Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan

Italian animation and the big screen for the third edition of 'Animation Day

Workshop open to all to take stock of the centrality of animation in the Italian audiovisual industry and the professional opportunities open to students. The appointment on Wednesday 13 May

by School Editorial Board

7 May 2026

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

The world of animation meets students for the third edition of Animation Day: on Wednesday 13 May, at the Milan campus of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Largo Gemelli 1 (Crypt Aula Magna), the workshop "Animation for Cinema: New Italian Films for Theatrical Release" will be held from 9.15 am to 1.30 pm. An initiative open to all that brings together some of the main players in the sector to offer students a unique opportunity for direct confrontation with those who work in the animation industry on a daily basis.

A reflection on the strength and centrality of gender

At a particularly significant time for the sector, which globally sees animation steadily leading the international box office charts - with titles such as Ne Zha 2, Zootropolis 2, Inside Out 2 - a competent reflection on the strength and centrality of the genre also in the Italian audiovisual industry becomes necessary and strategic, since it is capable of offering, in creative and artistic terms, works of the highest quality for the big screen, but which deserves, today more than ever, attention and investment in our country.

The Meeting

The meeting, organised by the Università Cattolica's Master's degree course "The art and industry of narration: from literature to cinema and TV", which has a specific focus on animation and the creation of content for children, in collaboration with Cartoon Italia and in partnership with Bergamo Animation Days, also aims to offer an articulated look at the state of the art of animation, highlighting for students the professional opportunities of an evolving sector, with particular attention to the challenges and possibilities offered by the international market.

First panel

Studio Campedelli, Ibrido Studio, Enanimation and Movimenti Production are the production companies taking part in the first panel, which will talk about their feature films already made and those currently in development or about to be released - Caruso a Love Opera, Dark Horses, Eglefino and Becco di rame - offering a privileged look at the works that are expanding the national offer, highlighting the variety of languages, themes and approaches that characterise the new season of animated feature films made in Italy.

Second panel

The guests of the second panel will be Michel Fuzellier, Christophe Jankovic, Stefano Savastano and Simona Fabbri: reference figures on the Italian and international animation scene who will bring their point of view on the different professional contributions necessary for the production of an animated film. Through the narration of their experiences and the specific skills that each role brings to the table, they will offer students a concrete and articulated vision of the creative, production and organisational processes that guide the development of a full-length animated film, allowing them to understand first-hand how a work destined for cinema is born and constructed.

World phenomena

"This year's Animation Day focuses on films for the cinema: the worldwide success of phenomena such as K-Pop Demon Hunters, but also Cattivissimo me, Zootopia 2 or the Spanish Mummie tells us that we must also look for a realistic and economically sustainable way forward for successful films from Italia, little by little. We will talk about this with our students and all the people interested,' says Armando Fumagalli, coordinator of the event, as well as creator and coordinator of the master's degree course The art and industry of narration: from literature to cinema and TV, which pays special attention to animation and the production of children's content and has signed an agreement with Cartoon Italia.

Vitality of the sector

"The renewal of the appointment with Animation Day is a sign of the liveliness of the sector and the maturity of the relations between Cartoon Italia and universities and schools of higher education. In animated cinema, where creativity, culture, technology and organisation converge, a high level of specialisation is an essential requirement to guarantee quality and international competitiveness of works,' emphasises Maurizio Forestieri, President of Cartoon Italia.
"Many scriptwriters, story-editors and professionals in our sector come from the Degree Courses and the Master in Screenwriting and Production of the Catholic University - observes Evelina Poggi, councillor of Cartoon Italia with responsibility for training - The Animation Day is the visible expression of the precious collaboration between the Milanese university and Cartoon Italia, sanctioned by an agreement of 2023. For this third appointment, we want to offer students interesting food for thought and discussion on a topic, that of the animated feature film, which is very much felt by Italian producers today and debated at an institutional level'.

Milan and Bergamo

"These events are created first and foremost for young people: to give them tools, vision and points of reference. In Milan they encounter the industrial and productive side of animation, in Bergamo the artistic and educational side. Two different perspectives that, united, offer a more complete path to those who want to enter this world,' adds Andrea Bozzetto, artistic director of BAD, the Bergamo Animation Days, which will follow closely on the heels of Milan's Animation Day, starting on 14 May.