For its 27th edition, COTB presents more than 300 works in competition selected in over 50 countries, Germany as the guest country.
Peter Lord, Ari Folman, Ian Mackinnon, Altan, and Bruno Bozzetto. These are the five key figures of the new edition of Cartoons on the Bay, the festival of television animation, transmedia, and meta-art, directed by Roberto Genovesi for Rai Com. The festival was presented at the Rai – Radio Televisione Italiana head office in Rome and will take place in Pescara, from May 31st to June 4th, in collaboration with the Abruzzo Region and the Municipality of Pescara.
The COTB program will propose various professional spotlights, including panels, Knote sessions, and masterclasses, featuring the greatest Masters of animation, video games, and metaverses. Peter Lord and Ari Folman, talents of masterpieces like Wallace & Gromit and Waltz with Bashir, will receive the Pulcinella Career Awards. Ian MacKinnon, creator of Guillermo del Toro’s puppets of Oscar-winning ‘Pinocchio’ will be honored as Studio of the Year. To the ‘Cuphead’ phenomenon, between cartoons and video games, the event’s new Transmedia Award. Altan will receive the Sergio Bonelli Award, last year Zerocalcare and Carlos Grangel received the Prize.
Cartoons on the Bay confirms the Rai group teamwork, with the involvement of Rai Kids, RaiPlay and Rai Radio Kids through live shows, events for the public as well as for schools, such as the Winx musical or the Cuccioli musical, with the presence of the most famous TV mascots broadcasted on Rai Gulp and Rai Yoyo as well as popular faces like Andrea Lucchetta and Armando Traverso who will be accompanied by the renowned Rai Radio Kids DJ. A true cross-media project will involve Rai Play, which will exclusively host certain parts of the festival program, such as the retrospectives dedicated to Peter Lord and Ian Mackinnon, as well as the special event celebrating the 140th anniversary of the first publication of ‘Pinocchio’ by Collodi.
Among the most anticipated guests by children, Pera Toons who will sign in person copies of her latest book. Giorgio Vanni, well known for his concert featuring the most famous and popular cartoons theme songs, will entertain children, parents, and grandparents for an entire afternoon.
The much anticipated preview of ‘I Cavalieri dello Zodiaco’ is scheduled on June 1st at 9PM, at the Teatro Cinema Massimo and the Fun & Games Village where for the first time the festival will host a very popular tournament of role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons.
The manifesto of Cartoons on the Bay 2023 is created by Monica Manganelli, the set designer of Cloud Atlas and several other of the most innovative and experimental theatrical works in recent years. The festival will feature an exhibition dedicated to her remarkable artistic contributions.
Cartoons on the Bay 2023 will take place at: Aurum (professional program), Piazza della Rinascita (public program), Teatro Cinema Massimo (premieres, retrospectives and titles in competition). Free admission for all activities.