Peter Ricq of electropop faves Humans is used to being an overachiever. His band is doing remarkably well for an outfit that came together less than three years ago, and he’s probably the only musician in town who has his own animated TV show. Ricq scaled newer and even more nauseating heights of success on June 11 when that series, League of Super Evil, took home the Leo Award for best animation program. Ricq stepped up to the podium to accept the award, thanking producer Chuck Johnson for taking a chance on him and his partners.

“I came out of university and everybody said no to our show,” Ricq told the Straight. “YTV, BBC, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Teletoon—everyone said, ”˜No, no, no.’ ”

Nerd Corps Entertainment eventually picked up the project, relocating Ricq and cocreators Philippe Ivanusic and Davila LeBlanc from Montreal to Vancouver in 2007. It evidently paid off. “For a little while it was the biggest cartoon in Canada,” Ricq said. “We actually beat iCarly for a week. I don’t know if that’s a big deal for you, but for me, it’s ”˜Yay!’ ”

Amazingly, Ricq was also nominated—twice—for Humans videos “Bike Home” and “The End”, both of which he produced and directed. Sarah Slean’s “The Rose” took home the trophy.