"Bartali's bicycle" the animated film about Gino Bartali

Legendary road cyclist Gino Bartali has become the inspiration for a new feature film, this time an animated treatment aimed at a younger audience. Toonz Media Group, a world major in animation, is collaborating with Lynx Multimedia Factory, Rai Ragazzi and Telegael to co-produce Bartali's Bicycle (working title), inspired by the daring acts of courage and humanism of the sportsman during the second World War. Bartali's bicycle will be released in early 2023.

“Gino Bartali was not only a great cycling champion, but a man who risked his life to fight racism and discrimination and for this he was honored as Righteous among the nations. In a world still plagued by wars and conflicts, his fast and courageous bicycle is a symbol of peace for children and families. This is why RAI has promoted the project of this important film right from the start ”. said Luca Milano, Director of RAI Kids.

The 2D animated film classified as PG will be intended for audiences of 7+ and families. Set nowadays in the Middle East, the 80-minute film follows two rival community kids who are united by their common love of cycling. The theme of the film is woven around Bartali's majestic services for the victims of the Holocaust during World War II.

As the producers explain: “Bartali saved the lives of many Jews during the Nazi occupation of Italy by hiding their documents on his bicycle. The feature film begins 60 years later, when Bartali's bicycle becomes the tool and symbol of the victory of David, an intelligent and sensitive Jewish boy. David accepts the challenge of winning a cycling championship together with his Arab friend Ibrahim, breaking the rules but making peace and tolerance triumph among their communities ”.

The multinational co-production focused on the themes of tolerance, teamwork and diversity will be distributed in Italy by RAI and distributed worldwide by Toonz and the Roman distribution and production company TVCO.

“Bartali's bicycle is a story that will resonate with audiences around the world. It is exactly the kind of story that Toonz is committed to telling the new generations. This is, in fact, a prestigious project for Toonz and we are very excited to be collaborating with our fantastic partners Lynx, Rai Ragazzi, TVCO and Telegael for this international co-production, ”said P. Jayakumar, CEO of Toonz Media Group.

The development, pre-production and post-production of the film's images will be led by Lynx Studio in Italy, while the animation production will be carried out at the Toonz studios in India. The final backgrounds and sound post-production will be done at the Irish Emmy Award-winning studio and the Toonz Telegael group company, which will also handle some elements of the pre-production.

“We are so proud to be in co-production of the film Bartali's bicycle with Toonz Media Group, an important international animation group, and Rai Ragazzi that from the beginning it believed in this project. It is nice to share with our partners issues such as solidarity in sport, altruism in life, friendship that wins over everything, and more in-depth and important topics such as the Shoah and civil coexistence, and look for the best way to represent them in 'animation, ”said Evelina Poggi, CEO of Lynx Multimedia Factory.

Lynx Multimedia Factory is an animation producer based in Rome and Milan that creates original transmedia projects and works for third parties. The studio notably worked on the award-winning 2019 television special The Star of Andra and Tati (Larcadarte / Rai Ragazzi) and is currently working on a new special based on Fabio Geda's In the Sea There Are Crocodiles and developing the preschool series Nip & Lena, Fin Friends and Enrico Paolantonio's feature film Giants.

The film's Italian creative team is led by director Enrico Paolantonio (The Extraordinary Adventures of Jules Verne, Egyxos) and head of production Sabrina Callipari. The original idea was conceived by the late Roman writer Israel Cesare Moscati (A Starry Sky Above the Roman Ghetto), who also developed the screenplay with Marco Beretta (Foot 2 Rue Extreme). Well-known cartoonist Corrado Mastantuono (Nick Raider, Magico Vento) is creating the character designs for the project, while illustrator Andrea Pucci is the background artist. Valentina Mazzola (The star of Andra and Tati) is the editor of the screenplay.

“I am proud to partner with Toonz, such a prestigious brand in animation. It is the first collaboration of this kind between our two companies ”, observed Vincenzo Mosca, managing director of the TVCO distributor. “Bartali's bicycle is a story of resistance and human trust that has deep and distant roots in the true story of the rescue of hundreds of Jews during the German occupation in Italy by a cycling legend: Gino Bartali. We look forward to bringing this animated film to the world market and helping to make that story known to the whole world. "

Paul Cummins, CEO of Telegael, added: “Bartali's bicycle is a very exciting story inspired by the heroic and humanitarian actions of champion cyclist, Gino Bartali, during the Second World War. Telegael is delighted to collaborate with Lynx, RAI, TVCO and Toonz to co-produce this animated film and bring the story of David and Ibrahim to audiences of children and families around the world ”.

Toonz Media Group is a 360-degree media powerhouse and one of the busiest animation production studios in Asia. IT credits include Wolverine and the X-Men, Speedracer: Next Generation, Gummybear and Friends and Fruit Ninja, with current upcoming projects including Keith Chapman's Paddypaws, Janet Hubert's JG and BC Kids, Olvier Jean-Marie's Sunnyside Billy and Pierre the Pigeon Hawk, with Whoopi Goldberg, will.i.am, Jennifer Hudson and Snoop Dogg. (toonz.co)