There was one big winner this week that didn’t quite fit in this list of nominees—and that’s the animation industry as a whole. When Adobe (forgetting about its actual userbase in the throes of aggressively embracing AI) announced it was shutting down Animate (previously known as Flash), animators lost their collective minds. The social media blowback was so overwhelming that Adobe couldn’t handle the heat and reversed its decision quickly. 

Here are some more individual nominees with victories worth celebrating. Vote below for which one should get this week’s Gold Star! 

Josh D’Amaro and Dana Walden: After a really, really long search for CEO Bob Iger’s successor, Disney’s charismatic parks chief officially inherited the keys to the kingdom. But fellow contender and entertainment wiz Walden still got herself a major stamp of approval by way of a promotion to become the first company-wide chief creative officer. Both experienced executives should be calling the shots about where the Mouse House goes next—from striking a delicate balance with AI, to deciding which franchises will get a big push—while continuing their rivalry over which side of the business brings in the most moolah. With two strong track records (and by all accounts a great rapport), hopes are high that this succession plan will work out better than the last one.

8 Lions Entertainment: Lions and China and MOUs, oh my! British animation studio 8 Lions went on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s trade mission to build bridges with China last week, and brought home an MOU with China Media Group. The agreement will see the two companies explore co-productions, international distribution and talent exchanges—now that’s a productive trip! Among almost 60 companies in the delegation, 8 Lions was the only one representing the UK’s animation and film & TV industries, and its MOU was positioned as a blueprint for the rest of the sector. China’s market is notoriously difficult to break into, and now the UK has a new in-house expert.

The LEGO Group: The Danish brick-maker is adding some much-needed girl power to its army of construction sets to prove once and for all that boys aren’t the only builders in town. This will materialize in a new wave of animal-themed sets (inspired by data finding that girls have an easier time connecting with creatures), and the company has also teamed up with iconic wildlife conservationist Bindi Irwin to foster creativity and self-confidence in young girls. The encore will come later this year, when LEGO rolls out its own line of KPop Demon Hunters merch. (You didn’t expect them to let Mattel and Hasbro have all the fun, did you?) But it won’t be HUNTR/X’s leading ladies making the initial jump; Derpy and Sussie are first in line for the LEGO treatment. (The animals, get it?)

Jordan and Salish Matter: Netflix is doubling down on YouTube creators, and this father-daughter duo are the latest stars to score a deal with the streamer. They’ll be in good company alongside Mark Rober and Ms. Rachel, as they bring their style of family-friendly stunts and comedy vids to Netflix’s global audience. The Matters will develop new series, but  their older content will be added to the platform as well (and consumer products and experiences are also part of this sweet deal). It’s a big win for the creators, especially young Salish—who we recently identified as one of the top creators primed to break out. (Don’t mind us patting ourselves on the back.)

Mediawan: Paris is known for its shopping scene, but this French media giant is really embodying the phrase “shop till you drop” with its non-stop M&A spree. Its latest purchase? Peter Chernin’s The North Road Company—which owns several studios behind titles ranging from Hollywood hit The Greatest Showman to Disney Junior’s Rise Up, Sing Out shorts. Mediawan says the acquisition will give it a high-profile hub from which it can stretch out into North America. With so much of the industry collapsing, Mediawan just keeps getting bigger and bigger.

Who had the best week in the bunch? Vote here to let us know what you think:

Want to pitch us a Gold Star nomination? Send an email to submissions@kidscreen.com by noon on Thursdays. And check back every Friday for our next batch of nominees. Hope to see you on the list!