Rome, Italy – Following the official institutional meeting in Rome on June 15th, 2026, between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Studio Bozzetto is proud to highlight the strengthening cultural and diplomatic ties between our two nations. This high-profile meeting underlines a shared commitment to collaboration, a value that lies at the very heart of our latest preschool animated series, Pino & Shinoby.

Born as a unique cross-cultural co-production between Studio Bozzetto (Italy) and Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation – YTV (Japan), Pino & Shinoby represents a significant milestone in international audiovisual cooperation. The project has garnered strong institutional backing and enthusiasm from both the Italian Embassy in Tokyo and the Japanese Embassy in Rome, aligning perfectly with the upcoming historic celebrations for the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Italy and Japan, as well as the 45th anniversary of the Milan-Osaka sister-city partnership.

Developed as a 26 x 5’ 2D animated series, the show serves as an educational and entertaining bridge for young audiences. By exploring the daily traditions, languages, and culinary wonders of both countries, it fosters mutual understanding, diversity, and cultural exchange from early childhood.

We are also deeply honored to announce that Pino & Shinoby was recently awarded the prestigious MOIGE Award (Movimento Italiano Genitori) at the 30th edition of Cartoons on the Bay. The jury praised the series for its exceptional “family-friendly” quality and its unique ability to explain diverse cultural identities to children in an inclusive, engaging, and universal way.

As institutional partnerships between Italy and Japan continue to flourish, Studio Bozzetto remains dedicated to fostering this beautiful friendship through creativity, innovation, and the power of storytelling.