Interactive workshops, major players in animation and gaming, a grand finale with the cosplayer and mascot parade. From November 26 to 28 in L’Aquila in the historic Palazzo dell’Emiciclo.
The Winter Edition of Cartoons on the Bay returns to L’Aquila from November 26 to 28 with a rich program: among the most anticipated events are the Roblox workshop dedicated to game design and digital creativity, the stop-motion workshop with director and animator Stefano Bessoni, masterclasses with Fabrizio Vidale, one of the most beloved voices in Italian dubbing, and the brand-new final parade that will enliven the historic center with cosplayers, mascots, and face painting. An edition that celebrates imagination in all its forms, promoted by Rai and produced by Rai Com in collaboration with the Abruzzo Region and the Municipality of L’Aquila, with the new artistic direction of Adriano Monti Buzzetti.
Starting at 9 in the morning on Wednesday, November 26, students from Abruzzo will be the protagonists of an immersive educational experience in the world of animation. Programs and workshops dedicated to primary and secondary schools will offer the opportunity to learn from industry professionals, playing, discovering the professions of the future, and reflecting on digital citizenship, sustainability, and creativity. The young participants will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Maya the Bee (L’ape Maia) , discover the inclusive universe of Lampadino e Caramella, and get to know the professions of dubbing, animation directing, screenwriting, music, and sound design up close. Great anticipation for two special events: the Roblox workshop, a journey into the world of game design and digital creativity, and the stop-motion workshop with director Stefano Bessoni, a unique experience to enter the world of animation.
The afternoon program, in the Sala Ipogea of the Palazzo dell’Emiciclo, will be dedicated to families, university students, and enthusiasts of all ages, with masterclasses led by industry champions: On Wednesday, November 26, the appointments are with animator and director Stefano Argentero (Stop Motion Animation) and Fabrizio Vidale, one of the most beloved voices in cinema and TV (Dubbing). Thursday, November 27, will be the turn of author and screenwriter Andrea Fazzini (Screenwriting) and animation director Alessandro Rak (Directing). Friday, November 28, the meetings scheduled are with video game composer and sound designer Carlo Tuzza and the principal Italian stop motion director and animator Stefano Bessoni. Every day, from 3 PM to 5 PM, there will also be Roblox Jam Sessions with Luca Patrizi in the Sala Summa: an interactive workshop to unleash imagination and digital skills. The Navata of the Palazzo dell’Emiciclo will host an exhibition dedicated to Tony Wolf (Antonio Lupatelli), a highly beloved illustrator for generations of children. The exhibition itinerary traces his long career: from the Storie del Bosco (Stories of the Forest) to giant books, from tarot cards to oriental-style illustrations, up to his most recent and unpublished works. The event will conclude on Friday, November 28 at 3 PM, with the colorful Cosplayer and Mascot Parade: a grand event that will start from Piazza Duomo to reach the Palazzo dell’Emiciclo, where an afternoon party with face painting and activities for families will be held. A moment of joy and participation to cheerfully conclude three intense days dedicated to imagination and shared creativity. The official poster for “Cartoons on the Bay – Winter Edition 2025” is signed by the Abruzzo artist Carmine Di Giandomenico, in homage to the creative strength of the territory.
On the occasion of Cartoons on the Bay – Winter Edition 2025, RaiPlay presents an exclusive offer available on raiplay.it/cartoonsonthebay-winter. Among the titles dedicated to the crafts of cinema and animation, there is a focus on stop motion with the series “Piccolissimi” and the art short film “Pierino e il lupo – Peter and The Wolf”. The theme of sustainability is represented by “Yaya e Lennie – The Walking Liberty” by Alessandro Rak and “Maya the Bee 3D » (L’Ape Maia 3D). RaiPlay dedicates a focus to children’s rights with “Dounia – The Great White North » (Dounia, il grande paese bianco), an exclusive preview on the platform during the Festival days, and to inclusion, told through a collection of titles for the little ones, from “Lampadino e Caramella nel Magiregno degli Zampa” to “Il cercasuoni” (The Sound Collector)).
“We wanted to give the 2025 Aquila appointment of Cartoons on the Bay an increasingly marked didactic and educational connotation, seeking to enhance the great potential of digital creativity as a vehicle for social inclusion, learning, and stimulating curiosity for students and families,” states the Artistic Director of Cartoons On The Bay, Adriano Monti Buzzetti. “An objective we sought to pursue through a program centered on people even before products. Designers, voice actors, animators, screenwriters, directors, storyboarders: from the Italian ‘dream factory,’ we have gathered internationally renowned Talent, true excellences in the animation, audiovisual, and video game sectors, who, by interacting with the public, will recount the daily life of their professions in a fresh, fun, and empathetic way. Combined with the inevitable component of spectacle and entertainment, the union of their experiences will, we hope, compose a compelling choral narrative of the contemporary imagination for young people.”
“With Cartoons on the Bay, L’Aquila and Abruzzo once again become protagonists on the international cultural scene, confirming themselves as places of creativity, innovation, and talent,” declares the President of the Abruzzo Region, Marco Marsilio. “This event represents an extraordinary opportunity for our young people to meet the great masters of animation and digital art, and for the territory to showcase its capacity to host events of the highest level, capable of combining training, art, and entertainment.”
“In all its editions, Cartoons on the Bay brings talents, ideas, and audience from all over the country to our region, strengthening our territory’s ability to combine culture, creativity, and innovation,” affirms the Councilor for Culture of the Abruzzo Region, Roberto Santangelo. “Through workshops, screenings, and meetings, this festival allows us to speak to the younger generations with a contemporary language, stimulate curiosity, and train new spectators and creatives. I thank the Municipality of L’Aquila for the collaboration, and everyone who makes this moment possible. Together we can make Abruzzo not just a stopover, but a true ‘showcase’ of Italian and international animation, capable of attracting culture, audience, and investments.”