Leave it to Beaver star Jerry Mathers returned to the Young Artist Academy stage to receive the Icon Award, nearly 35 years after being honored at the 1984 Awards Show.
Twenty years after receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, Paul Petersen, an original 1955 "Mouseketeer" & Child Actor Rights Advocate, returned to the Young Artist Academy stage as a Special Presenter and Ambassador for child actor rights, on behalf of A Minor Consideration.
Designer Pol' Atteu was the official designer of the 2018 Young Artist Academy(TM) Awards.
Alan Tudyk (Star Wars/Firefly/Knights Tale) shared that he had voiced roles in every Walt Disney Animation Studios® film since Wreck-It Ralph in 2012, and improvised a number of the voices between his scripted Presenter lines.
In honor of the 2018 Theme "Courage to Shine", the 2018 Awards Show was dedicated to First Responders, Young Artists and their Families, and Communities affected by natural disasters of the previous year. Special Messages of support played at the Awards Show from San Juan, Puerto Rico Mayor, Carmen Yulin Cruz, and from Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Elizabeth Dowdeswell - each expressing support and encouragement to the attending Nominees affected by the 2017/2018 natural disasters.