We’re running out of space to list all of these accolades on our Awards page!

Today’s announcement celebrates the recognition that our HUE Animation Studio kit recently received in both the Dad’s Choice Awards and the Independent Toy Awards.

HUE Animation Studio was rated Highly Commended winner in the 2015 Dad’s Choice Awards!

The panel of Super Dad Testers (and their kids) were reviewing HUE Animation Studio in the Educational category this year.

After considering the criteria of suitability for the age group, value for money, playability, quality, longevity and (very importantly) fun, they decided that it deserved the Highly Commended award as it was one of the best products they tried. A total of three prizes are awarded in each category: Overall Winner, Highly Commended and Commended. Here are some snippets from the anonymous evaluations submitted by the Dad Testers.

The packaging was very enticing. The girls were pestering me to open it and get started pretty early on the Sat morning. I am not brilliant at installing software normally but thankfully this really was simple – for once it was a simple as it promised to be.

I was amazed how long the girls were prepared to spend on the film – after 2 hours they were still absorbed and determined. She took her film into school which got a few housepoints!

– Dad to two children aged 8 and 10

1. The interface is supremely easy to use
2. The voiceover feature is great
3. The potential – any would-be Pixar film-makers could create something impressive with this kit

Considering the amount of time my kids spend on it I think it’s excellent value for money. For older children who want to spend time on the PC then this is a good productive use of time instead of tablet or TV. Even those like my niece doing GCSE Art would enjoy this.

– Dad to two children aged 6 and 8

The kit also took first place in the Best Arts and Craft category in the Dad’s Choice Awards 2013, so it seems to have lasting ‘dad appeal’!

With HUE Animation Studio having won a Mom’s Choice Award earlier in the year, it shows that making your own stop motion animation is a timeless activity that everyone in the family can enjoy.

In addition, HUE Animation Studio was also the proud recipient of a Gold Medal in the Special Needs category at the 2015 Independent Toy Awards run by Toy Shop UK this past September.

The Independent Toy Awards are now in their seventh year and the votes come from independent toy retailers rather than from panels of testers. Toy Shop UK’s policy is that its gold medal winners must “not only have a first-class product but be well respected and trusted within the independent toy trade”.

We’re extremely pleased that the kit has been recognized by toy shops across the UK, standing alongside household names we grew up with and brand new innovations alike in the list of winners.

Winning in the Special Needs category is particularly important to us after all of the wonderful feedback we have had over the past year from animators who are using the hobby to nurture talents they didn’t realize they possessed. Creating movies using stop motion provides a number of unique challenges to overcome without being physically demanding or requiring a fixed schedule. It’s also a fantastic way for those who are struggling with communication to find imaginative ways to express their ideas.

Our thanks go out to the teams behind the awards and the voters who selected our products from all of the famous toy brands which participated this year. We hope that HUE Animation Studio will continue bringing smiles to children’s faces across the world as we look ahead to 2016!