Founded in 1996, COTB is a leading International event dedicated to new trends in animation, gaming, comics, children contents and all transmedia visual arts. Since 2022 it has been known as the International Festival of Animation, Transmedia and Interactive Art Forms
In 1996, Rai begins to increase the visibility of Italian animation, which, until now, has had no real outlet. The artistic director is a cartoon expert: Alfio Bastiancich, whose leadership transforms the Festival into an international industry event with a particular focus on television animation.
A focus that since 2009, under the direction of Roberto Genovesi, has also taken in new media, video games, comics, social media, cosplayers and, in general, all mass phenomena related to the visual arts and entertainment.
Cartoons on the Bay is divided into several categories: Professional, Schools, Cinema and Public.
The Festival is synonymous with the Pulcinella Awards, presented every year in each competition product category and now one of the most prestigious animation prizes in Europe.
With 8 categories and 500 works submitted every year, including TV programmes, short films and feature films and video games, Cartoons on the Bay is an international event that attracts competitors from 50 countries.
The Artistic Direction Department awards the Pulcinella Lifetime Achievement Award, the Pulcinella Studio of the Year Award and the Pulcinella Special Awards to personalities who have stood out in the industry at international level. It also awards the UNICEF plaque for Best Social Product and hosts the Giuseppe Laganà Award (in collaboration with Asifa Italia and Cartoon Italia), dedicated to authors under 30 years of age.
In addition, the Festival brings a wide range of highly cultural initiatives to the local area, all of which free and open to the public.