Cartoons on the Bay, the first festival of animation devoted solely to television animation, is the newest addition to the already packed calendar of trade shows and events. The festival, coordinated by Sacis/RAI (Radiotelevisione Italiana) and sponsored by Regione Campania and the Italian Association of Animation and Film, takes place on April 15 to 18 in Amalfi, Italy. These dates, according to artistic coordinator Alfio Bastiancich, take advantage of the influx of visitors to Europe for MIP-TV in Cannes.

Organizers of the festival, which includes an animated film competition, hope to provide a forum for discussion of children’s television issues, as well as give buyers and programmers the opportunity to see animated programming from around the world. ‘I think we’re in a golden era for animation,’ says Bastiancich. New technologies, he adds, have given the animation industry many more opportunities.

Entries for the competition, called the ‘Pulcinella Awards’ after the 16th century Commedia dell’Arte character, totalled about 125 with approximately 50 making the cut. Those not featured in the competition will be included in the catalogue and the ‘Showcase’ for viewing by buyers and festival participants. Other events include: ‘Fairy Tales,’ dedicated to projects that cross over between animation and other special effects; ‘Planet Italy’ presents Italian animation projects; an ‘Animathon’ team competition in which 10 people on 10 teams race against the clock to create an animated film; and an international conference on violence in cartoons sponsored by UNICEF.

Participants include Warner Bros., Klasky Csupo, Nelvana, BRB International, France Animation and NHK from Japan. Joseph Barbera of Hanna-Barbera is honorary president.

As an added coup, Disney will show for the first time footage from The Hunchback of Notre Dame feature cartoon.