The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) today announced the nominees for the 39th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy® Awards. The nominations were announced live this morning by Kathy Lee and Hoda on the Today Show. The Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards recognize outstanding achievement in all fields of daytime television production and are presented to individuals and programs broadcast from 2:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. during the 2011 calendar year. This year’s gala will be held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Saturday, June 23rd, 2012 in Beverly Hills, CA.

The Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards gala, which honors the crafts behind the many shows that grace the Daytime genre will return to the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 17th, 2012.

Surprisingly enough, the event also marks the first time voice legend June Foray has received an Emmy nomination. The amazing actress who is best known for her roles as Rocky the Flying Squirrel and Natasha Fatale (The Bullwinkle Show) and Talky Tina doll (The Twilight Zone) was recognized this year for voicing Mrs. Cauldron on The Garfield Show.

PBS’ Sesame Street leads the race with 16 nominations, while Nickelodeon’s two DreamWorks spin-offs Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness and Penguins of Madagascar also did very well with eight nominations each. Nick’s regular awards-winner SpongeBob SquarePants also fared well with four nods. Also recognized for their excellence were the two preschool shows The Wonder Pets (Nick) and 3rd & Bird (Disney), which are both produced by Josh Selig and his team at New York-based Little Airplane. Rounding up the list are The Hub’s My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic and Transformers Prime, each with two nominations.

Here is a list of the animation-related nominees:

OUTSTANDING CHILDREN’S ANIMATED PROGRAM

Curious George – PBS

Dorothea Gillim, Executive Producer

Carol Greenwald, Executive Producer

Ellen Cockrill, Executive Producer

Ron Howard, Executive Producer

Brian Grazer, Executive Producer

David Kirschner, Executive Producer

Jon Shapiro, Executive Producer

Paul Higgins, Coordinating Producer

Matthew Baughman, Coordinating Producer

David Wilcox, Producer

Share Stallings, Co-Producer

Jacqui Deegan, Series Producer

Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness – Nickelodeon

Peter Hastings, Executive Producer

Cheryl Holliday, Executive Producer

Bret Haaland, Supervising Producer

Randy Dormans, Supervising Producer

Dean Hoff, Producer

Andrew Huebner, Producer

Peep & The Big Wide World – PBS

Kate Taylor, Executive Producer

Vince Commisso, Producer

Marisa Wolsky, Producer

Geoff Adams, Producer

Kathy Waugh, Creative Producer

Mike Warga, Line Producer

Penguins of Madagascar – Nickelodeon

Bret Haaland, Executive Producer

Mark McCorkle, Executive Producer

Bob Schooley, Executive Producer

Nick Filippi, Co-Executive Producer

Chris Neuhahn, Supervising Producer

Ant Ward, Supervising Producer

Andrew Huebner, Producer

Sid the Science Kid – PBS

Lisa Henson, Executive Producer

Halle Stanford, Executive Producer

Bradley Zweig, Executive Producer

Joyce Campbell, Executive Producer

Chris Plourde, Producer

SpongeBob SquarePants – Nickelodeon

Stephen Hillenburg, Executive Producer

Paul Tibbitt, Executive Producer

Jennie Hammond, Line Producer

OUTSTANDING PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN’S SERIES

3rd & Bird! – Disney Channel

Josh Selig, Executive Producer

Heather Tilert, Supervising Producer

Shannon Quinlan, Producer

Fred Weinberg, Producer

Tom Brown, Producer

Sharon Gomes Thomas, Line Producer

Sesame Street – PBS

Carol-Lynn Parente, Executive Producer

Kevin Clash, Co-Executive Producer

Tim Carter, Senior Producer

April Coleman, Coordinating Producer

Ben Lehmann, Producer

Melissa Dino, Producer

Stephanie Longardo, Line Producer

Super WHY! – PBS

Samantha Freeman, Executive Producer

Steven DeNure, Executive Producer

Anne Loi, Executive Producer

Angela Santomero, Executive Producer

Wendy Harris, Co-Executive Producer

Janice Walker, Producer

Kellie Dalton, Line Producer

The Wonder Pets! – Nickelodeon

Josh Selig, Executive Producer

Mason Rather, Supervising Producer

Melanie Pal, Producer

Tom Brown, Producer

Sharon Thomas, Line Producer

Yo Gabba Gabba! – Nickelodeon

Jon Berrett, Executive Producer

Michael Polis, Executive Producer

Ritamarie Peruggi, Producer

Justin Lyon, Producer

Irene Diaz Oncley, Line Producer

Christian Jacobs, Creator

Scott Schultz, Creator

Kevin Suhko Lee, Animation Producer

OUTSTANDING SPECIAL CLASS ANIMATED PROGRAM

Fanboy and Chum Chum – Nickelodeon

Eric Robles, Executive Producer

Steve Tompkins, Executive Producer

Fred Seibert, Executive Producer

Jason Meier, Supervising Producer

Macgregor Middleton, Line Producer

Transformers: Prime – The HUB

Roberto Orci, Executive Producer

Stephen Davis, Executive Producer

Shuzo Shiota, Executive Producer

Alex Kurtzman, Executive Producer

Jeff Kline, Executive Producer

Duane Capizzi, Supervising Producer

Mandy Safavi, Producer

Rafael Ruthchild, Producer

Shinji Santoh, Producer

Meiko Sato, Line Producer

Therese Trujiilo, Animation Producer

OUTSTANDING PERFORMER IN AN ANIMATED PROGRAM

JUNE FORAY, as MRS. CAULDRON

The Garfield Show – Cartoon Network

JAMES HONG, as MR. PING

Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness – Nickelodeon

JEFF BENNETT, as KOWALSKI

Penguins of Madagascar – Nickelodeon

RODGER BUMPASS, as SQUIDWARD

SpongeBob SquarePants – Nickelodeon

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING IN AN ANIMATED PROGRAM

Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness – Nickelodeon

Gabe Swarr, Supervising Director

Jim Schumann, Director

Mike Mullen, Director

Juan Meza-Leon, Director

Peter Hastings, Voice Director

Penguins of Madagascar – Nickelodeon

David Knott, Supervising Director

Shaun Cashman, Animation Director

Christo Stamboliev, Animation Director

Steve Loter, Animation Director

Lisa Schaffer, Voice Director

SpongeBob SquarePants – Nickelodeon

Alan Smart, Animation Director

Paul Tibbitt, Supervising Producer

Casey Alexander, Storyboard Director

Zeus Cervas, Storyboard Director

Vince Waller, Creative Director

Transformers: Prime – HUB

David Hartman, Supervising Director

Vinton Heuck, Director

Shaunt Nigoghossian, Director

Todd Waterman, Director

Jamie Simone, Voice Director

OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN ANIMATION

WINNERS:

Joel Fajnor, Art Director

Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness – Nickelodeon

Ernie Gilbert, Character Designer

T.U.F.F. Puppy – Nickelodeon

Christophe Vacher, Supervising Color Designer

Transformers: Prime – The HUB

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC DIRECTION AND COMPOSITION

Curious George – PBS

Nick Nolan, Music Director, Composer

Penguins of Madagascar – Nickelodeon

Adam Berry, Composer

T.U.F.F. Puppy – Nickelodeon

Guy Moon, Composer

The Wonder Pets! – Nickelodeon

Jeffrey Lesser, Music Director

Larry Hochman, Lead Composer

Josh Selig, Composer

Outstanding Original Song – Children’s and Animation

Dora the Explorer – Nickelodeon

Todos Juntos Finale Song

George Noriega, Musical Composer

Joel Someillan, Musical Composer

My Little Pony Friendship is Magic – The HUB

Every Pony

Daniel Ingram, Composer & Lyricist

My Little Pony Friendship is Magic – The HUB

Find A Pet

Daniel Ingram, Song Writer

Penguins of Madagascar – Nickelodeon

Off the Clock

Adam Berry, Composer

John Behnke, Lyricist

Penguins of Madagascar – Nickelodeon

In the Happy Little Land of Hoboken Surprise

Adam Berry, Composer

Brandon Sawyer, Lyricist

Sesame Street – PBS

Don’t Give Up

Bill Sherman, Composer

Joey Mazzarino, Lyricist

OUTSTANDING WRITING IN ANIMATION

The Backyardigans – Nickelodeon

Adam Peltzman, Head Writer

Jeff Borkin, Head Writer

Kerri Grant, Writer

Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness – Nickelodeon

Doug Langdale, Writer

Kevin Seccia, Writer

Peter Hastings, Writer

Cheryl Holliday, Story Editor

Scott Kreamer, Story Editor

Martha Speaks – PBS

Ken Scarborough, Head Writer

Raye Lankford, Writer

Joe Fallon, Writer

Ron Holsey, Writer

Peter K. Hirsch, Writer

Penguins of Madagascar – Nickelodeon

Bill Motz, Writer

Bob Roth, Writer

Brandon Sawyer, Writer

WordGirl – PBS

Tom Martin, Head Writer

Sergio Cilli, Writer

Jack Ferraiolo, Writer

Carla Filisha, Writer

Scott Ganz, Writer

Rick Groel, Writer

John N. Huss, Writer

Eric Ledgin, Writer

Ryan Raddatz, Writer

Andrew Samson, Writer

OUTSTANDING WRITING IN A CHILDREN’S SERIES

3rd & Bird! – Disney Channel

Billy Lopez, Writer

Melinda Richards, Writer

Dustin Ferrer, Writer

The Electric Company – PBS

Adam Peltzman, Head Writer

Willie Reale, Writer

Deirdre O’Connor, Writer

Tim McKeon, Writer

Sesame Street – PBS

Joey Mazzarino, Head Writer

Molly Boylan, Writer

Annie Evans, Writer

Christine Ferraro, Writer

Luis Santeiro, Writer

Belinda Ward, Writer

Emily Kingsley, Writer

John Weidman, Writer

Wild Kratts – PBS

Chris Kratt, Writer

Martin Kratt, Writer

The Wonder Pets! – Nickelodeon

Billy Lopez, Head Writer

Billy Aronson, Head Writer

Chris Nee, Writer

Rodney Stringfellow, Writer

J. J. Johnson, Writer

Christin Simms, Writer

Dustin Ferrer, Writer

OUTSTANDING CASTING FOR AN ANIMATED SERIES OR SPECIAL

Bubble Guppies – Nickelodeon

David Doan, Casting By

Maria Estrada, Casting By

Michelle Levitt, Casting By

Leslie Zaslower, Casting By

Disney Jake and the Never Land Pirates – Disney Channel

Brian Mathias, Casting By

Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness – Nickelodeon

Meredith Layne, Casting By

Sarah Noonan, Original Casting By

OUTSTANDING SPECIAL CLASS SHORT FORMAT DAYTIME PROGRAM

The Bay – Blip.tv

Gregori Martin, Executive Producer

Disney A Poem Is… – Disney Channel

Brian Hohlfeld, Executive Producer

Steve Arenas, Producer

Nickelodeon’s All Together Now Anti Bullying Campaign:

Dora the Explorer Interstitial – Nickelodeon

Chris Gifford, Executive Producer

Valerie Walsh Valdes, Executive Producer

Jeff DeGrandis, Supervising Producer

Holly Gregory, Coordinating Producer

Miken Wong, Producer

Marc Amiel, Line Producer

Gayle M. Grech, Supervising Picture Editor

David Wigforss, CG Animator

Henry Lenardin-Madden, Consulting Producer

Kuni Tomita, Consulting Producer

The Time I…(Dyslexia) – Disney Channel

Erika A. McCarden, Executive Producer

The Time I…(Shoes) – Disney Channel

Erika McCarden, Executive Producer

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND EDITING – ANIMATION

Hot Wheels Battle Force 5 – Cartoon Network

Jonny Ludgate, Sound Editor

Jeff Davis, Sound Editor

Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness – Nickelodeon

Joe Pizzulo, Supervising Sound Editor

Jeremy Zuckerman, Supervising Music Editor

Benjamin Wynn, Supervising Music Editor

Rob McIntryre, Sound Editor

Anna Adams, Supervising Dialogue Editor

Jason Stiff, Dialogue Editor

Molly Minus, Dialogue Editor

Matt Hall, Sound Effects Editor

Andrew Ing, Sound Effects Editor

Roberto Dominguez Alegria, Foley Editor

Penguins of Madagascar – Nickelodeon

Paulette Lifton, Supervising Sound Editor

James Lifton, Supervising Sound Editor

Adam Berry, Supervising Music Editor

Dominick Certo, Music Editor

Michael Petak, Supervising Dialogue Editor

D.J. Lynch, Dialogue Editor

Matt Hall, Sound Effects Editor

Ian Nyeste, Sound Effects Editor

Aran Tanchum, Foley Editor

Chris Gresham, Foley Editor

Lawrence Reyes, Foley Editor

SpongeBob SquarePants – Nickelodeon

Paulette Lifton, Supervising Sound Editor

James Lifton, Supervising Sound Editor

Kimberlee Vanek, Supervising Music Editor

Nick Carr, Music Editor

MIshelle Fordham, Supervising Dialogue Editor

D.J. Lynch, Dialogue Editor

Jeffrey Hutchins, Sound Effects Editor

Aran Tanchum, Foley Editor

Transformers Prime – The HUB

Robbi Smith, Dialogue Editor

Robert Poole II, Sound Effects Editor

Roy Braverman, Foley Editor

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND MIXING – ANIMATION

Hot Wheels Battle Force 5 – Cartoon Network

Dean Giammarco, Re-Recording Mixer

Ewan Deane, Re-Recording Mixer

Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness – Nickelodeon

Justin Brinsfield, Production Mixer

Matt Corey, Production Mixer

Thomas J. Maydeck, Re-Recording Mixer

Monster High – Nickelodeon

Mark Mercado, Production Mixer

Thomas J Maydeck, Re-Recording Mixer

Transformers Prime – HUB Network

Ray Leonard, Re-Recording Mixer

Mike Bieriger, Re-Recording Mixer