:: HISTORY

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Cartoon Club is based on an idea that Paolo Scarponi (1947-1991) and
Isidoro Lanari had during the 1983 edition of “Round”, an independent film
festival organised by Rimini’s ACLI (Italian Workers’ Catholic Associations).
On that occasion, there was a presentation of the work of Nedo Zanotti, who
was born in Ferrara but grew up in Rimini before moving to Milan to work in
the field of animation. It proved to be the inspiration for an idea to create an
event that represented, as broadly as possible, Italian animated cinema,
which was largely unknown except for the usual “big names”. Whilst many
Italian cartoons enjoyed considerable success in many important international
animation festivals, on a national level they were given little space.
Cartoon Club provided that space.
The unusual “location” chosen for the festival was the 18th-century former
fish-market in Piazza Cavour and, as the festival takes place in summer, what
better place to enjoy animated images?
Cartoon Club began on 10th August 1985 and proved to be a remarkably
popular and successful evening. Cartoons by Pierluigi de Mar, Bruno Bozzetto,
Fusako Yusaki, Nedo Zanotti, D’Alò and Gianola, Manfredo Menfredi, Giuseppe
Laganà and Osvaldo Cavandoli were presented. Along with Nedo Zanotti,
Osvaldo Cavandoli, father of the extremely famous Mr. Linea , proved to be a
great consultant and friend given that he had been a loyal guest on the Riviera
of Romagna for many years.
In 1986 Cartoon Club was “promoted” to four evenings and it began to show
feature length films like West and Soda by Bozzetto and Putiferio va alla guerra by the Gavioli brothers. Also shown that year was the beautiful and extremely
rare La rosa di Bagdad by Domenghini, an Italian “Disney” film dated 1949.
The programme included anthologies and updated work by Bozzetto,
Cavandoli, De Mas, Gianini and Luzzati, Manuli and others.
For the third edition in 1987 a beautiful Lanterne Magiche show was presented. Animation cinema was still quite new and the show proved very impressive.
Other films included Un burattino di nome Pinocchio by Giuliano Cenci,
Allegro ma non troppo by Bruno Bozzetto, a tribute to Guido Manuela, and
the “gem” La guerra e il sogno di Momi, Giovanni Pastrone’s experience in
the field of animation dated 1916 and dusted off especially for the occasion.
The 1988 edition offered its now fairly large public seven evenings plus two
extras, one of which took place on the beach and was truly unforgettable -
Linea by Cavandoli. Italian films that had won awards at the most important international festivals were shown as were a selection of Roman cartoons, the extremely funny Tutto Bozzetto, a tribute to the late Pino Zac with Cavaliere Inesistente, an Italian example of cartoons working with actors in the flesh,
and the gem L’ultimo sciuscià by Gibba, the only Italian cartoon inspired by neorealism and dated 1947.
A successful relationship was also established with ASIFA, association that groups together most Italian cartoonists and in particular with its chairman
Bruno Bozzetto (who was one of the festival’s guests along with Zanotti, Cavandoli and Fusako Yusaki) and its secretary, Alfio Bastiancich; cooperation that continued into the next edition.
For the fifth edition in 1989, Cartoon Club broadened its geographical borders and hosted a series of Canadian cartoons presented by the National Board
to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The festival’s usual friends also participated (Bozzetto, Cavanldoli and De Mas), new Italian productions were presented
and there were many other surprises.
In 1990, Cartoon Club offered its growing public something new and feature length films were shown in the outdoor arena of the Malatesta fortress. These included When the wind blows by Jimmy T. Murakami and Mondo Cartoon, an overview of worldwide animated cinema production. There was also a section dedicated to the Urbino School of Animation that held an exhibition in Rimini, whereas the old fish-market hosted new works and traditional movies for
children.
Over two evenings and back in its usual location the old fish-market, Cartoon Club continued to enjoy success in 1991 and presented new Italian work, film library gems and an interesting retrospective dedicated to Hungarian animated films. From 1992 to date, Cartoon Club has grown considerably and its programmes have become more articulated, thanks to greater funding from
the town council, through contributions from Provincia di Rimini, Regione Emilia Romagna and since 2001 from MEDIA Programme of the European Community.
Since 1997 the festival has been held in different townplaces including the seaside area of Marina Centro and the old town centre. In recent years, the
public has been able to enjoy exhibitions dedicated to Bonvi, to great comic strip partners, to Superman, Dylan Dog, Mister No, Japanese mangas, Lupo Alberto, Nathan Never and many others… all of which have attracted a large public. Initiatives have multiplied and have aimed to offer a rich and articulate festival based not only on animated films but also on the world of comic strips. Debates, meetings, theatre shows and concerts, dedicated to comics and cartoons of course, have animated summer evenings in different parts of the town and have proved extremely popular. On one particular evening during the 1998 edition, more than 2,000 people gathered in Piazza Cavour to applaud a screening of some of the most famous cartoon and comic strip heroes on the façade of the Galli Theatre and Arengo Palace. And the world of comics has found its new home in Rimini thanks to Riminicomix, a comic fair that, after its initial success, has continued to attract an increasing number of exhibitors.
In 1998 Cartoon Club became a member of the European Coordination Film Festival and in 1999, along with four other festivals, was given funding by the European Community for the Connect Project dedicated to children and innovative ways of “making culture”. In 2001 a programme of animated films produced by primary and secondary schools was presented before being circulated throughout Europe.
In recent years, Cartoon Club has organised theme exhibitions that proved
very successful and focused on the relationship between comic art and subjects such as sport, faith, disability and great comic strip partners. And alongside comics are cartoon heroes from over the world. Over the years, Cartoon Club
has established a network of contacts with authors and international animation experiences worldwide. Some of the most important Italian artists have come
to Rimini. Leo Ortolani (Rat-Man), Matitaccia (illustrator for Autosprint), Silver (Lupo Alberto), Corrado Mastantuono (Disney and Bonelli) and Giancarlo Alessandrini (Martin Mystère), to mention just a few, often drawing non-stop,
are assailed by fans, on hot summer nights on the Adriatic coast. Special
albums with famous comic characters in new adventures set in Rimini have
sold like hot cakes; Rat-Man, who opened the series, delighted the audience
with Sapore di Sale, Diabolik made a sensational robbery in Rimini Colpo a Rimini and Martin Mystère investigated the mysteries of the town in Grandotél. This year, it’s Dampyr’s turn with a brand new story that will keep collectors
and fans happy.
Since 1997 Cartoon Club has presented two awards; one for animated film school students "Premio Signor Rossi" and one for essays on comics or
cartoons "Premio Franco Fossati", in 2001 the award "Otto Tavole per Mondo
Naif"in collaboration with Kappa Edizioni, in 2002 two other awards have been added to the Festival: "Premio Fede a Strisce" dedicated to comics written on
religious themes and "Flashcartoon" dedicated to works made with the Flash
software by Macromedia.
In 1998, Cartoon Club became even more complete thanks to the purchase of three magazines dedicated to comics and animated film reviews. The monthly magazines "Fumo di China" and "Mangagiornale" and "Gli annuari del Fumetto
e del Cinema d’animazione" are distributed nationwide in news stands and specialist bookshops. Cartoon Club’s publishing activity has increased with the publication of exhibition catalogues and monographic books dedicated to comic strip characters and cartoonists, part of the new Abaco collection.
During winter, Cartoon Club continues its work by promoting scriptwriting and comic technique courses as well as educational courses on animated cinema
in schools. Despite its many different activities, the festival’s main concern is
make people come towards the world of animation cinema and comics
through fun and culture.

by Sabrina Zanetti