Cartoons on the Bay

RAI, Italy’s national broadcaster, invited us to collaborate on the TV commercial for the 29th edition of Cartoons on the Bay, the country’s most iconic and long-standing animation festival. The brief was clear: they wanted something fresh and original that could blend contemporary themes with a variety of animation techniques.

This year’s focus is on the relationship between artists and artificial intelligence — a timely and relevant topic that called for a playful, creative, yet sensitive approach.

We came up with the idea of starting the video from a simple prompt, showing how the animation evolves from there. It begins with basic shapes, transitions into motion graphics, moves into the elegance of cel animation, and finally immerses us in the world of 3D. The result is a vibrant explosion of color, energy, and—above all—mixed media!

Welcome to our latest project, crafted with passion and entirely made by hand.

Redesignin an italian icon

Pulcinella is one of the most iconic characters in Italian tradition and has been the face of the festival for decades.

RAI asked us to give him a fresh, modern twist—and that’s where the real fun began. The concept was to start from a basic sketch—just a few abstract shapes—that would gradually evolve, becoming more complex until they transformed into a fully 3D, ultra-detailed character in a Pixar-like style. Let’s go!

We began by playing with simple geometric shapes while preserving Pulcinella’s most recognizable features: the hat, the robe, and of course, his unmistakable black mask. After extensive experimentation, we developed a system where the materials and styles evolved throughout the video—starting with pencil sketches, moving through brushstrokes and vector shapes, and finally reaching hyper-realistic 3D…and much more.

A hand made prompt

The opening whirlwind was designed to foreshadow the animation techniques that would follow—brushstrokes, scribbles, and more—to build an entirely new universe.

We used Procreate Dreams to animate frame-by-frame doodles, staying true to the original styleframe, and Blender to paint artistic brushstrokes directly onto 3D models. Using these two tools together turned out to be a surprisingly powerful combination!

sunrise of mixed media

We imagined Pulcinella discovering this new world by emerging from the sun—creatively playing with perspective and even breaking through the edges of the screen, just like in classic cartoons. A simple gesture that sparks a cascade of emotion and color.

This scene became a true blend of techniques and software. We developed a complex workflow to bring those constantly moving brush effects to life. And if you look closely, you’ll notice Pulcinella himself goes through various creative stages in his movements, becoming increasingly detailed as the animation progresses.

A Star’s Bow

The key shot had to be Pulcinella’s signature bow—his most iconic gesture. To make the moment truly unforgettable, we designed a bold, dynamic camera movement: grand, immersive, and theatrical. All around him, the world begins to take shape, fill with color, and come to life.

Animation gave us the freedom to build everything from scratch, crafting a magical story step by step. This was probably the most technically complex shot of the entire project—combining cel animation, 3D, and 2D elements—all meticulously choreographed to wow the viewer.

We start in a dark, undefined world, and as the sun rises, colors brighten and shapes begin to form: welcome to Cartoons on the Bay.

A Hand-Painted World

For the background, every single element was hand-painted. We began with texture painting and later added procedural brushstrokes to enrich the scene. From the moss on the rocks to the shadows on the water—everything you see is a real brushstroke, created with patience and care.

The perfect closure

The sun, the true narrator of the story, sets the tone from beginning to end. It warms the scenes and fills them with light and color, guiding the flow of the narrative. Then, as it sets, it gently strips everything back to its essential forms—signaling the end and bidding farewell to the enchanted audience.