Cartoon Club, International Festival of Animation, Comics and Games Cinema, this year celebrates its 40th edition from 15 to 21 July 2024.
Born from the experience of Acli Arte e Spettacolo APS provincial headquarters of Rimini, the Festival takes place annually in Rimini in July. Seven days full of meetings with authors, exhibitions, workshops, screenings, shows and events.
Cartoon Club has now become one of the main points of reference for Italian fans and professionals of comics, animated cinema and games, Nerds and Cosplayers.
A festival that over the years has been able to grow, evolve and expand, helping to generate an ever-increasing tourist impact on the city and the territory.
Cartoon Club is a network that operates all year round and includes: the International Animation Film Festival, exhibitions, educational and social projects, original shows, educational activities in schools, Riminicomix the market exhibition dedicated to comics and gadgets in the sector and one of the most popular Cosplay Conventions in Italy.
At the same time, he has an intense editorial activity, as he is the editor of Fumo di China, the historic monthly magazine of criticism and non-fiction on comics. It also publishes books and catalogues on themes or protagonists of the ninth art and animated cinema.
A Brief History
The Festival was born in 1985 from an idea of Paolo Scarponi, unforgettable president and man of culture of the Rimini ACLI. Together with him, Isidoro Lanari, a film scholar and a group of very young enthusiasts. Due to Paolo’s untimely death in 1991, some of these young “helpers” decided to carry on his legacy.
Over the years, the small initial group of promoters has managed to gather around it other faithful companions in the adventure: professionals, journalists, experts in the field.
Cartoon Club’s growth has been unstoppable. From the first editions that took place in the fascinating setting of the old eighteenth-century fish market in the heart of the historic center, currently the initiatives of the Festival occupy over 10 locations in the most significant places of the city: museums, art galleries, library, courtyards and film arenas in the cultural heart of historic Rimini up to invading Piazzale Federico Fellini by the sea, with a real village that involves the adjacent clubs and beach baths with its events.
In its long years of life, the Festival has never stopped experimenting, and adapting to the changes taking place in society, working in favor of both an artistic and industrial sector, where creativity is continuously transformed in relation to technological innovation – in 1985 it was projected in 16 mm today in digital – and has also managed to intercept the phenomena of costume that have developed in support of comics and cinema.
Cartoon Club uses the languages of animation and comics to reflect on the social problems of our time, each edition has a thematic focus dedicated to cultural, social and sometimes denunciatory content. Some examples: “They come from the sea. How Animated Cinema and Comics Have Tackled the Theme of Migrants” (2017), “The Strength of Women. A vigilant look against gender-based violence”, (2018), “Super@bility: disability represented by cinema ‘animation and comics’ (2019), “Homage to Fellini” (2020), “The protection of water and the environment” (2021/2022). “Rights Denied” (2023), the fight against oppression, discrimination and violence. A lot of energy has been lavished on keeping alive the connections with the other European realities of the sector, creating relationships with the Festivals, joining Networks, promoting exchanges between jurors, authors, producers.
The Artists
Among the hundreds of artists who have passed through the Festival are: George Schwizgebel, Jimmy Murakami, Tadeusz Wilkosz, Daniel Szczechura, Stefano Ricci, Ana Solanas, Alix Wiseman, Andrzej Orzechowski, Fusako Yusaki, Andrzej Roman Jasiewicz, Piotr Dumala, Tadeus Wikosz, Cristina Làstrego and Francesco Testa, Gruppo Pochi, Michel Ocelot, Carloni and Franceschetti.
The public
Cartoon Club has played a significant role in opening up new opportunities for innovative cultural tourism in the territory of Rimini, a tourist town known for its beaches and seaside tourism.
By promoting art, culture, animation and comics, it has been able to intercept a different niche of the public, offering an additional reason to visit Rimini with a new formula of experiential tourism.
The Festival is now one of the main events of the already lively cultural and spectacular scene of summer Rimini and further enriches its calendar.
The numbers of cartoon club
- 8 competitions
- 7 exhibitions
- 2 unpublished publications
- 300 short films from 50 countries
- 10,000 spectators at the screenings
- 25,000 cosplay contest participants
- 70,000 Riminicomix participants
- 200 exhibitors exhibition market
- 150,000 total attendance
- 100 great national and international guests
The locations
Historic centre
- Screening of animated short films and feature films
- Meetings with authors from the world of animation and comics
- Live painting, art installations and live music
- Shows and Awards of the competitions
- Area Kids & Family
- Exhibitions
Marina Centro
Piazzale Fellini
- Riminicomix – Comic book market exhibition
- Cosplay Conventions & Shows
- Games and Content Creators Area
- Comic Workshop
- Meeting with authors
International Awards
Lifetime Achievement Award
Since 2014, the Festival has been awarding the Lifetime Achievement Award to authors and directors of animated and comic films who have distinguished themselves in the world.
The winners were: Bruno Bozzetto, Maurizio Nichetti, Nedo Zanotti, Osvaldo Cavandoli, Fusako Yusaki, Michel Fuzellier, Iginio Straffi, Giuseppe Laganà, Alfredo Castelli, Marcello Toninelli, Silver, Enzo D’Alò, Michel Ocelot, Altan.
Cartoon Club Award for the Environment
Since 2020, the festival has been awarding the prize to the films that best express the values of safeguarding the planet and environmental sustainability.
International juries award the following prizes:
Cartoon Club Award
Dedicated to animated films produced by authors and production companies
Signor Rossi Award
Dedicated to animated films produced by animation film students
Junior Prize
Dedicated to animated films, films made in school laboratories or workshops
Cartoon Kids Award
Dedicated to animated films produced for the target of 5-11 year olds.
This Prize is awarded by a jury of over 700 children
Franco Fossati Award
Dedicated to critical and non-fiction works on comics
Fede a Strisce Award “Ramberti Family”
Dedicated to comics that express the religious sense.
Exhibitions
The exhibitions pay homage to authors such as Bozzetto, Cavandoli, Bignardi, Bottaro, Toccafondo, Fusako Yusaki, Laganà, or characters: Donald Duck, The Simpsons, Mickey Mouse, Diabolik, Tex. La Pimpa and many others, or themes such as: “They come from the Sea, immigration narrated through comics”, “Differentlyable, children of a minor comic strip”…
Collateral events
Cartoon Club Kids organizes a program dedicated to children and families in the wonderful setting of the square on the water, within the natural environment of the Marecchia park.
Didactic activities and cinematographic dissemination
The festival organizes animation and comic book workshops to engage younger audiences (children and teenagers) and Masterclasses for students and adults.
Special projects – Super@bility – Art and disability
Since 2018, workshops, exhibitions and shows have been organized that use the medium of cartoons and comics to combat stereotypes associated with people with disabilities and neurocognitive diversity.
The Festival is committed to enhancing the protagonism of people with disabilities through art and to promoting their active participation in this context.
Original comics produced by the festival
An original exclusive of the Festival are the Special Comics.
Every year, some stories with famous characters (Diabolik, Martyn Mistère, Ratman, Don Camillo, etc.) are created by well-known authors of comic book publishing, who interpret original scripts often set in the city of Rimini.
The publications are distributed during the Festival and at specialized bookstores in Italy.
Two stories are planned for 2024.
Riminicomix Market Exhibition
Located in the heart of Marina Centro, in the charming Piazzale Federico Fellini, a short distance from the sea, in 1996 Cartoon Club opened Riminicomix, the market exhibition dedicated to comics, hobbies, collectibles, merchandising, costumes, accessories and games.
Riminicomix offers a unique opportunity to embark on an unusual and fun journey through the stands, where you can find rare pieces and many curiosities dedicated to European and American comics, manga, anime, retrogaming, collectibles.
Self Area
An exhibition area is dedicated to emerging talents in comics and illustration, where you can find self-produced albums, prints, gadgets and original drawings.
Games Area
It is an exciting and engaging place for board game enthusiasts, who will be able to try the most interesting titles of recent years, thanks also to the collaboration with Play – Festival Del Gioco.
Stage Creators
A special area offers the opportunity to delve into the world of animation, comics, video games and mass communication thanks to the participation of youtubers, tiktokers and creators, who meet the public and offer a valuable experience of sharing and entertainment.
Events in Tourism Building
Overlooking the garden of Piazzale Fellini, the Palazzina del Turismo is a multifunctional center that houses the Festival secretariat, meetings with authors and screenings of Japanese anime. Meetings, workshops and courses are organized for the very young, comic book enthusiasts, students who offer the opportunity to deepen the techniques and acquire new skills.
Concerts
Numerous appointments with music and artists
Guest of honour Cristina D’Avena
Federico Fellini Park – July 17, 2024 at 21:30
Cristina D’Avena is one of the most loved Italian singers, both by children and adults! Famous since the eighties thanks to the theme songs of Japanese cartoons.
He made everyone dream with his famous cartoon theme songs, and today he continues to fill up on his concerts with fans in raptures singing at the top of their lungs hits such as “Kiss me Licia”, “Nanà”, “Cat’s Eyes”, “Holly and Benji”, “Creamy” and the “Smurfs”.
Cosplay Convention
Every year Cartoon Club hosts the usual appointment with the Cosplay Convention, the largest, funniest and most colorful gathering of the Italian summer.
A real tribe that moves to Rimini from all over Italy and abroad.
The great hotel accommodation of the city and the unique location of its kind, have meant that, from an initial presence of a few hundred people, we have passed to an audience of aficionados of about 25,000 presences, including lovers of the genre and simple enthusiasts.
From 18 to 21 July 2024 four days of contests for professional and non-professional cosplayers, k-pop, j-pop, themed gatherings.
