Rossi Boomer

Bruno Bozzetto was born in Milan on March 3, 1938. With a career spanning nearly 60 years, he is considered one of the most eclectic and influential cartoonists of both past and present.

During his teenage years, Bozzetto ventured into the world of cinema, working as a screenwriter and director on various short films. These included documentary-style works influenced by Desmond Morris's books, such as “Piccolo mondo amico,” “I gatti che furbacchioni,” and “A filo d’erba,” filmed in 8 mm.

Inspired by Ward Kimball's short film "Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom," Bozzetto was captivated by the pioneering art of animation using cel drawing. Inheriting artistic talent from his maternal grandfather, painter Girolamo Poloni, Bozzetto’s style is characterized by simplicity, fluid movement, and the depth of his messages conveyed with irony and sarcasm. Encouraged by his father Umberto, who built a makeshift filming setup using an ironing board, Bozzetto’s dream of creating animated films began to take shape.

Each of his short films tackles universal themes such as history, science, nature, and human evolution, often with a socio-psychological twist. His work aims to educate and inform, often with a dose of realism and pessimism, setting him apart from commercial animation for children. In the 1980s, he collaborated with journalist Piero Angela on about 100 educational segments for "Quark" and "Superquark."

Bozzetto’s first short film, “Tapum la storia delle armi,” won an award at Cannes in 1958, marking the start of a career that included collaborations with notable artists such as John Halas and Norman McLaren. His admiration for great animators was mutual, with fans including Disney’s Nine Old Men, Frederic Back, Osamu Tezuka, and Yoji Kuri.

Bozzetto’s animated productions include over 30 short films, notably "Cavallette," an Oscar nominee in 1990, and "Mr. Tao," which won the Golden Bear in Berlin in 1991. He also produced television series for RAI and RTSI, including “Lilliput-put,” “Mr Hiccup,” and “Stripy.”

In the 1960s and 1970s, Bozzetto created the iconic character Mr. Rossi, representing the average Italian struggling with a decaying society. The character starred in three feature films, seven short films, and numerous editorial and musical productions. The theme song "Viva la felicità" by Franco Godi remains popular today, and a vintage clothing line based on Mr. Rossi has recently been launched.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Bozzetto Film employed talented artists like Guido Manuli, Maurizio Nichetti, and Giuseppe Laganà. The studio ventured into advertising, producing memorable commercials such as Kuku, Unca Dunca, Pildo Poldo, and Baffoblu. Guido Manuli also created famous TV show intros for Pippo Baudo and Mike Bongiorno.

Bozzetto’s feature films include “West & Soda” (1965), the first animated spaghetti western, “Vip mio fratello Superuomo” (1968), and “Allegro non Troppo” (1976), a cult classic often compared to Disney's "Fantasia." These films have been shown at festivals worldwide and translated into multiple languages. Bozzetto also directed the live-action film “Sotto il ristorante cinese” and experimented with comedic gags in “Sandwich,” “Spider,” and “La cabina.”

In addition to his Oscar nomination and Berlin Golden Bear, Bozzetto has received around 130 international awards, including 5 Silver Ribbons, the Winsor McCay Award, an honorary degree, and over 15 lifetime achievement awards, notably the De Sica Prize presented by the President of Italy. Many theses have been written about his work.

John Lasseter, a great admirer, invited Bozzetto to Pixar in 2012, and Diane Disney hosted the exhibit “Animation, Maestro!” at the Walt Disney Family Museum. Since 2000, Bozzetto has collaborated on new projects, creating educational shorts and TV series like "La Famiglia Spaghetti," "I Cosi," "Psicovip," and "Bruno the Great" for Disney Channel. He also creates short films in his spare time, with "Europa vs Italia" achieving viral success online.

Bozzetto works with the production company Bozzetto&Co, founded by his son Andrea and partner Pietro Pinetti, continuing the animation legacy. Bozzetto&Co specializes in advertising, educational projects, and TV series like "Topo Tip" for RAI Fiction. Bozzetto’s latest project, “Viavai,” a graphic novel addressing environmental pollution, was released by a French publisher with illustrations by Gregory Panaccione.

The documentary “Bozzetto non Troppo,” directed by Marco Bonfanti, offers a personal look at Bozzetto’s life and work. Today, Bozzetto continues to create drawings, cartoons, and stories, maintaining his creative freedom.

During the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, Bozzetto created and shared daily cartoons about a man and his dog, "DOGGY," which later became a book with proceeds donated to needy families and their pets.

Bruno Bozzetto's website is www.bozzetto.com.
Studio Bozzetto&Co.'s website is www.studiobozzetto.com.