The Story of Cartoon Club

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 Mas, 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 non troppo by Bruno Bozzetto, a tribute to Guido Manuli, 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; Pcooperation that continued into the next edition. For the fifth edition in 1989, Cartoon Club broadened its geographical borders and hosted a series of Canadian animated movies presented by the National Board to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The festival’s usual friends also participated (Bozzetto, Cavandoli 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 Sismondo Castle. 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 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. Cartoon Club has then explored again the relations between animation cinema and other arts, such as music and theatre, putting together new great shows, such as Chicken and Friends, Holiday in Cartoonia and Aladdin in Concert. And the world of comics has found its new home in Rimini thanks to Riminicomix, a comic fair that continues to attract an increasing number of exhibitors every year.
In 1998 Cartoon Club becomes a member of the European Coordination of Film Festivals and in 1999, together with other four Europena festivals, obtains funds from the European Community for the Project Connect, dedicated to children and to the goal of making culture in non-traditional ways. In 2001 a programme of films made by children was presented in many European events, and in 2007 Cartoon Club got the support of the General Direction for Cinema (Ministry of Culture).
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, music and great comic strip couples. And alongside comics are animated heroes from over the world. Over the years, Cartoon Club has established a network of contacts with authors and international animation experiences worldwide (especially in Canada, Poland, Czeck Republic, France).
Some of the most important Italian artists have come to Rimini. Leo Ortolani (creator of Rat-Man), Matitaccia (illustrator for Autosprint), Silver (Lupo Alberto), Corrado Mastantuono (Disney and Bonelli), Giancarlo Alessandrini (creator of Martin Mystère) and Carlos Gomez (artist of Dago), to mention just a few, often drawing non-stop, are assailed by fans, on hot summer nights on the Adriatic coast. Special comic-books 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 Salt Taste, Diabolik made a sensational Robbery in Rimini and Martin Mystère investigated the mysteries of the town in Grandotél. Dampyr came to the seaside with the Sand Vampyres, while the dark Dago investigated about The Golden Rose, and Jonathan Steele met the Ghosts Hunter. Lupo Alberto had to deal with a High Tide in 2007, the Special task Force has been in Rimini Under Coverage, and The Sleepless has faced real Monstruous Souls.
Since 1997 Cartoon Club has presented two awards; one for animated film school students (“Signor Rossi” Award), and one for essays on comics (“Franco Fossati” Award). In 2002 another award have been added to the Festival: the “Faith in Strips” Award, dedicated to comics written on religious themes. And in 2009 the "Cartoon Baby" Award was born, dedicated to short animated movies for an audience of children. Also, Cartoon Club publishes two magazines dedicated to comics and animated film reviews (Fumo di China and Annuario del Fumetto), 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. In 2008, as a member of the Emilia-Romagna Animated Region network, Cartoon Club participates to the organization of the Projects Award contest, addressed to young animators and directors who live in Emilia-Romagna.
In 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, putting together fun and culture.