Cartoons On the Bay 2024, an edition full of international stars

John Musker, Leslie Iwerks, Juanio Guarnido, and Sara Pichelli are just some of the guest stars of Cartoons On The Bay 2024. The poster for the 28th edition of the International Festival of Animation, Transmedia, and Meta Arts, scheduled in Pescara from May 29 to June 2, is entrusted to the illustrator and cartoonist Silvia Ziche and her character Lucrezia.

Over three hundred works from nearly fifty countries will compete for the prestigious Pulcinella Awards, while Sport will be the theme of the year to celebrate the upcoming Olympics, and Spain, the guest nation, will take center stage in collaboration with the Instituto Cervantes.

Cartoons On The Bay is increasingly becoming a festival for all of Rai, with the collaboration of main partners Rai Kids, RaiPlay, Rai Radio Kids, Rai Radio 2, and Rai Libri. Over a hundred guests, including directors, producers, artists, and animation industry managers, will alternate at Aurum for three days of panels, keynotes, and masterclasses. Meanwhile, Piazza della Rinascita will host concerts by Antonella Ruggiero, Emanuela Pacotto, and the Ensemble of the Conservatory of Santa Cecilia, which will perform some of the most famous cartoon series themes. The national premiere of Thomas Cailley's film "The Animal Kingdom", winner of five César awards, will also be featured.

Promoted by Rai and organized by Rai Com, with artistic direction by Roberto Genovesi, Cartoons On The Bay is held in collaboration with the Abruzzo Region, the Municipality of Pescara, and the Minister for Sport and Youth through the Department for Sport.

Meetings with the great masters of animation, showcasing their art and projects, will be the focus of the professional program. Cartoons on the Bay is ready to celebrate the 40-year animation career of director John Musker ("The Little Mermaid"), who will receive the Pulcinella Award for Career Achievement. The talents of director and producer Leslie Iwerks ("Recycled Life") and cartoonist Juanjo Guarnido ("Blacksad") will both be honored with the Pulcinella Special Award. Sara Pichelli, one of the most acclaimed Italian comic book artists globally, will receive the Sergio Bonelli Award.

A dedicated exhibition, Stefano Bessoni. Stop-motion e altrescienzeinesatte, will be open to the public from May 30 to June 1, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. The festival will also feature the mascots of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, Tina and Milo.

The Public, Cinema, and Schools programs are also rich with content. Piazza della Rinascita will host the live broadcast of "Il Ruggito del Conigli"o (Rai Radio 2) with Marco Presta and Antonello Dose.

Unmissable appointments with sports in the square, shows by Rai Radio Kids with Armando Traverso, and live performances by Rai No Name Radio will also take place. Rai Kids will bring all the stars of Rai Yoyo to the stage, from "Masha e Orso" to" Pinocchio."

The Cineteatro Massimo will host screenings of competing feature films, a retrospective dedicated to John Musker, and the premiere of "The Animal Kingdom". For three days, primary and middle school students will be guests of the festival to develop original educational pathways, with world volleyball champion Andrea Lucchetta also participating in the events.