Dear Reader
Welcome to the very first special insert of the European Animation Journal—and what a better way to kick things off than at Cartoon Forum! In this handy pocket edition, we dive into the heart of Europe’s top event for TV animation projects.
After joining this event for many years, we can say it’s inspiring to see how much space is now given to themes like environmental awareness, diversity, and inclusion—wonderful messages to share with today’s younger generations. We’ve also noticed a big rise in projects aimed at Young Adults. And because we love to think beyond the screen, we have decided to add our special touch: a Transmedia Tip for each featured project, providing ideas on how they could expand their intellectual properties into new realms. We can’t wait to see who picks up the challenge!
As Media Partners at Cartoon Forum, we’re thrilled to be here and eager to watch the pitches of the projects we selected, hoping they will soon grow into successful IPs across Europe and beyond.
See you in Toulouse!
Cristina and Serena
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Cristina Angelucci
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Serena Previderé
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PRESCHOOL
Nurturing Creativity
CARTOON
Cartoon Forum: The Unique Hub for European Animation
BRIDGE
Endless Adventures
New Projects from Catalonia
MOVIMENTI PRODUCTION
Movimenti Hits Italy with Two Animated Series for Young Audiences
ANIMATION UK
Animated UK Meets Europe: Rebuilding EU Creative Bridges PostBrexit
BCBF
The Bologna Children’s Book Fair on the Move: Bridging Creativity
BOLOGNARAGAZZI CROSSMEDIA AWARD
Where Stories Take Shape Across Platforms: Bologna Ragazzi CrossMedia Awards 2026
KIDS In the Name of Action and Fun
TWEENS Comic-Worthy Tales
YOUNG ADULTS
Redefining Stories and Formats FAMILY Tales to Share
Cartoon Forum: The Unique Hub for European Animation
The Cartoon Forum is neither a festival nor a traditional trade fair — it is a European co-production forum dedicated to TV and platform animation programmes. For three days, producers from across Europe pitch their projects to a concentrated gathering of broadcasters, investors, and potential partners. In this relaxed yet highly professional setting, participants strengthen commercial ties, meet new contacts, and accelerate financing deals, with one in three projects securing financing within just 2 to 3 years of presentation. Annick Maes, General Director at CARTOON, guides us through this year’s edition, discusses trends and gives us an insight into upcoming projects.
Annick Maes
All pictures are courtesy of CARTOON
CARTOON’s initiatives significantly contribute to shaping the conversation within the European Animation Industry. How can Cartoon Forum open up to new possibilities?
Since its creation in 1990, the Cartoon Forum has been the key event for pitching pre-selected TV animation projects. Here co-productions are finalised, pre-buys agreed, distribution deals negotiated, rights options discussed, and secondary rights licensed.
Over the years, 1,017 projects – with a combined budget of of €3.69 billion – have secured financing and gone into production or been broadcast worldwide. Nearly 40% of the projects presented at Cartoon Forum achieves financing and enters production. Cartoon Forum plays a crucial role in structuring the European animation market by creating a strong network of transborder cooperation, rebuilding trust, and proving that the EU offers a wealth of high-quality animation.
What is the vision for the 2025 edition?
In recent years, the animation industry has faced significant challenges due to the ongoing economic crisis,
which has led to financing difficulties and a decrease in the number of projects being approved. Producers are increasingly in need of new leads, partners, and funding opportunities to address critical budget gaps. In 2025, CARTOON is responding with targeted initiatives aimed at supporting producers and meeting the current market needs.
The Fill the Gap platform provides an opportunity for producers who pitched at Cartoon Forum in the last three years and are still seeking
financing. The initiative is designed to connect these producers with potential partners, secure final financing, and expedite the production process by enhancing exposure and networking opportunities.
In the frame of the Animated UK Meets Europe initiative, three exciting UK animation projects will be presented in a dedicated session, complementing the main pitching programme. To emphasise the importance of crossborder collaboration, there will be a panel on the significance of coproductions. The discussion will bring together leading European buyers and broadcasters to share insights and success stories, creating an opportunity to celebrate achievements and address any barriers as the focus shifts toward EU funding alliances.
What are the most significant trends and driving forces currently shaping the European animation market? What can we anticipate for the near future? The 2025 Cartoon Forum selection offers a clear snapshot of the current
European animation landscape, reflecting both long-term creative currents and short-term market pressures.
There is a notable presence of heroines and female-driven narratives, alongside recurring themes such as environmental awareness, diversity, and inclusion. These stories continue to resonate strongly with audiences and commissioners alike.
Children’s and family series remain the backbone of European animation. In 2025, 80% of selected series targeted audiences from pre-school to 11 years old, up from 68% in 2024. This shift is closely linked to the economic landscape, as producers and buyers concentrate on traditional, lower-risk content. Adventure and comedy are particularly well represented, and educational storytelling holds its place.
Yojimbot produced by Passion Paris Production (France)
Fairtale Friends produced by Urrebuk (Netherlands)
Series for teenagers, young adults, and adults represent 20% of the 2025 selection, down from 24% in 2024. These projects often feature varied animation techniques and formats, tackling political and social issues. Although their share has tripled between 2019 and 2024, economic pressures have led many buyers to prioritise younger audiences. Streaming platforms remain the key investors in older-audience content, though their financing has slowed.
The 2025 marks also a clear comeback for short formats: 73% of selected projects have episodes of 13 minutes or less, compared to 63% in 2024 and 68% in 2023. This trend reflects changing audience habits and broadcasters’ need for flexible scheduling and faster turnaround times.
Co-productions are on the rise. In 2025, 31% of selected projects involve at least two countries, up from
18% in 2024 and 17% in 2023. This growth reflects both the structural reliance of animation on international financing and the strategic need to pool resources in tighter budgetary conditions.
Budget pressures remain a defining factor. The average per-project budget at Cartoon Forum has fallen from €5.17M in 2023 to €4.68M in 2024, stabilising at around €4.38M in 2025. This trend mirrors the broader decline in TV series budgets across genres.
In the near future, we can expect the European animation market to balance creative diversity with financial pragmatism. Family content will likely remain the safest investment, while short formats and cross-border coproductions will continue to grow as strategic responses to market constraints. At the same time, the push for inclusive storytelling and the steady global appetite for adult animation will ensure that innovation and experimentation remain firmly on the table.
Three words you would use to describe CARTOON.
Four words: you create, we connect.
ICEC - CATALAN FILMS
New Projects from Catalonia
Each year, the Catalan region brings fresh ideas and innovative projects to the world of European animation. Cartoon Forum offers the perfect stage to showcase them to the market. Here’s what’s new from Catalan Producers at Cartoon Forum 2025.
ANTÓN PIÑÓN
Target: Preschool
Format: 52 x 7’ - 2D
Genre: Adventure/Comedy/Friendship
Producer: Imagic TV
Co-Producer: NHK Enterprises
Antón Piñón follows the endearing misadventures of a clumsy yet loving blue lemming who lives in a vibrant forest with his wise — and delightfully unpredictable — grandma Abuela, along with his 27 chaotic siblings. Antón’s best friends — Violeta, playful and full of giggles; Modesto, sporty and practical; Benito, thoughtful and cautious; and Beatriz, the brave adventurer — are always ready to join the fun. From dodging bath time to exploring the forest or tumbling into sticky, messy situations, Antón and his friends discover that the best part of any adventure is sharing it with family and friends, no matter how wonderfully chaotic life becomes.
NOME IS AN ISLAND
Target: Upper Pre-school
Format: 26 x 7’ - 2D
Genre: Educational/Friendship/ Inclusion
Producer: To Blink Animation
Co-Producer: Imagic TV
Nome is an Island is a series about empowering stories of children who are teased or bullied, but who discover strength and self-confidence in the very traits they were once mocked for. Set by the sea and the beach, the series uses imagination and playful transformations to show characters becoming sea creatures—sharks, sea urchins, octopuses, seashells—or, like Nome, even an island. With each adventure, the show inspires young viewers to rise above negativity and embrace what makes them unique.
SAN MISTERIO
Target: Kids
Format: 26 x 11’ – Cut-out
Genre: Adventure/Comedy/Mystery
Producer: Mago Production
Co-Producer: Mistral Films Studio
San Misterio adapts the universe of the comic El enigma de los mensajes, created by Carlos Sallas, though it does not follow the original plot. The story centers on Luna, a girl who moves to a small mountain town full of secrets, adventures, and humour. Over the course of the series, she uncovers a hidden past connected to witches—essential figures of folklore reimagined from a contemporary perspective. With a relatable tone and universal themes such as female empowerment, connection to nature, and the discovery of family history, the series resonates widely. Its 2D tradigital animation further enriches the magical settings, where anything can happen.
LIMBO VILLE
Target: Kids
Format: 26 x 11’ - 2D
Genre: Adventure/Comedy/Mystery
Producer: Mago Production
Co-Producer: Mistral Films Studio
Limbo Ville follows Alex, a 12-year-old girl who, after losing her two mothers, discovers that ghosts are real. With her eccentric godmother Mimi and Mimi’s partner Cuqui, she runs a real estate agency for spirits to avoid returning to the orphanage. Yet Alex’s true mission is personal: to find out if her mothers have also become ghosts. Set in the strange city of Limbo Ville, the series blends comedy, mystery, and supernatural adventure, while exploring grief, resilience, and family. Aimed at kids, its humor and fantasy also appeal to older children and a broader audience. This project is in the Fill the Gap initiative
In this page: Super Happy Magic Forest
MOVIMENTI PRODUCTION
Movimenti Hits Italy with Two Animated Series for Young Audiences
From a whimsical fantasy world to a moving tale of resilience, Italy’s leading independent animation studio Movimenti Production showcase once again its commitment to high quality storytelling that blends emotional depth with imaginative fun.
Super Happy Magic Forest
After debuting on CBBC and BBC iPlayer last year, the quirky kids’ comedy series Super Happy Magic Forest is making its way to Italian television. Presented at Romics, and after a preview of the first 26 episodes on RaiPlay, the complete series (52x11’) will begin broadcasting on Rai Gulp starting September 8, with simultaneous availability on RaiPlay.
Based on Matty Long’s popular book series, this animated show brings together young audiences and families
through laughter and exciting fantasy adventures. Super Happy Magic Forest is a comedy-quest adventure series featuring five brave heroes: Hoofius the faun, Blossom the unicorn, Herbert the
gnome, Twinkle the fairy and Trevor the mushroom. Brought together by a love of picnics and frolics, they battle villains and have a jolly good time.
The series first launched in the UK in October 2024, achieving a remarkable 171% increase compared to the slot average among kids aged 4 to 15 on CBBC, becoming the #3 brand on the channel over Christmas. Additionally, it has found success beyond the screen, with four CBBC web games and a Roblox platform game as part of BBC’s Wonder Chase experience.
Created by the team behind Mr Bean: The Animated Series, the show is produced by Tiger Aspect Kids & Family, with Movimenti Production, Monello, and Zodiak Kids & Family France (all part of Banijay Kids & Family). The show has also launched with Canal+ in France, ABC in Australia, and ZDF in Germany.
Copperbeak - Tales from the Farm Produced by Movimenti Production and Ideacinema, in collaboration with Rai Kids, Copperbeak - Tales from the Farm (39x7’) tells the heartwarming adventures of a goose chick who has a copper prosthesis instead of a beak. Recently arrived at the farm, he has already made some friends and will soon discover that what seems like an impediment can actually become a superpower.
The new mixed techniques preschool series, based on the book Becco di Rame by Alberto Briganti, was produced with the support of MiC – Direzione Generale Cinema e Audiovisivo and will be available on Rai Kids.
The national premiere of the series took place at the 55th Giffoni Film Festival during a special event for the 300 young jurors aged 3 and up. The young audience filling the theatre Eva Angilè, the young star of the live-action sequences that frame each episode. The animation sequences are directed by Andrea Castellani, while Paolo Turro directed the live-action scenes featuring the little girl Ara, portrayed by Angilè.
Eva Angilè at Giffoni Film Festival
Copperbeak - Tales from the Farm
ANIMATION UK
Animated UK Meets Europe: Rebuilding EU Creative Bridges Post-Brexit
Kate O’Connor, Executive Chair of Animation UK, talks about the return of the Animated UK Meets Europe initiative. Together, we discussed how opportunities like this can be instrumental in strengthening European partnerships and showcasing the talent and creativity of the UK in European markets.
Animation UK is a collective voice for the animation industry in the UK, aiming to support businesses and celebrate UK excellence on the international stage. What does this
Kate O’Connor
The Adventures of Robin Robin produced by Aardman Animations
partnership with Cartoon Forum mean for your organisation?
For Animation UK, supported by BBC Children’s and Education, this partnership is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the UK’s distinctive talent, storytelling, and creative excellence. While the UK producers can only
Across Europe and indeed globally we are facing with these same issues, and it has never been more important to share our experiences and ideas, to ensure that children everywhere enjoy the opportunity to be inspired, represented and celebrated in their own cultures.
participate in the Cartoon Forum as a minority co-production partner due to the post-Brexit UK funding decisions, the event still offers a vital platform to share in-progress work, connect with European and international partners, and showcase the next generation of creators. Cartoon Forum enables us to reinforce the UK’s
continued commitment to European collaboration.
What are the challenges for UK animation in dealing with Europe after Brexit? What steps are you taking to overcome them?
One major challenge has been the loss of access to Creative Europe MEDIA funding, a vital source of development finance for animated projects and co-productions. To address this gap, Animation UK continues to make the case for rejoining and replicating Creative Europe. We are active members of Animation in Europe and work closely with the BFI to shape new funding opportunities.
Our recent pamphlet Blueprint for Sector Growth calls for an uplift in international co-production funding and policy alignment with European frameworks, including IP retention and sustainability standards.
Although the UK rejoining Creative Europe was not recommended in
Amelia Fang, produced by CAKE Entertainment and DCM (Germany)
recent Government announcements, there has been some progress, notably an increase to targeted co-production support via the UK Global Screen Fund from 2026 onwards. The UK may be outside the EU, but we remain firmly inside the European creative conversation.
Over the last decade, children’s viewing habits have changed. Recently, Sky has moved away from producing original UK content and is increasingly focusing on acquired programming.
This shift adds to the growing crisis in children’s television. What is the current state of UK animation and what actions are you taking to keep animation relevant in the UK?
The UK animation industry remains a world leader in creativity, storytelling and innovation and is increasingly recognised as a vital sector. Valued at £1.7 billion and employing over 13.000 people, the sector has the potential to double in size, boost exports and create regional jobs.
Currently we are in the midst of a perfect storm for children’s content with changing viewing habits,
declining PSB investment, and market failure. This is a global situation, and one that is equally stark in the UK. Sky’s decision to exit UK-originated commissions is part of a broader retreat by broadcasters, leaving the BBC as the last major commissioner of UK children’s content, and now the number one commissioner of children’s content globally.
Children have shifted toward platforms like YouTube and TikTok, where discoverability and regulation are significant concerns. They spend nearly three hours a day on screens, with 88% of users between 3 and 17-year-olds using YouTube as their primary platform. But this shift has outpaced commissioning and funding models. Most digital platforms don’t commission UK content or support development pipelines. We’re advocating for metadata flags for PSB content, algorithmic prioritisation, and a cross-platform to improve discoverability. We’re also exploring YouTube-first animation formats, educational tie-ins, and distribution tax
Co-production is no longer a niche model, it’s a strategic necessity. For UK studios, working with European partners is about more than finance — it’s about cultural exchange, creative enrichment, and sustaining global competitiveness. These partnerships are vital to ensure our stories continue to travel, resonate, and inspire audiences across borders.
Let’s Play in Tiger Bay, HoHo Entertainment & Bumpybox
The talk Funding the Future: Unlocking the Power of CoProductions in Animation, moderated by Vanessa Chapman, provides a discussion on the importance of co-production. Bringing together leading voices from the BBC, YLE, and France Télévisions to explore how public service broadcasters are adapting to a rapidly changing commissioning environment, the session highlights how coproductions are becoming a vital route to secure funding, sharing creative risk. The conversation delves into the importance of cultural alignment and communication across borders, highlights how tax incentives and local funding schemes shape decision, and discusses any barriers and case studies of success.
glimpse into the breadth of creativity and diversity of voices within the UK industry. Our participation supported by BBC Children’s and Education is not only about showcasing, but also about signalling the UK’s ongoing commitment to creative partnership, high-quality storytelling, and innovation in children’s content. The BBC’s partnerships and commitment to home-grown content are essential for nurturing IPs through their Ignite initiative, supporting UK studios, and setting international standards. Outside of Ignite, BBC supports ideas that demonstrates originality, with a potential to run to multiple series, to engage UK children from different socio-economic and ethnical backgrounds. Their involvement is vital to supporting the export of British animation that is culturally relevant and enriching for the audience, reflecting their world in whatever way suits the project best – in local accents or locations, cultural touchpoints, or just comedic tone and style that’s unique to the UK.
relief to help creators compete in this space.
On a more practical level, Animation UK supports its members by providing access to experts to support investment readiness, advice on new business and digital first strategies, helping producers understand new funding models. We’ve also called for the introduction of an Animation Development Fund and a platformagnostic Content Investment Fund to support creators navigating this complex environment.
Three projects have been selected to attend the Cartoon Forum. We are thrilled to see three exceptional UK projects selected, each offering a
BBC have selected two projects: The Adventures of Robin Robin (Aardman Animations) and Amelia Fang (CAKE Enter tainment). Separately, Animation UK partnered with C21 Media to run a pitching competition. The winning project, Let’s Play in Tiger Bay (Hoho Enter tainment), has been picked up by S4C.
As we continue to build bridges postBrexit, initiatives like Animated UK Meets Europe are vital.
Discover more about Animation UK by visiting their website https://www.animationuk.org/
The Bologna Children’s Book Fair on the Move: Bridging Creativity
By attending Cartoon Forum, the Bologna Children’s Book Fair reaffirms its status as a unique opportunity to take IP beyond the pages of a book and the screen. We discussed it with Elena Pasoli, Director at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair.
How does BCBF’s partnership with Cartoon Forum align with the fair’s evolving vision?
The BCBF, along with the Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids and BolognaBookPlus, continues to evolve, increasingly focusing on initiatives that create connections among the key players in content creation for children, teenagers, and young adults. In line with it, Cartoon Forum serves as an ideal bridge between our fair and the European animation sector. It fosters the development of relationships that can be translated into new projects, resulting in a more diverse offering for our audience and opening up new creative and commercial possibilities. Thanks to a naturally formed partnership motivated
Cologne, Toulouse, Nuremberg, and Angoulême show how the BCBF is increasingly showcasing the richness and diversity of its offerings beyond events solely related to traditional publishing. The focus is on creating an offering that is increasingly connected with the various aspects of the entertainment industry.
by this shared interest, BCBF is proud to lead a delegation of seven Italian publishers to Toulouse, in collaboration with ICE. This initiative promotes an exchange between Italian publishing and European representatives of the audiovisual industry, reinforcing the fair’s fundamental role as a bridge between cultures and traditions.
BCBF’s involvement in the Cartoon Forum marks a significant opportunity to promote the
Elena Pasoli
TV/Film Rights Centre. How does it facilitate collaboration between the publishing, audiovisual, licensing, and gaming industries?
The TV/Film Rights Centre, established in 2024, serves as an ideal meeting point between the publishing and audiovisual industries on an international scale. With a dedicated matchmaking service, we are attracting producers who attend the BCBF seeking innovative stories and characters. Networking opportunities for audiovisual professionals also extend to the licensing sector, which has been part of the fair for 18 years, as well as to gaming, with the Games Business Centre launched in 2025 in collaboration with the Frankfurter Buchmesse. Bologna stands out as a unique opportunity to take IPs beyond the pages of a book and screens, a journey that began several years ago with the establishment of the BolognaRagazzi CrossMedia Award. This annual prize is awarded to the best projects developed from children’s and young adult books that have been successfully expanded to other platforms, and also recognises stories that originate from different media and are successfully adapted into print.
For the 2026 edition, we plan to offer
an even richer programme, including pitch sessions for audiovisual producers who wish to present their IPs, and the enhancement of the portfolio review format to facilitate encounters between animation studios and emerging illustration talent.
Toulouse serves as the first stop of the Grand Tour, the autumn journey where the BCBF showcases its best initiatives to a global audience, strengthening the Fair’s relationships. Following its preview at GamesCom in Cologne and its first stop in Toulouse, the fourth edition of our Grand Tour – made possible by the support and collaboration of ICE and MAECI – will next pass through the Frankfurter Buchmesse. Here, the BCBF will showcase a selection of the best in international illustration. The tour will continue to the China Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair, co-organized by BolognaFiere, which provides an annual opportunity to highlight one of the world’s most dynamic publishing markets, and then make its way to the Feria Internacional del Libro de Guadalajara, a key event for the entire Latin American and Spanish-speaking publishing industry. Lastly, it will arrive at the Spielwarenmesse, the world’s most significant international toy fair held annually in Nuremberg, and the Festival International de la Bande Dessinée d’Angoulême, one of the most prestigious comic book events globally. This will be a valuable opportunity to promote the Comics Corner, a business area created by BCBF in 2022 due to the steady growth of the comics sector. The tour will conclude in New York, where BCBF will host an exhibition of children’s books that explore the themes of the United Nations’ 17 Goals.
The BCBF delegation at Cartoon Forum 2024
Where Stories Take Shape Across Platforms: BolognaRagazzi CrossMedia Awards 2026
This prestigious recognition established in collaboration with the Mamamò Association and presented annually at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair since 2021, honours exceptional narrative projects for children across various formats, including books, animation, podcasts, video games, apps, and immersive media.
Star Papa, winner of the 2025 CrossMedia Project Award
From the immersive universe of Star Papa (Book Gorae, 2025) to the creative digital playground of Atelier de création Fonfon (Fonfon, 2023), and the elegant balance of print and app in I Love English 5–8 (Bayard Jeunesse, 2025), the BolognaRagazzi CrossMedia Award keeps celebrating the art of storytelling beyond the page for the sixth consecutive year.
The award is judged by an International Jury and consists of two main categories. The CrossMedia Project acknowledges outstanding publishing projects that have successfully expanded across books, television, cinema, games, mobile devices, or smart speakers, as well as stories initially created in other media that have been transformed into exceptional printed works. The Digital Reading Experience recognises excellence of mobile apps, platforms, content libraries or digital editorial series offering an outstanding digital reading experience.
Starting in 2026, there will be a third Special Category that highlights projects promoting Gender Equality and Environmental Sustainability, bridging both main categories. Submissions for the 2026 edition are now open, with a deadline of January 31, 2026. Creators, illustrators, authors, producers, publishers, and studios are encouraged to submit their crossmedia narratives and contribute to shape the future of storytelling.
More information online at www.bolognachildrensbookfair. com/en/ or via e-mail at bolognaragazzicrossmediaward@ bolognafiere.it
BCBF DELEGATION
Meet the Italian Delegation
For the second year, the BCBF partnered with CARTOON to strengthen the connection between books and screen media and invited a delegation of Italian publishers to explore business opportunities at Cartoon Forum.
Theo Collier, Rights Director of Feltrinelli Group
After studying at Cambridge University, Theo spent eight years working as an agent and Contracts Director at The Wylie Agency in London. Since 2011, he has served as the Rights Director of the Feltrinelli Group, one of Italy’s leading independent publishing companies, renowned worldwide.
I am very much looking forward to a new experience at Cartoon Forum. I have handled film and television rights for authors and publishers for over twenty years and am eager to expand my knowledge into the world of animation.
Giovanni Ferrara, Editorial Director at Coconino Press
Giovanni holds a degree in Contemporary History and a master’s in creative writing. He began his career as an editor at Fandango, and he serves as the Editorial Director of Coconino Press, one of Italy’s leading publishers of comics and graphic novels. He is also an author and screenwriter, currently working on an animated film in development.
We believe the vast collection of stories in Coconino Press’ catalogue could lead to exciting collaborations between the worlds of graphic novels and animation.
Roberta Ferrari, Head of Editorial at Rizzoli and Fabbri Ragazzi
Roberta has worked in publishing since 2006. She shifted to children’s publishing in 2012. In 2019, she became the Head of the Editorial Staff at Rizzoli and Fabbri Ragazzi, two historical publishing companies that are now part of the Mondadori Group.
Our presence at Cartoon Forum reflects a genuine desire to discover fresh ideas, explore new storytelling paths, and be inspired. We’re here to listen to stories, collaborate with their creators, and bring them to a second life in children’s books.
Paola Corsini, Licensing and Dramatic Rights Specialist at Editrice Il Castoro
Paola has an extensive experience in publishing, audiovisual, entertainment, and licensing. She has worked with Giunti Editore and she is currently associated with Editrice Il Castoro and Pelledoca Editore, both on the IP scouting front and on the sale of audiovisual rights. She recently founded HAB, the first Italian agency entirely dedicated to book-toscreen IPs and rights.
Cartoon Forum delivers a broad and deep overview of what’s new in the animation production market in a vibrant atmosphere.
Simona Scuri, Foreign
Rights Manager at Edizioni San Paolo Writer, book curator, folk
Lorenzo Rulfo, General Manager at Book On a Tree
Lorenzo is the Managing Director and CFO of the creative agency Book on a Tree, which he co-founded. Over the years, he has negotiated agreements worth over £3 million with international publishers and producers, and has supported numerous authors and companies in the complex field of rights management.
We focus on three things: listening to stories, nurturing them with passion, and sharing that passion with others. Cartoon Forum is the perfect stage to connect with producers and talents.
Cristina
Petit, Director at Pulce Edizioni
Cristina holds a degree in Language Studies and currently runs Pulce Edizioni, a publishing house dedicated to child development. In addition to her publishing work, she has written and illustrated more than 100 books, receiving numerous awards, and her works have been translated into multiple languages.
Meeting people fosters understanding and encourages the emergence of new ideas. We hope to bring back fresh ideas that align with the opportunities we want to explore as a publishing house.
dancer, event organizer, show presenter, actress, and singer, Simona recorded music, fairy tales, and audiobooks. She serves as Foreign Rights Manager at Edizioni San Paolo, a leading publishing company in religious studies and children’s literature.
San Paolo’s stories convey essential values that can be transformed into films, cartoons, or series. I am also eager to learn more about the industry professionals and the behind-the-scenes aspects of this field.
SELECTED PROJECTS - PRESCHOOL
Nurturing Creativity
Our selection of Preschool Projects for this edition of Cartoon Forum, mixing music, creativity and educational content.
FANCYPANTS
Animation: 2D Computer
Format: 52 x 7’
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Educational
Producers: JAM Media (IE)
Transmedia Tip: Music, Publishing, Plush, Educational Toys, Gaming
Fancypants is the animated preschool show that celebrates dressing up and the magic of imagination. Siblings Nancy (6) and Leo (4) dive into their dress-up box, giggling into wild costumes: a jellyfish and a postie, a chicken and a teacher—why not? Once dressed, they WHOOSH into fantastical worlds: deserts, jungles, even a giant baby’s cot! In each adventure, they solve funny problems, invent rules, and adapt with curiosity and laughter—building empathy, creativity, and confidence one costume at a time.
FAIRYTALE FRIENDS
Animation: 2D Computer
Format: 17 x 6’
Genre: Comedy, Educational, Friendship
Producers: Urrebuk (NL)
Transmedia Tip: Publishing, Gaming, Educational Toys
Fairytale & Friends is a visual fairytale series that celebrates play, imagination, and friendship. With no spoken dialogue, but enhanced through expressive animation and musical narration, the show follows three inseparable companions in a vibrant fairytale world: The Wolf, Little Red Riding Hood, and Tom Thumb. Guided by a Giant and an Owl, they embark on everyday adventures that often turn into charming chaos. While most stories occur in a whimsical fairytale forest, the real world sometimes appears, transforming familiar challenges into playful discoveries. Each episode begins with a simple, relatable childhood moment.
HI HOOPOE!
Animation: 2D Computer
Format: 52 x 7’
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Diversity, Educational, Friendship, Musical
Producers: Animalps Productions (FR), Pulpy Productions (IT)
Transmedia Tip: Publishing, Toys, Gaming
Hi Hoopoe! tells the story of a small bird with a topknot. Each morning, he leaps from the Giant Tree, dives through the sea of clouds, and lands on the ground. Hoopoe is a tiny orange bird, funny and endearing, with a topknot that moves up and down. He can become a beloved character for preschoolers, an imaginary friend. Hi Hoopoe! has the potential to develop into a strong IP. Its charming artwork supports future expansions, which could include feature films. Starting with 52 episodes, the story naturally leads to many adventures inspired by nature’s endless surprises.
OH WOW!
Animation: 3D Computer
Format: 52 x 7’
Genre: Comedy, Educational, Friendship
Producers: Autour de Minuit (FR)
Transmedia Tip: Publishing, Educational Toys, Arts & Craft, Gaming
Oh Wow! follows 4-year-old Oliver and his best friend, Zelie the mouse, as they turn everyday moments into big, funny adventures. When their playful ideas cause little messes, they work together—with Mom and Dad’s help—to make things right. Full of humour, heart, and problemsolving, the show celebrates friendship, family, and the joy of learning from mistakes.
Endless Adventures
Our selection of Upper Preschool and Bridge Projects for this edition of Cartoon Forum is characterised by Adventure, Friendship, Inclusion and more!
3 CAPTAINS
Animation: 2D Computer, Drawing, Painting
Format: 26 x 8’
Genre: Action, Comedy, Diversity
Producers: Studio FILM BILDER (DE)
Transmedia Tip: Publishing, Gaming
The “3 Captains” are playful animals who dream of being pirates. But who gets to be in charge—Captain Pig, Captain Rabbit, or Captain Croc? To survive kidnappings, capers, and treasure hunts, they must join forces. Pirate life brings wild anarchy, but how does this fit with values like tolerance, solidarity, or the teamwork that parents and schools expect? This clash sparks the funniest entanglements. With her hit Animanimals, Julia Ocker has proven that her sharp designs and witty stories win children worldwide. 3 Captains, her second major series, promises to be even funnier, wilder, and wonderfully scruffy.
ACTION RABBITS
Animation: 3D Computer
Format: 52 x 11’30’’
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy Rescue Show
Producers: Blue Spirit Productions (FR), Atomic Cartoons (CA)
Transmedia Tip: Toys, Gaming Bunny’s best friends, Dutch, Harley, Rush, and Mash, are quick to leap into action on Hoppity Island. With their impressive skills and technology, this talented team is always ready to save the day!
CHOCOCAT
& ME
Animation: 2D Computer
Format: 52 x 11’
Genre: Comedy, Friendship, Inclusion
Producers: Somewhere Animation (FR) – Mediawan Kids & Family
Transmedia Tip: Other Publishing as Activity and Illustrated, Gaming, Toy
Chococat & Me is the animated adaptation of the comic book series created by Alexandre Arlène and Fabien Öckto Lambert, with four volumes already published. The show follows Louie, a boy who joins the whimsical Feline District, where all inhabitants are cats. Alongside his best friend Chococat, he sparks hilarious adventures that blend humour and imagination.
COCO
Animation: 2D Computer Drawing
Format: 52 x 7’
Genre: Adventure, Educational, Friendship, Nature Protection
Producers: Blue Light Pictures (CZ), Phanta Animation (NL)
Transmedia Tip: Other Publishing Products, Educational Toys
COCO explores everyday adventures, big emotions, and the joy of learning through experience. At its centre is Coco—a curious, newly hatched little bird discovering the world step by step, with friends who bring humour, warmth, and surprises along the way. The series is inspired by Loes Riphagen’s acclaimed picture books, combining hand-crafted charm with storytelling rooted in nature. In every episode, Coco and friends discover that even the smallest moments can become the biggest adventures. The project offers a fresh and heartfelt voice to preschool animation.
GNOMES
Animation: 3D Computer
Format: 26 x 11’
Genre: Adventure, Friendship, Sustainability
Producers: De Argonauten (BE), VRT-Ketnet (BE)
Transmedia Tip: Publishing, Educational Toys
Gnomes follows the adventures of Doetzen and Linus, two twin gnome children who learn the ways of gnome life through trial and error. Their parents, David and Lisa - whom you may remember from the 1980s series David the Gnome – teach them everything a gnome needs to know, but believe that children learn more when they experience it themselves. The young gnomes explore the do’s and don’ts of life in the forest until they know it like the back of their hand. Everything they need, they can find or make there. But above all, the young gnomes learn to coexist in harmony with each other and the forest.
HOLLY & LUNA GO WOOF!
Animation: 3D Computer
Format: 52 x 11’
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Friendship
Producers: MITS Prod (BE), PGS Studios (FR)
Transmedia Tip: Gaming, Toys, Activity Books
After Holly wishes for a dog under a shooting star, she and her big sister, Luna, wake up to an unexpected twist: every time someone says the word “dog,” they both transform— Holly into a Papillon, and Luna into a Bobtail. Between school, secrets, and squirrel-fueled chaos, the sisters bicker, bond, and stumble into one magical mess after another.
The series is a comedy about sisterhood and identity. With fast-paced storytelling, quirky characters, and a world built for laughter, the series celebrates big emotions in small moments—and reminds kids that being different isn’t just okay… it’s woof-tastic.
JAM & RE
Animation: 3D Computer
Format: 52 x 7’
Genre: Educational, Fantasy, Musical, Adventure, Friendship, Inclusion
Producers: The Hive Studio (GR), Telescope Animation (DE)
Transmedia Tip: Music products, Publishing, Educational Toys, Gaming
Set in the Kingdom of Sol, the show follows the beloved musical duo Jam the jester and his groovy sidekick Re, who demonstrate that music is mightier than the sword through rhythm, fun, and friendship. They rely on their wits and musical talents to bring harmony wherever they go. No matter the challenge, they strum, hum and outsmart their way to a happy ending.
LITTLE CAESAR
Animation: 2D Computer
Format: 26 x 5’
Genre: Disability, Educational, Sustainability
Producers: Immortal Films (IR)
Transmedia Tip: Publishing, Activity Books, Gaming
Little Caesar celebrates the beauty of being different. Following a fluffy lamb’s heartfelt quest for belonging among a forest of rescued misfits, this TV series shows that fresh voices can address big themes with wit, warmth, and visual flair. Each episode will blend diversity, environmental awareness, and social inclusion into amusing adventures that resonate with every child who has ever felt like the odd one out. In a landscape eager for genuine storytelling, Little Caesar offers what families desire: entertainment with heart, humour with purpose, and heroes who demonstrate that being different is fabulous.
MEOW CLIQUE
Animation: 2D Computer, Drawing, Cut-out
Format: 52 x 11’
Genre: Comedy, Diversity, Friendship
Producers: Letko (PL), Studio Filmów Rysunkowych (PL)
Transmedia Tip: Comics, Cards Game
In the charming (and a bit pawlitically complicated) border town of Cieszyn, an undercover detective squad is on the prowl… and they’re the cat’s whiskers! Meet Meow Clique, a purr-fectly coordinated gang of clever cats who, alongside the ever-confused officer Valerie Koczy and the no-nonsense Commissioner Louis Prank, claw their way through the town’s most whisker-raising mysteries.
MORT AND MILLIE
Animation: 2D Computer
Format: 52 x 7’
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Friendship, Nature, Life-Cycles
Producers: GS Animation / Grupa Smacznego (PL), Sphere Media (CA), Flickerpix (UK)
Transmedia Tip: Graphic Novel, Gaming
Mort and Millie is a preschool animated series that follows the hilarious adventures of Mort, an excitable and soft-hearted rookie Grim Sweeper, and his sidekick, Millie, a fearless and matter-of-fact millipede, as they clean up dead creatures and help fulfil their last wishes.
ROC & LOLA
Animation: 3D Computer Drawing
Format: 26 x 7’
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Diversity, Educational, Fantasy, Inclusion, Sustainability
Producers: Primal Shape (IT)
Transmedia Tip: Publishing, Gaming, Educational Toys
Despite their differences, Roc the Hedgehog and Lola the giraffeshaped Balloon are best friends. They meet at the forest’s edge every day to play and explore, and each adventure not only brings them closer together but also teaches them about the wonders of nature, fostering a deep respect for the environment and its inhabitants.
SAM & WATSON
Animation: 2D Computer
Format: 78 x 7’
Genre: Comedy, Friendship
Producers: Piano Sano Films (FR)
Transmedia Tip: Publishing, including Comics, Gaming
Sam & Watson is sharp, funny, and delightfully offbeat. Born from the little quirks of everyday life, its stories whisk our heroes into wild and unpredictable adventures. With a stand-up’s sense of wit, the show treats kids as clever partners in comedy, celebrating their boundless imagination. It’s a true co-viewing experience where imagination rules and nothing is too small to become epic.
SISSI & CAESAR
Animation: Stop Montion
Format: 26 x 7’
Genre: Adventure
Producers: Pangur Animation (ES), Tres Tercios (CL)
Transmedia Tip: Plush, Gaming, Art & Craft
Rainbow penguins Sissi and César travel the world on a special mission: to protect nature’s colours and flavours from the dreaded chromatic crisis. This threat endangers landscapes, ecosystems, and all who depend on them. Energetic Sissi uses boundless imagination to find creative solutions, while rational César relies on knowledge and method. Together, they blend creativity and wisdom to overcome every challenge. From coral reefs to autumn forests, each mission brings discovery. As César explores unique flavours and Sissi collects natural treasures, they demonstrate to young viewers the importance of biodiversity, culture, and friendship in caring for our planet.
THE ZZLI BROTHERS
Animation: 2D Computer
Format: TV Special 30’
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Female Character, Friendship, Political
Producers: XBO Films (FR)
Transmedia Tip: Educational Products
Anna is a 10-year-old girl who lives alone in a cabin in the middle of the forest. She dreams of adventures from reading so much. Every day, she watches out for her friend, the bat, who delivers the mail. That evening, the bat asked Anna for a favour: could she take in an old bear friend, accompanied by his two brothers? They’ve come a long way and are exhausted. Over the days, the bear brothers and the little girl form a happy little family in the growing cabin. But the other animals take a dim view: bears are not liked in the village.
VET ACADEMY
Animation: 3D Computer
Format: 52 x 11’60’’
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Animals
Producers: Superprod Animation (FR), Red Monk Studio (IT)
Transmedia Tip: Toys, Plushes, Gaming, Comics
Welcome to the Harmony Islands, an archipelago of exceptional landscapes and wildlife! Five children - Miko, Sun, Darri, Amanda and Noa - are selected to join the prestigious Vet Academy, a school dedicated to animal rescue and welfare. They are trained by their teacher Mia, who has designed the V-suits. These are animal-print suits that give them exceptional abilities! This V-Team will have to learn to work together to face poachers, collectors and natural disasters. Their mission: to protect, comfort and care for all animals!
ZEBRACAT
Animation: 2D and 3D Computer
Format: TV Special 26’
Genre: Comedy, Diversity, Friendship
Producers: VlinVlin (BE), Little Monster (CH)
Transmedia Tip: Publishing, including Graphic Novel, Plush
Zebracat is a TV special and series for younger children about the adventures of two friends who live together in a caravan on an island in the middle of the great ocean. The island, with its unusual inhabitants, is their entire world. Every day, Ms. Sun rises to work, while Mr. Moon comes home to sleep. Then Zebracat and Pebble come out to play. The style is classic Ted Sieger—poetic, whimsical, and funny. There are no villains, just answers to life’s big philosophical questions. What will we have for breakfast? Why is Mr. Mollusc so narky? What will we do today?
SELECTED PROJECTS - KIDS
In the Name of Action and Fun
Our selection for the kids target is made of projects full of comedy, adventure, and several gaming and comics development opportunities!
ANIMALIES
Animation: 2D and 3D Computer
Format: 26 x 13’
Genre: Adventure, Friendship, Inclusion
Producers: Bionaut (CZ)
Transmedia Tip: Comics, Gaming, Card Games
Animalies is a kids’ camp show about a group of friends who experience exciting adventures. Disability is acknowledged, but it is not the main challenge for either the characters or the series. The six friends all know each other from a club run by Richard, who teaches them camp skills. Now that summer has finally arrived, the kids can’t wait to go to the “Animalies” camp. But once they get there, things turn out to be more complicated than expected— not because of their physical disabilities, but because they are typical pre-teens! The series delivers its message through humor and exaggeration, with a balance between sensitivity and lightness.
BRO QUEST
Animation: 3D Computer
Format: 52 x 7’
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Producers: Revelator Studio (IE)
Transmedia Tip: Comics, Gaming
Bro Quest is for kids who love action platformer games. It’s about Rory, a tough-as-nails 10-year-old motormouth, and his deeply emotional rubber-badger buddy, Booch, who must navigate the absurd, hilarious, and often character-forging trials of a highstakes video game they don’t know they’re in. This sprawling world of loot, combo moves, boss battles, eccentric NPCs, and the ever-present threat of running out of respawns might seem a little bonkers, but to Rory and Booch, it’s just another Tuesday.
CREATURE COMBAT
Animation: 2D Computer
Format: 26 x 11’
Genre: Comedy, Educational, Science, Wildlife
Producers: Nice Ninja (DK)
Transmedia Tip: Comics, Card Games, Educational Science Toys
Is the wombat, with its square poops, or the poisonous funnelweb spider the coolest animal? Does the deep-sea toadfish, with its giant teeth, take the prize—or is it the Mexican walking fish, which can regenerate almost any part of its body? And who wins when it comes to tapeworms that gnaw into our intestines versus the loa-loa parasite that crawls around inside our eyes? In Creature Combat, biologist Zoey and nature photographer Oliver compete to find the coolest animal of the day.
FROSTHEART, THE SEVEN HEARTS OF DARKNESS
Animation: 2D Computer
Format: 26 x 22’
Genre: Adventure
Producers: La Chouette Compagnie (FR)
Transmedia Tip: Comics, Gaming, Card Games and Board Games
For some time now, the peaceful stretches of the Snow Sea have been roiled by troubling tales. It seems that certain Leviathans, those venerable guardians of nature, have taken to attacking convoys and villages—for no apparent reason. Ash, a true protector of Leviathans and his best friend Lunah, a young sleigh captain, decide to investigate these strange events. What they discover will lead them on an incredible journey, taking them to all four corners of the continent as they uncover the deepest, darkest secrets of the Snow Sea, notably that of the Seven Hearts of Darkness.
OLGA
Animation: 2D Computer
Format: 52 x 11’
Genre: Comedy, Female Character, Inclusion
Producers: Fabrique Fantastique (BE), apartment11 (CA)
Transmedia Tip: Activity Books, Educational Toys
Olga is a quirky 10-year-old girl. She is a brilliant, socially awkward scientist and lover of all animals. When she discovers Meh, a strange, slimy alien creature with a chaotic curiosity about humans, Olga embarks on a hilarious and adventurous quest to learn everything she can about Meh and, along the way, about herself and human nature.
PEPPER
Animation: 2D Computer
Format: 52 x 11’
Genre: Action, Comedy, Diversity, Fantasy, Female Character, Friendship
Producers: Millimages (FR), L’incroyable Studio (FR)
Transmedia Tip: Comics, Gaming
What if our dreams became reality? That’s precisely what Pepper experiences every day. Each morning when she wakes up, one element of her dreams literally appears in real life! This bizarre phenomenon sets off a chain reaction of chaos. Luckily, Pepper has a mysterious dream stone that may hold the key to reversing the enchantment. Now, she must figure out how to activate it before things spiral out of control.
PIKKY & RHINO
Animation: 2D Computer
Format: 78 x 7’
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Friendship
Producers: Monello Productions (FR)
Transmedia Tip: Comics
Pikky & Rhino is a lively comedy series that celebrates the unlikely yet heartwarming friendship between a big, gentle rhino and a tiny, talkative oxpecker bird.
Inspired by the real-life symbiotic relationship between these two animals, the series transforms their natural bond into a vibrant, humorous narrative filled with charm, wit, and emotional depth.
PROUT
Animation: Stop Motion
Format: 52 x 7’
Genre: Comedy, Educational, Sustainability
Producers: Wajnbrosse Productions (BE), Mediawan Kids & Family (FR), ARTEM (FR)
Transmedia Tip: Gaming, Educational Toys
Every day, the little Prouts—the inhabitants of the planet PROUT, a neighbour of planet Earth—are threatened by waste dumped onto their planet by flying garbage trucks from Earth. Forced to deal with this pollution, the little Prouts—who are inventive, resourceful, curious, intelligent, and full of energy—try to repair and transform these broken objects, play with them, and then send them back to Earth, leading to a comical situation. Humorous but not didactic, the series raises children’s awareness of the need to recycle and respect all ecosystems, and, by extension, respect each other.
SUPERCAT IS A DOG
Animation: 2D Computer
Format: 52 x 11’
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
Producers: Les Armateurs (FR)
Transmedia Tip: Comics, Gaming, Board Game
Krocket City is a place where cats and dogs live together in peace. Supercat works overtime to battle WOOF, a shadowy organization ruled with an iron paw by the formidable DoomShadow, a cunning dog determined to return power to the canines. When a clumsy hound named Doug accidentally knocks Mac (a.k.a. Supercat) unconscious, Supercat is forced to train him to take his place during his recovery. But the question remains: can Doug and Mac overcome their differences and succeed in their mission?
TEMTEM
Animation: 2D Computer
Format: 26 x 22’
Genre: Action, Comedy, Friendship
Producers: Marla Studios – Kiss a Frog (FR), Somewhere Animation (FR) – Mediawan Kids & Family
Transmedia Tip: Publishing, Toys, Trading Cards, Board Games
TemTem brings the popular creature-collection video game universe to animation, following heroes from diverse cultures who must unite with their loyal TemTems to face thrilling battles and discover that their differences make them stronger. Mixing humour, depth, and dynamic storytelling, the series goes beyond homage to reinvent the genre. The TV series is commissioned by Super RTL, and distributed worldwide by Mediawan Kids & Family.
THE NIMBUS
Animation: 2D Computer, Live Action
Format: 26 x 7’
Genre: Adventure, Friendship, Sustainability
Producers: Special Touch Studios (FR)
Transmedia Tip: “Green” and Educational Toys, Non-fiction Books, Experiences
A vibrant, poetic series where each tale unveils nature’s hidden threats and the power to heal them through cooperation, resilience, and imagination. Deep in an ancient forest, unseen by humans, live the Nimbus—mysterious guardians with extraordinary gifts. One morning, high in the canopy, curious Litzia teaches young Noisette the secrets of pollination. But when Noisette, chasing a butterfly, unleashes a mercuryborn creature of pollution, the river darkens and life falters. To save their home, the Nimbus must unite and restore balance.
VAMPIRETTE & ME
Animation: 2D Computer
Format: 52 x 11’
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Female Character
Producers: Bayard Jeunesse Production (FR)
Transmedia Tip: Board Games, Card Games, Halloween-inspired products and experiences
Follows the silly and spooky daily life of Vampirette and Emma, two friends as different as they are inseparable. Vampirette is sunny and whimsical, Emma is weird and thoughtful, and, moreover, she is the only human in a school populated by vampires and other fantastical creatures. Set in the quirky world of the Nosferatu Manor, where gross is good and cute is taboo, the series offers a hilarious role reversal on everyday norms. Between failed spells, monster school rules, and surprisingly sweet friendships, Vampirette & Me delivers a refreshing mix of laughs, frights, and emotional depth.
WIZZOS
Animation: 2D Computer
Format: 26 x 11’
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Friendship
Producers: Boulder Media (IE)
Transmedia Tip: Comics, Gaming, Card Games, Board Games
Set in Spelzburg, a fairytale town brimming with magic, the show follows twin brothers Hexley and Spellbert—the only inhabitants born without magic, though they don’t know it. Their single father, Wizwig, who also happens to be the town’s mayor, hides the truth by setting them up as Spelzburg’s official “pet finders.” Alongside their feisty cat, Whizkers (who is secretly their grandmother, trapped in feline form), the boys take on missing-pet cases that spiral into wild adventures—because returning magical creatures to their owners is a lot easier said than done! At its heart, Wizzos is a story about family in all its odd shapes, and about discovering fun and belonging in a world where you don’t quite fit.
Comic-Worthy Tales
Friendship, science fiction, and inner growth are among the key themes of the Tweens and Teens projects we have selected, all potentially suitable for comics development.
ALFIE’S ALRIGHT!
Animation: 2D Computer
Format: 26 x 11’
Genre: Comedy, Diversity, Female Character, Folklore, Friendship, Gender, Inclusion, Sustainability
Producers: Animation Studio Iceland (IS)
Transmedia Tip: Comics
A funny and outrageous episodic adventure about being the new kid in a strange new world! A young elf moves to the city with her newfound family and must figure out how to make friends, keep her elf-y nature a secret, and understand what all these strange humans are up to.
ATOMIC
Animation: 2D Computer
Format: 12 x 22’
Genre: Action, Educational, Sci-Fi
Producers: Studio Zmei (BG)
Transmedia Tip: Comics, Digital Toys, Trading Cards
Atomic is an action series that seamlessly blends sci-fi with educational storytelling. It follows a teenage girl named Willow, who’s determined to help her overworked engineer father—an old-school action hero—by taking on his heroic duty of protecting the city. With the support of her friends, Willow must defend the Eastern European–inspired Hope City from mutants, robots, and aliens—all while uncovering secrets from her father’s past, exploring the wonders of science, and navigating the challenges of everyday teenage life.
CAP KRAPOOL
Animation: 3D Computer
Format: 13 x 22’
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
Producers: Slam Créations (FR)
Transmedia Tip: Comics, Gaming
In the heart of the Caribbean, the bold Captain Papool Krapool commands an eccentric crew aboard a most unusual ship: The Sea Slipper. He is joined by his 15-year-old daughter, Saïné, whom he has raised alone, and by his older daughter, Akissa, who recently returned after leaving the family soon after Saïné’s birth, following the mysterious disappearance of their mother, Lehoona. One day, Akissa stumbles upon one of the five gems from her mother’s iconic necklace—a sign that Lehoona might still be alive. From then on, the sisters embark on a quest to find the remaining gems, which perhaps uncover the truth behind their mother’s disappearance.
LYON – PLAGUE LAB
Animation: 3D Computer, Cout-out
Format: 52 x 11’
Genre: Adventure, Friendship, Survival-Horror Comedy
Producers: Cartobaleno (IT), Vismanimation (IT), WGF (IT)
Transmedia Tip: Comics, Gaming, Board Games
Lyon – Plague Lab is a darkly comic animated series inspired by gamer and creator Ettore Canu, known as Lyon. Three teens—Lyon, Anna, and Cico—are trapped in an underground lab by a mad scientist and must face grotesque mutant monsters symbolizing adolescent fears and insecurities. Their only refuge, a service elevator, becomes the base for a perilous ascent toward freedom. Each encounter represents the inner struggles of growing up, teaching the protagonists that only by facing their fears, supporting one another, and persevering, they can find the strength to survive and truly mature.
SELECTED PROJECTS - YOUNG ADULTS
Redefining Stories and Formats
Projects targeting Young Adults have significantly increased at this edition of the Cartoon Forum, and they share a common trait: storytelling innovation.
2142
Animation: 3D Computer
Format: 8 x 45’
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi
Producers: The World of 2142 (SRB), Hampa Studio (ES)
Transmedia Tip: Graphic Novel, Gaming
2142 is an animated series set in a futuristic, dystopian crypto world. The story unfolds in a society split between the digitally controlled Upper World and the chaotic, forgotten Lower World. In this divided society, a young girl named Sola embarks on a quest to discover her identity after accidentally assuming someone else’s digital identity and uncovering a mysterious code within her. As the world begins to unravel under the weight of the myth of Satoshi—an entity that might be a god or merely a program—Sola must decide whether to flee, submit, or embrace a role she was never meant for, but one only she can fulfill.
CLOUT CHASERS
Animation: 2D Computer Drawing
Format: 10 x 11’
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Friendship
Producers: Turning Green Productions (BA)
Transmedia Tip: Graphic Novel, Online Content
After tasting their first crumb of internet fame, KJ, Lucas, and Buckley decide they’d much rather make money from viral videos than a traditional 9-to-5 job. These three unemployed 20-somethings must do their best to forge their own path in the world of online content, shaping influence and internet culture. This is the main premise of Clout Chasers: to get popular— no matter what! While often satirizing online content creation, influencers, and internet trends in a tongue-in-cheek manner, Clout Chasers celebrates the cutting-edge creativity and trailblazing culture that young people have established through the internet.
FUNESTOPOLE CIRCUS
Animation: 2D Computer
Format: 10 x 15’
Genre: Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Producers: Werlen Ipsum (FR)
Transmedia Tip: Graphic Novel, Gaming, Board Game
A 2D Western-Shonen comedy series where two allied bounty hunters will stop at nothing to escape a mad world ruled by absurd laws. Funestopole is a mining city at the bottom of a deep crater. The only way to escape this hell is to board a train reserved for Funestopolitan oligarchs. Two inhabitants of the slums, Pigro, a nonchalant hunter, and Ania, a fiery trainer, become unlikely allies through the force of fate, to become the best hunters in the city to secure their train ticket. Both dream of leaving the city, but only one will succeed, because after all, no rules apply in Funestopole.
LOLA, PORCO & PACO
Animation: 2D Computer, Cut-out
Format: 12 x 8’
Genre: Comedy, Folklore, Friendship, Political
Producers: Undodez Producións (ES)
Transmedia Tip: Publishing
Lola, Porco e Paco blends everyday humour with social satire in a Galician village at Finisterre, following three contrasting characters: Paco, an easy-going thirty-something; Porco, his best friend—a literal pig; and Lola, Paco’s sharp, restless ex. Their simple rural routines clash with the contradictions they absorb from screens, causing them to become conspiracy theorists and feminists, activists and slackers, with their opinions shifting as quickly as the wind. Conceived as short, stand-alone 2D animated episodes for digital platforms, the series has support from AGADIC and Televisión de Galicia.
THE AMBUSH
Animation: 2D Computer
Format: 10 x 22’
Genre: Comedy, Political, Society, Female Character
Producers: L’Incroyable Studio (FR)
Transmedia Tip: Graphic Novel
Deep in the jungle, Jackie Woodson fights to keep her seat as mayor of La Crosse. Challenged by her opponents and by the circumstances that brought her to the mayor’s chair, Jackie will do anything to hold on to power and take revenge on those who have hurt her or stand in her way.
WELCOME BACK CLARA
Animation: 2D Computer
Format: 20 x 4’
Genre: Family, Sisterhood
Producers: Les Valseurs (FR)
Transmedia Tip: Graphic Novel, Social Media Vlog
At 26, Clara moves back in with her mother, where her younger sister Rachel – and her cat – are already living. The family loves each other fiercely, laughs at everything, and argues about anything, from the most trivial matters to the latest headlines.
But there’s one subject no one addresses: their father’s illness and death from a few years ago. As Clara gradually comes to terms with her own depression, the family’s hectic daily life begins to reveal the wounds of a loss they’ve never truly confronted.
WELCOME TO HAPPYCRACY
Animation: Stop Motion, Puppets
Format: 10 x 5’
Genre: Comedy, Documentary, Well-being
Producers: Manégann Films (FR), XBO films (FR)
Transmedia Tip: Publishing, Vlog
Social Media
Welcome to Happycracy explores the many contradictions of humans in a constant quest for happiness. Each episode focuses on a different company that promises to make consumers happy. A microphone is handed out to customers and business managers: those who buy and those who sell wellness services. Everyone speaks out, until contradictions emerge and the situation spirals out of control. The dialogues are extracts from documentary interviews. They are embodied in stop-motion puppets. The puppets express themselves in front of the camera and will sometimes be placed in various situations.
YOJIMBOT
Animation: 2D Computer
Format: 10 x 26’
Genre: Action, Adventure, Friendship
Producers: Passion Paris Prodcution (FR)
Transmedia Tip: Publishing, Gaming, Board Game
The protagonist of the series is Hiro, a resilient but naive teenager who has spent his life in what he believes is an underground compound built to protect him from a past nuclear disaster on a remote Japanese island. When his father is killed while trying to escape, Hiro forms an unlikely alliance with four obsolete samurai-themed entertainment robots who become his protectors and new family. Hiro’s talent for bonding with technology is only the beginning. With his companions at his side, he embarks on a perilous quest to uncover his family’s secrets and confront the mysterious entity ruling the island.
Tales to Share
Book-based projects can be enjoyed by all audiences and shared as family viewing experiences. Here is our selection from Cartoon Forum 2025 of projects targeting families.
A TRIP WITH A DRIP
Animation: 2D Computer, Drawing
Format: TV Special 30’
Genre: Adventure, Disability, Friendship, Dramedy
Producers: gretels gold (DE)
Transmedia Tip: Puzzles and family games
In this TV special, Josephine Mark’s unique and touching graphic novel comes to life. Rabbit suffers from a serious illness and awaits treatment at the forest clinic. Wolf appears and is nearly shot by a hunter, but when Rabbit accidentally saves the predator’s life, the “wolf codex” compels Wolf to return the favor. A hilarious adventure full of fun, wisdom, and emotion unfolds.
MURPHY’S LORE
Animation: 2D Computer
Format: 8 x 22’
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Folklore, Family
Producers: Adventurverse Studios (IE)
Transmedia Tip: Family Games as Cards or Board Games
Murphy’s Lore follows the Murphy family, whose campervan trip around Ireland is interrupted by figures and creatures from Irish folklore. The story centers on girlcrazy Eoin and magic-loving Katie, taken on this “boring” holiday by their dad Barry, who’s trying to reconnect after their big divorce. Also, along for the ride are their awkward friend Darragh and eccentric Grandmother Mary. When Mary gives Katie an old folklore book, the family stumbles upon mythical beings—soon finding these are the cause and solution to their problems.
THIS MOOSE BELONGS TO ME
Animation: 2D and 3D Computer, Painting
Format: TV Special 22’
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Friendship
Producers: Sixteen South (IE), Creative Conspiracy (BE)
Transmedia Tip: Educational Products
A witty and thought-provoking story about whether any of us ever really own anything, from the adaptation of the international picture book sensation, Oliver Jeffers.
Wilfred owned a moose. He hadn’t always owned a moose. The moose came to him a while ago, and he knew, just knew, that it was meant to be his. He thought he would call him Marcel. Most of the time Marcel is very obedient, abiding by the many rules of How to Be a Good Pet. But imagine Wilfred’s surprise when one dark day, while deep in the woods, someone else claims the moose as their own…
UGLY NEKO CAFE
Animation: 2D and 3D Computer, Drawing, Puppets, Cut-Out
Format: 30 x 5’
Genre: Comedy, Female Character, Well-being
Producers: Martenitsa Productions (FR)
Transmedia Tip: Comics, Family Games
Ugly Neko Café is a sitcom adapted from a French webtoon by Lucy Vallin. In the heart of Kyoto, The Pet Center is packed with animal cafés, each cuter than the last. Yet, on the top floor, the Ugly Neko Café surprises customers with cats that are anything but pretty—clumsy, stinky, clingy, cranky, and allergyinducing. Even the most dedicated cat-lovers want to run. With no customers and business struggling, the café faces bankruptcy—unless someone walks in and takes the unpaid waitress job.
