Kidscreen has learned that RAI Kids executive director Luca Milano is leaving Italy’s public broadcaster in April. After more than 30 years working for the same organization, Milano has no immediate plans for his next chapter, but says he intends to stay in the media industry. 

Milano has been instrumental in significantly ramping up RAI’s involvement in international co-productions across Europe. Recent content he’s had a hand in greenlighting includes Banijay Kids & Family’s Super Happy Magic Forest (a co-commission with BBC Children’s) and Eaglet Films’ Piripenguins. But looking back on his whole career at RAI, Milano also played a key role in bringing some of Italy’s biggest hits to screen, including Atlantyca’s Geronimo Stilton and Rainbow’s Winx Club (which the pubcaster co-developed about 20 years ago). 

RAI is currently the main source of funding for Italian animated series, and at Cartoon Forum 2024, Cartoon Italia president Maria Carolina Terzi went as far as to say: “If animation is alive in Italy, it’s thanks to RAI,” which is a testament to Milano and his team. 

Milano has served as executive director of RAI Kids since April 2017, as well as leading RAI’s animation production division since 2007. He was also selected to head up the children’s media group of the European Broadcasting Union—an alliance of public-service media organizations—as chairperson in 2018. In this role, he contributed to building closer ties between European broadcasters and driving discussions on relevant themes for the kids & family audience.

Milano has also proven to be adept at keeping up with kids’ changing needs throughout his career. During the pandemic lockdowns, RAI was one of the first public broadcasters to launch new programming designed to keep kids educated and entertained at home. 

But if you ask him, his biggest achievements have been helping Italy’s animation industry develop, and playing a part in elevating European talent. “RAI has supported the international integration of Italian creators and studios, stimulating co-productions, and establishing networks of partners among producers and European broadcasters. And I’m proud to have contributed to this.” 

Milano is also proud to have created live-action programming that speaks honestly to kids and focuses on relevant social issues such as sexual harassment, bullying and toxic love between teens. He made similar strides in animation, with content focused on Holocaust remembrance, the migrant experience and civil rights.