At L’Aquila’s Palazzo dell’Emiciclo, the great celebration of creativity is underway, featuring leading figures in animation and gaming, along with students from across the Abruzzo region. The event will conclude on Friday, November 28, with a grand parade of mascots and cosplayers.
The Winter Edition of Cartoons on the Bay has come alive today, November 26, with a program celebrating imagination in all its forms. Over three hundred primary and secondary school students from Abruzzo have already taken part in dedicated programs and workshops early in the morning, embarking on a true journey into the world of animation and its professions. Amid smiles and great enthusiasm, the children were welcomed by Armando Traverso and the puppet DJ from Rai Radio Kids, celebrated the 50th anniversary of Ape Maia (Maya the Bee), and entered the Magiregno degli Zampa with Lampadino e Caramella to explore the theme of inclusion.
The afternoon program featured packed masterclasses: animator and director Stefano Argentero led a session on stop-motion, while actor and voice actor Fabrizio Vidale explored the use of voice in dubbing. On Thursday 27, author and screenwriter Andrea Fazzini and animation director Alessandro Rak will meet the public. On Friday 28, composer and video game sound designer Carlo Tuzza and Italian stop-motion director and animator Stefano Bessoni will take the stage.
Great interest has also been shown in the areas dedicated to the Roblox Jam Session, an interactive workshop to unleash creativity and digital skills, and in the exhibition on the art of Tony Wolf (Antonio Lupatelli), a beloved children’s illustrator.
The Winter Edition will conclude on Friday at 3 PM with a festive parade of cosplayers and mascots, traveling from Piazza Duomo to Palazzo dell’Emiciclo. Taking part will be Lampo and Milady from 44 Gatti (Rainbow), Ape Maiaand Milo (DeAPlaneta), and Lampadino e Caramella (Animundi). Joining them will be cosplayers portraying Buzz Lightyear, Captain Hook, Geppetto, Snape, Sailor Moon, Snow White, Wednesday, Morticia, Deadpool & Wolverine, Zoro & Luffy (One Piece), Barbie, Spiderman, Professor McGonagall, Snape, and Mary Poppins. A fun Mortina-themed truccabimbi (face-painting) station by Cartobaleno Animation Studio will welcome children in Piazza dell’Emiciclo.
Cartoons on the Bay – Winter Edition 2025 is promoted by Rai and produced by Rai Com in collaboration with the Abruzzo Region and the Municipality of L’Aquila, under the artistic direction of Adriano Monti Buzzetti. Rai Pubblica Utilità is also present in L’Aquila, working to make some educational activities accessible to children and young people through Italian Sign Language. RaiPlay is dedicating a series of titles on the professions of cinema and animation to Cartoons on the Bay – Winter Edition 2025 at raiplay.it/cartoonsonthebay-winter.