Talking with the two founders of Gruppo Alcuni (Francesco and Sergio Manfio), Señal News highlights the upcoming productions of the Italian animation studios.
S.: We’re talking with the two founders of Gruppo Alcuni (Francesco Manfio and Sergio Manfio) let’s start with Sergio Manfio who has just won as Best Director for the animated series “Leo da Vinci” at the 2023 edition of the New York Animation Film Awards (NYAFA).
Sergio Manfio: I’m very grateful for this award, which is a testament to the great work of the wonderful team that worked on the 1st Season of “Leo da Vinci” (52×13’). The series focuses on the action-packed adventures of 15-year-old boy genius Leonardo da Vinci, during that extraordinary time in his life under the wing of the Medici family in early Renaissance Florence.
S.: Considering the success of the series, I’m guessing that Leo’s adventures will continue beyond this 1st season?
Francesco Manfio: they sure will! We’re just putting the finishing touches to “Leo da Vinci 2” the new season dedicated to the adventures of the Tuscan genius and his friends, which consists, like the previous one, of 52 13-minute episodes and is co-produced with Rai Kids, HR, ARD and Cosmos Maya.
We are confident that “Leo da Vinci 2” will confirm the excellent ratings of the first season, which has been distributed worldwide. We will be previewing the new episodes at our MIPCOM booth R7.L23.
S.: What other series will you be presenting at MIPCOM?
Francesco Manfio: first of all, our brand-new series “Mini Pet Pals & Mini Dinos“, once again co-produced with Rai Kids, where the Mini Pet Pals meet a group of cute Mini Dinosaurs (which brings the total number of episodes dedicated to our little heroes to 260).
S.: Back to Sergio Manfio, can you give us some hints on what happens when the Mini Pet Pals meet the Mini Dinos?
Sergio Manfio: Beyond the idea of having our Mini Pet Pals enter a mysterious cave that takes them to the hidden world of the Mini Dinos, the series really is about the meeting of two worlds that, at first glance, seem to have very little in common. In fact, they appear to be complete opposites. The different lifestyles, habits, games and ways of thinking surprise both Mini Pet Pals and Mini Dinos. Fighting the urge to try and convince others that their idea is better, they all learn the true value of diversity.
Francesco Manfio: “Gateway 66” (26×6’) is one of such efforts. It’s a brand-new animation/live-action production that is a perfect blend of adventure and science, thanks to the help of the science team from MUSE, the Trento Science Museum.
We are very excited about this series because, while telling the story of scientist Teodora Teodori, who disappears and gets lost in a parallel world, we also have the opportunity to address a number of scientific issues in an interesting and innovative way.
S: Does this work aimed at new targets include any upper kids content?
Francesco Manfio: For older girls and boys, we are working on: “The Black Diamond Race” a series about an extraordinary car race set between Europe and India in 1929. This exciting new project will be a Rai Kids, Motion Pictures (Spain) and Broadvision Perspectives (India) coproduction.
Nine 45-minute episodes, full of adventure, suspense, love, risk and betrayals, and all taking place in some breathtaking locations.
Full article in English is available on page 90 on Señal News magazine: read full article here.
Follow us for more on:
Facebook Gruppo Alcuni
Instagram Gruppo Alcuni