kid-targeted app for mobile device.
  
  
•  New Program – This category honors the best kid/tween-targeted live-action, animated or hybrid long-form series launched in the US Between October 1, 2010 - December 1, 2011.

 Marketing/PR/Advertising Categories:

•  Marketing Campaign for TV series – This category honors the creative use of marketing platforms to promote a kid-targeted TV long-form or short-form TV live action, animated or hybrid series that resulted in higher awareness and viewership.
  
  
• Marketing Campaign for TV special/TV movie – Recognizing the impact of an excellent marketing campaign for a kid-targeted TV long-form or short-form TV live action, animated or hybrid TV special or TV movie.
  
  
• Mobile Marketing Campaign – We live in a time when kids can carry the campaign for their favorite show around with them wherever they are. This category honors a kid-targeted TV long-form or short-form TV live action, animated or hybrid TV special or TV movie.
  
  
• Digital Marketing Campaign – Excellent use of online marketing to successfully promote a kid-targeted TV long-form or short-form TV live action, animated or hybrid TV special or TV movie.
  
  
• Marketing Campaign for a Toy/Game – What brought such noticeable attention to a kid-targeted toy or game based on a kid-targeted TV property live action, animated or hybrid TV special or TV movie?
  
  
• Public Relations Campaign for TV series/special/TV movie – Recognizing the creativity involved in a PR campaign designed to introduce a kid-targeted TV series, special or movie.
  
  
• Public Relations Campaign For a Product – Recognizing the memorable effort to launch a kid-targeted licensed product (toy, accessory, apparel, etc.) based on a kids TV series.

• Overall Network PR Campaign – This category will recognize a branding campaign promoting a Kids network as a whole.
  
  
• Advertising Campaign – Which on-air and off-air advertising campaign for a kid or tween TV series broke through the clutter and really got the attention of potential viewers?
  
  
• Pro-social Campaign – This category recognizes the importance of an on-air or off-air campaign that supported a kid/tween/family aimed pro-social initiative.
  
  
• Tchotchke – It’s not a real show/special unless there’s a series/show-related premium that announces the debut of a kid series or a special and this category honors the key-rings, paper weights, coffee mugs and mouse pads, fleeces etc., that you always want to keep.
  
  
• Sweepstakes/Contest Campaign – This category recognizes the creativity behind the components of a sweepstakes/contest tied to a kid series or special – such as the call to enter, artwork, on-package and online messaging and design.
  
  
• Promotional Campaign – How did an inspiring tie-in (like a fast food meal tie-in), including on-air and off-air components, carry the message for a series or special far beyond expectations?
  
  
• Social Media Campaign – Honoring the impact of a campaign on social media platforms that brought remarkable viral attention to a kid/tween series or special.
  
  
• Toy based on a series – Which toy based on a kids/tween series hopped from the screen onto store shelves and caused desperate parents to search websites or line-up for weeks?
  
  
• Game based on a series – Which innovative game captured the essence of a kid/tween aimed series and resulted in hours of fun for its players?

How to Enter

Compiling Your Entry

At the beginning of your two-page synopsis, the following information must be listed:

■ Category entered
■ Title of series/show/campaign (as it would appear on your award)
■ Team members or Person who is entering
■ Key contact for entry
■ Company submitting entry

 There are no binder specifications when compiling your entry.

Your Written Entry  

For Content Categories: Please include a short synopsis (max 400 words) that describes a show, series, e-book or app, impact to industry and viewers, publicity generated, audience reaction, critical performance and continuity. It's important to submit video clip(s) on DVD's of entire shows. 

For Marketing/PR/Advertising Categories: Please include a 1- to 2-page synopsis describing your campaign using the following sub headings:

■ Objectives
■ Strategy
■ Tactics
■ Execution
■ Evaluation of Success/Results/ROI

Supporting materials for all categories should show evidence of the success of your work. It can be any of the following: Sales Figures, Brand Media Coverage, Photos, CDs, DVDs, Research Documents, and Testimonials.

What to Send?
Send three (3) copies of your entry form, three (3) copies of your synopsis, three (3) sets of supporting materials and the entry fee.

Where to Send Entry:
Mary Lou French, Cynopsis: Kids !magination Awards,
Access Intelligence/Cynopsis Media
4 Choke Cherry Road, 2^nd floor
Rockville, MD 20850

Cynopsis Media & Access Intelligence will not return any entries or supporting materials.
Access Intelligence Federal Tax ID#: 52-2270063

OR Enter Online

Deadlines/Entry Fee

Deadline: January 11, 2012 (postmarked)
Late Submissions: January 20, 2012 (postmarked)

All entries must be postmarked by Wednesday, January 11, 2012. Entries postmarked between January 12 and January 20, 2012, please add a $175 late fee per entry. Finalists will be notified in late March and honored in June 2012 in New York City.

Entry Fees
The price of each primary entry is $300. If you submit the same entry into multiple categories, the additional fee is $175 per category. There is a late entry surcharge of $175 per entry. Payment in full must accompany the entry. Entry fees are non-refundable. Multiple entries are accepted and encouraged. A single entry can be entered into one or more categories. Please follow the “How to Enter” instructions above for each additional category you will be entering.

FAQs

How are the entries judged? Entries are judged by a blue chip panel of TV industry experts, as well as by the staff of Cynopsis Media. We will evaluate your Content/Program based on creativity, imagination and overall entertainment; and a Marketing/PR/Advertising entry based on creativity, innovation, and sound planning implementation.

Who is eligible to win an award? Production companies/studios, producers, networks, composers, lyricists, animators, video game developers/producers, website developers, app developers/producers, e-book creator/producers, licensing companies, marketing companies, pr firms, ad agencies, creative services teams, developers, and toy companies are eligible to enter the Cynopsis Kids !magination Awards program.

Where and when will the reception be held? The winners and honorable mentions will receive their Cynopsis Kids !magination Awards in June 2012 during an awards event in New York City.

How do I increase my chances of winning an award? Emphasize the goals of the campaign, as well as achievements in your introduction and include CDs and DVDs of the show/series. Provide as many concrete and specific examples of success as possible, and explain clearly and succinctly your research, planning, implementation and measurement of the campaign.

When will I be notified about the status of my entry? You will be contacted by Cynopsis Media staff regarding the status of your entry only if you are named a finalist in the awards program. Finalists are notified 30-60 days in advance of the Cynopsis Kids !magination Awards Event.

Must we include our campaign budget? It’s not a requirement, but it helps the judges to better compare your Marketing/PR/Advertising campaign against other entries. All information is confidential and will not be published without express permission from entrant.