 " Destination : Imagination " was originally broadcast on Thanksgiving Day , November 27 , 2008 , on Cartoon Network , at 8 : 00 P.M. EST . It followed an afternoon @-@ long marathon of the animated series Chowder and a My Gym Partner 's A Monkey Thanksgiving special entitled " A Thanksgiving Carol " . The first special for the series , entitled " Good Wilt Hunting , " had also aired on Thanksgiving , back in 2006 . At the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards , the special won the award for " Outstanding Animated Program ( for Programming One Hour or More ) " , winning over Spike TV 's Afro Samurai : Resurrection . It was nominated for two Annie Awards for Best Animated Television Production Produced for Children and Directing for an Animated Television Production or Short Form . The special lost both to Nickelodeon 's Avatar : The Last Airbender . 
