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The educational animation The Fantastic Laboratory of Grandma Naná (O Fantástico Laboratório da Vovó Naná), created by Radhi Meron, a graduate of the educommunication program at USP, won the Outstanding Proposal award at the Japan Prize 2025. Promoted annually by NHK, Japan’s public television network, the event is one of the world’s most prestigious recognitions for productions that combine education, culture, and audiovisual innovation.
Selected from more than 370 entries from various countries, the Brazilian project secured its place as one of six finalists in the Proposal Pitch Division category. The student, who developed the project in co-production with Oz Produtora and Circo Onírico, represented the production in Tokyo, participating in an intensive program that included in-person mentoring and pitching sessions. The official award ceremony took place on January 19, 2026. The list of all winners is available on the NHK website.
Currently in development, the 2D animated series targets a preschool audience. The storyline centers on Nair Jatobá – Grandma Naná – an irreverent scientist who transforms kitchen objects into experimental tools to answer her grandchildren’s questions. A distinctive feature of the work is the closing segment of each episode in live-action format, showing real children reproducing the experiments presented in the animation. The objective is to encourage critical thinking and children’s autonomy, while also strengthening intergenerational bonds.
For Radhi Meron, who also designed the characters, the achievement reflects her academic trajectory at USP’s School of Communications and Arts (ECA). “I believe my training in educommunication was important for this achievement. I began researching the relationship between media and education and dedicated my undergraduate final project to investigating the production of educational television content, under the supervision of Maria Cristina Mungioli”, she says. “Now, working as a screenwriter and producer of children’s content, I believe those concepts remain present in the projects I develop. I also feel more confident in designing educational content because, during my teacher education program, I studied methodologies and foundations of pedagogy”, reflects Radhi, who is currently pursuing a degree at the Faculty of Philosophy, Languages and Human Sciences (FFLCH) at USP.
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In addition to the prestigious trophy, the project received financial support for the production of a pilot episode. The commitment now is to return to Japan in 2026, where the completed material will be showcased at the next edition of the festival. The series already has a strong track record of recognition in the audiovisual market, having participated in development laboratories such as Max Minas and Lamp (Lanterna Mágica), as well as business rounds at international events such as the Marché du Film in Cannes and Rio2C in Brazil.
About Japan Prize
Founded in 1965, the Japan Prize seeks to recognize audiovisual works that promote learning and intercultural dialogue. The festival is a global meeting point for creators who believe in media as a tool for social and educational transformation. The mission of the award is to contribute to the advancement of the quality of educational content worldwide and to promote mutual understanding among societies and cultures by recognizing works that make innovative use of visual media.
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During the festival week, held in November, the Japan Prize organizes screenings, sessions, and workshops. Delegates from around the world are invited to attend outstanding works and exchange ideas and reflections. Originally launched as a competition for television and radio programs, the award now encompasses all types of educational content that use image and sound, with a growing number of submissions in the digital content category (websites, gaming applications, virtual reality, etc.).
The animation The Fantastic Laboratory of Grandma Naná is a co-production between Oz Produtora and Circo Onírico, created by Radhi Meron, who also designed the characters, with set design by Rebecca Monteiro.
English version: Nexus Traduções, edited by Denis Pacheco
