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Come qualcuno di voi visitors avrà già visto nelle scorse ore, Bruno Bozzetto, Maestro Jedi di alcune generazioni di animatori worldwide, sarà insignito di un nuovo riconoscimento, Oltreoceano.

Sotto, il comunicato ufficiale (un po’ tagliato), diramato dal Disney Family Museum.

Ma per chi (ahilui) non legge l’Inglese, ecco una piccola sintesi dell’importantissimo evento.

Si tratta di una mostra, intititolata Animation, Maestro!, che suona un po’ come “Musica, maestro!” (ma a ognuno i propri strumenti creativi, quindi…) e nel contempo suggerisce a chi conosce bene l’opera di Bruno che tutto sommato, quella virgoletta fra i duse sostantivi è quasi di troppo.

In mostra una sessantina tra disegni originali a matita, «cels» (dipinti su fogli di acetato trasparente utilizzati per i cartoons) e sfondi dalla filmografia dell’animatore, regista, produttore e disegnatore.

La mostra, organizzata da Federico Fiecconi (ben noto a chi segue questo blog, basta anche solo frugare fra i link sotto, sua foto sopra, con Bruno e due amici pietrificati), ospiterà anche i due filmati «Bozzetto’s Allegro non Troppo and More» e «Bozzetto’s Shorts: Being Funny is Serious Business».

Complessivamente «uno splendido omaggio – raccontava giorni fa Federico al Corriere di Bergamo – reso possibile dal preziosissimo lavoro delle figlie di Bruno, le gemelle Anita e Irene: attentissime custodi dell’archivio attraverso la Bozzetto Distribution, hanno preservato il materiale, un vero tesoro, con una cura museale paziente, amorevole, gioiosa».

Per le celebrazioni dell’Anno della Cultura italiana negli Stati Uniti è stato organizzato un convegno, sabato 23 novembre, a cui parteciperanno le autorità consolari, Bozzetto, Fiecconi e alcuni grandi nomi dell’animazione a stelle e strisce tra cui John Musker (Pixar) e David Silverman (Pixar e Simpsons).

The Walt Disney Family Museum is pleased to present the exhibition Bruno Bozzetto: Animation, Maestro!

On view in the museum’s Theater Gallery from November 21, 2013 to April 7, 2014 this exhibition organized by animation historian and critic Federico Fiecconi, spotlights some 60 original pencil animation drawings, cels, and backgrounds from the filmography of the renowned Italian animator, director, producer, and cartoonist Bruno Bozzetto (b. 1938). Most of the featured works come from his most celebrated masterpiece film Allegro non Troppo (1976). – See more at: http://www.waltdisney.org/bozzetto#sthash.YTYAcKdU.dpuf

Labeled at the time of its U.S. release “a gorgeous send-up of Fantasia,” the mixed animation and live action feature film visually interprets six pieces of classical music by Debussy, Dvorak, Ravel, Sibelius, Vivaldi and Stravinsky.

An explicit homage to Disney’s Fantasia, Allegro non Troppo represents a high point in the history of animation. The film garnered worldwide acclaim and was praised by Disney Legend Ward Kimball, who called it one of his “favorite animated films of all time.”

Inspired by classic Disney films including Fantasia (1940) and Bambi (1942), Bozzetto debuted in 1953 at the age of 15 with a Donald Duck-themed short.

He quickly developed his own distinctive personal style, becoming one of the most eclectic and innovative independent animators, directors, and producers in the industry. For almost six decades, working both independently and through his company Bruno Bozzetto Film, he has produced and created animation shorts, commercials, TV series, and four full-length feature films including the iconic West & Soda (1965) and VIP, my Brother Superman (1968).

His short films have also earned an Academy Award nomination, a Berlin Golden Bear, and more than 150 international awards.

Bozzetto’s work represents the perfect link between classic Disney style and a contemporary, modern approach to animation focused on storytelling, character development, brilliant design, and humor. “Bruno Bozzetto’s films have been one of the greatest inspirations for me as an animator and storyteller.

He has created some of the funniest animated films ever made and is one of the most clever storytellers around. Bruno’s designs are so appealing and his comic timing is truly unsurpassed,” comments John Lasseter, chief creative officer at Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Bruno Bozzetto: Animation, Maestro! is organized by The Walt Disney Family Museum. The exhibition is designed by the Italian firm Graffiti Media Factory.