Dec. 2 – With an exotic name, Koouka is an Italian cartoon designed and produced by Vallaround, a Milanese company in collaboration with Smoky Bungalow. The cartoon won the last edition of the “International MipJunior Pitch 2013,” the prize for the best international project animation, awarded every year during Cannes MipJunior. MipJunior is one of the most important events in the world for cartoons and animated films. The Italian cartoon was chosen from over 60 submissions from 25 different countries and it won over four other contestants from India, South Korea, Ireland and one co-production between Chile and Brazil. The Italian product convinced the jury thanks to its novelty, international appeal and multimedia capabilities. The jury was composed by President Alison Stewart ( CBeebies ), Laurence Blaevoet (Canal +), Anand Roy (Disney Southeast Asia), Paula Taborda dos Guaranys ( Gloob ) and Kenn Viselmann ( CEO Kenn Viselmann Presents). “Koouka” will now be distributed internationally by Aldebaran Distribution, which oversaw the presentation at the International Pitch, assuring a series of contacts with international producers. “By spring 2014 – announced Anna d’Alessandro, owner of Aldebaran Distribution – we will begin production of the first 26 five-minute episodes for television, as well as 1-minute episodes for the web.” “The award is a great recognition for the team of creative young Italians who, despite the crisis and the difficulties within the animation industry, have been able to believe in a new and original project – said Federico Vallarino, creator of Koouka and owner of Vallaround – the incredible adventures of this little chameleon can address, in a clear manner, the theme of ‘diversity’ as a potential and not a limit.”
