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| Joy Ngiaw Becomes First Malaysian Emmy Winner After Triumph at Children’s & Family Emmy Awards. (Photo via: Instagram/Joy) |
Malaysian composer Joy Ngiaw has made history after winning an Emmy Award for her work on the Apple TV+ animated series WondLa, becoming the first Malaysian ever to receive the prestigious honour. The Pahang-born musician secured the award for Outstanding Music Direction and Composition for an Animated Program at the 4th Annual Children’s & Family Emmy Awards held at Lincoln Center in New York City on 1–2 March 2026.
The Children’s & Family Emmy Awards recognise artistic and technical excellence in youth-focused television programming. The Emmys remain one of the four most prestigious entertainment honours in the United States, alongside the Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards.
Joy Ngiaw earned the award for composing the score for the second season of WondLa, the animated sci-fi adventure series produced for Apple TV+.
The 31-year-old composer has overseen the music for all three seasons of the show, shaping the soundscape of its futuristic world and character-driven storytelling.
Her work on the first season, released in 2024, had already drawn international attention.
That score received a nomination at the Annie Awards for Outstanding Achievement for Music in an Animated Television or Media Production, placing Ngiaw among leading composers working in animation.
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| Emmy Glory for Malaysia as Joy Ngiaw Takes Home Music Award for Apple TV+ Series WondLa |
During her acceptance speech, Ngiaw reflected on the journey that brought her from Malaysia to one of the biggest stages in television.
“I’m incredibly honoured to stand here tonight. Growing up in Malaysia, I never imagined that writing music could take me all the way to the Emmys,” she said.
“This award belongs to the brilliant team behind WondLa who trusted me to help bring this world to life. To young musicians watching from home, especially those from small places like where I grew up, keep believing that your stories and your music matter.”
The Emmy win adds to a growing list of recognition for the composer.
In 2024, Joy Ngiaw was named a BAFTA Breakthrough USA honouree, a programme designed to spotlight rising talent in film, television and games. She also won Best Music at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards for her score for the animated short Blush.
Industry publications have repeatedly praised her work. A composers’ survey by IndieWire previously included her WondLa score among the best television scores of the year, appearing alongside music from high-profile series such as Severance and The White Lotus.
Beyond animation, Joy Ngiaw has also expanded into film scoring. She recently composed the music for the American romantic comedy Solo Mio, starring Kevin James, marking another step in her growing presence in international productions.
Online, the reaction from Malaysian audiences and global animation fans was swift. Many described the win as a proud milestone for Southeast Asian representation in Hollywood’s music industry.
Comments across social media celebrated Joy Ngiaw’s achievement as a breakthrough moment for Malaysian composers working abroad.
Some fans pointed out that Ngiaw’s success highlights how Asian musicians are increasingly shaping the sound of global television. Others praised the emotional depth of her WondLa score, noting how the music helped anchor the series’ themes of discovery and belonging.
For Malaysia’s creative community, the Emmy victory also carries symbolic weight.
Local artists, film students and musicians widely shared the news, describing it as proof that talent from the region can reach the highest levels of international recognition.
With an Emmy now added to her list of honours, Joy Ngiaw’s career appears to be moving into an even larger global spotlight. As more audiences discover her work across television and film, many are already asking the same question: what project will Joy Ngiaw score next?
What do you think about this historic win for Malaysia? Have you watched WondLa, and did the music stand out to you?