As a lifelong Disney enthusiast with roots deeply entrenched in my Italian heritage, I can hardly contain my excitement for Lino DiSalvo‘s upcoming animated feature, “Twisted.” Growing up in a bustling Brooklyn pizzeria, much like Angelina, I too was surrounded by the rich tapestry of Italian traditions and expectations. The idea of blending these cherished memories with a fantastical coming-of-age story set in Andrista is nothing short of enchanting.
Seasoned Disney artist Lino DiSalvo, known for his work on the movie ‘Frozen’, is working on an animated film. This tale follows an adolescent girl from Italy, who joins forces with a legendary creature, in a bid to free her hometown from a wicked enchantment.
The animated series titled “Twisted,” penned by Kissy Dugan and brought to life by Emmanuel Jacomet for Mediawan Kids & Family along with Palomar Animation from Italy, is one of the highly anticipated productions being showcased this week at Rome’s MIA Market, which takes place from October 14th to 18th.
The narrative draws influence from the grand stories DiSalvo was exposed to, being raised in a Brooklyn household with Italian-American roots. It centers around a traditional event in the small Italian town of Andrista, where each year, the locals enact a special ceremony to celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany by hunting and trapping a legendary creature called the Badalisc.
In my own words, I’m aiming for a lively, large-scale film that’s brimming with humor and genuine emotion. To put it simply, it’s going to be a real hoot! I want to share my unique, superstitious, warm-hearted, captivating, and richly textured Italian upbringing on the silver screen.
The story “Twisted” commences in a quaint village nestled within the Valcamonica valley of Lombardy, where traditionally, on the eve of Epiphany, the villagers embark on a hunt for the Badalisc – a legendary, horned creature residing in the Alpine forests. Upon its capture, this mystical beast is marched through town, revealing hidden secrets, whispers, and minor disputes among the villagers – a ceremony that restores tranquility and unity to the community for another year.
According to DiSalvo’s version of events, the tradition takes an unanticipated twist. “Our film begins when this individual has become so tiresome with his annual revelation of everyone’s secrets that he is expelled from the town,” he explained. “Poor soul! He’s been the central character for centuries, and…he is forced to leave the town.
Badalisc’s sole wrongdoing lies in a characteristic inherent to him – speaking the truth. Deep down, all he yearns for… is to belong and be an integral part of the community.
Meet Angelina, an eloquent teenager who spends her days at the family-owned pizzeria. “Her family dreams that she’ll become the next prime minister or a renowned fashion designer – ambitions typical of Italian families aiming for success,” noted DiSalvo. “The amusing twist is that what Angelina truly yearns for is nothing more than perfecting her pizza-making skills.
In contrast to Badalisc, who always tells the truth, Angelina follows a faulty belief system, suggesting it’s simpler to tell people what they desire. As DiSalvo puts it, she essentially deceives everyone. As the narrative unfolds, our young protagonist, with guidance from the outcast creature, will ultimately be tasked with rescuing Andrista’s people. This mission raises the main question of the movie: “Is it ever acceptable to lie? Should one always be truthful, even if it causes pain?
Originally hailing from Brooklyn, this individual now resides in Montreal. He deeply immersed himself in recollections of his youth when crafting “Twisted.” As he expressed, “My family owned a pizzeria, and almost every life experience I had happened within those walls. It was the perspective through which I viewed the world.” Being a first-generation Italian American, he came from a traditional yet surprisingly contemporary family who held certain expectations for him. He humorously added, “I was supposed to be the first DiSalvo not to make pizza.
Since then, DiSalvo’s accomplishments would make any Italian grandmother beam with pride. At just 20 years old, he was recruited and spent an impressive 16 years at Walt Disney Animation Studios. During his tenure, he held the position of head of animation for the Academy Award-winning film “Frozen” and worked as a supervising animator on projects like “Tangled” and “Bolt.” Upon leaving Disney, DiSalvo took on roles such as creative director at Paramount Animation and later the head of creativity at ON Animation Studios in Paris. Most recently, he directed and produced the Emmy-nominated Christmas special “Reindeer in Here” for CBS Studios and Paramount+.
In collaboration with Mediawan Kids & Family based in Paris, a prominent figure in the animated series industry, he plans to combine efforts. Over the last year, this company has been expanding its collection of high-quality animated productions.
DiSalvo stated that since he brought up the project, Emmanuel Jacomet, the producer, has been strongly advocating for it. He’s been supportive of it. The management there is also backing it. Afterwards, they provided me with resources to gather writers and…make my vision a reality.
Initial reactions have been positive, as the animator and his Mediawan collaborators unveiled “Twisted” to industry professionals earlier this year at Annecy and Cartoon Movie held in Bordeaux.
Following our demonstration of this concept, the industry’s reaction has been fantastic according to DiSalvo. It’s heartening to see that there’s a strong interest in Europe and South America for personal stories, even those that retain a touch of the absurd, comical, action-packed, and uniquely told.
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2024-10-13 21:47