^{Credit: Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (Disney Television Animation), Common Side Effects (Adult Swim), Shape Island (Apple TV)}

The nominees for the 86th Annual George Foster Peabody Awards have been announced. Among this year's nominees are three animated shows: Adult Swim's Common Side Effects, Disney's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, and Apple TV's Shape Island. Moon Girl was previously nominated for a Peabody in 2024, although the Marvel series didn't advance to the next round. This is the first instance the Peabodys have recognized Shape Island, which debuted its second season last August. Common Side Effects is a freshman series, but it's already accumulated several accolades, including the Annie for Best General Audience Animated Television Broadcast Production. 

The Peabodys describe the aforementioned shows as follows: 

Common Side Effects (Green Street Pictures, Bandera Entertainment, and Williams Street)

Common Side Effects follows Marshall Cuso (voiced by Dave King), a mushroom expert in Peru who discovers a potentially revolutionary fungus called “the Blue Angel” that could heal various ailments, only to find himself pursued by the DEA and pharmaceutical companies. The series, depicted through hand-drawn animation, explores themes of wellness, corporate greed, and personal struggles, emphasizing the potential for collective healing and change in a chaotic world.

Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (Flying Bark Productions, Disney Television Animation, Disney Branded Television)

Lunella Lafayette (voiced by Diamond White), a genius teen and protector of her New York City neighborhood, takes on the challenges of superhero life alongside her massive partner, Devil Dinosaur (Fred Tatasciore). This animated series combines vibrant visuals and original music to tell relatable coming-of-age stories that emphasize themes of honesty, friendship, and community empowerment, all while ensuring diverse representation through collaboration with organizations dedicated to authenticity.

Shape Island (Bix Pix Entertainment in association with Apple)

Shape Island invites viewers into the whimsical world of Circle (voiced by Gideon Adlon), Square (Harvey Guillén), and Triangle (Scott Adsit), where small adventures reveal profound truths about friendship, curiosity, and emotional intelligence. Through playful storytelling and humor, each episode addresses complex feelings and questions, encouraging both children and adults to connect, empathize, and appreciate the significance of everyday moments, reinforcing the message that everyone’s story is valuable and deserving of attention.

Common Side Effects was nominated in the Entertainment section alongside live-action shows like Adolescence, Andor, The Pitt, Pluribus, and The Rehearsal. Moon Girl and Shape Island are this year's only two nominees in the Children’s & Youth section. In addition to TV shows, several games have been nominated in the Peabody's Immersive & Interactive section, including South of Midnight, Consume Me, and Tchia. This year's Peabody Institutional Award will be going to PBS Kids, which has brought us past winners like Arthur and Molly of Denali. 

Winners for the 86th Peabody Awards will be announced on April 23, 2026, while the ceremony takes place on May 31, 2026.

Nick Spake is the Author of Bright & Shiny: A History of Animation at Award Shows Volumes 1, 2, and 3. Available Now!