Animation is a sector of great interest, traditionally underappreciated, in the Italian design landscape. The main players in this field are gathered in Cartoon Italia, an association chaired by Maria Carolina Terzi, which includes around 80 companies with 6,000 employees, including service and licensing, generating an annual turnover of around €500 million.
In this unique and dynamic context, 2025 marks a particularly important birthday: the 50th anniversary of La Pimpa. La Pimpa is an iconic character of great fame and popularity, created in 1975 by the well-known cartoonist Altan. The sweet, red-dotted puppy, imagined by her creator for his daughter Kika, first appeared on "Il Corriere dei Piccoli" on July 13, 1975, in the comic titled "Pimpa and the Moon."
In 1982, Pimpa made her debut on television with the animated series "The Adventures of Pimpa," directed by Osvaldo Cavandoli, co-produced by RAI and Quipos. From 1987, the lovable character was given her own monthly magazine, published by Glenat Italia: "Pimpa: Games and Readings for Growing Children." The 80th issue of the magazine, published in April 1994, was released by Franco Cosimo Panini, which made them the official publisher of Pimpa more than thirty years ago.
In 2005, our little dog won the Andersen Prize, one of the most prestigious awards dedicated to children's books, authors, illustrators, and publishers, as "Character of the Year." In 2015, on the occasion of her 40th anniversary, the play "The Armando of Pimpa," directed by Giorgio Scaramuzzino, premiered at the Teatro dell’Archivolto in Genoa; an itinerant exhibition "Here Comes Pimpa" was also created, promoted by Franco Cosimo Editore and curated by Hamelin Cultural Association.
In June 2018, the 370th issue of the magazine launched a new version of the periodical, curated by Studio Cecilia & Giorgio Di Vita, always with Altan’s pen. On October 22, 2019, the MAXXI museum in Rome opened the exhibition "Altan, Pimpa, Cipputi, and Other Thinkers," dedicated to Altan and his most famous and significant characters, an authentic mirror of Italian society over time.
In 2020, Franco Cosimo Editore entrusted the Bunker agency from Modena with the restyling of its editorial products. As a result, the classic Pimpa logo was revised, with the red dots becoming the distinctive feature of the new visual identity.
Pimpa has marked the childhood of generations of children. Her meaning goes beyond her appearance, representing a true icon of simplicity, friendship, joy, and adventure. Pimpa’s stories depict the small joys and daily challenges, teaching important life lessons in a fun and accessible way for younger audiences. The texts of the narrated adventures are characterized by simple language and vivid illustrations that stimulate children’s imagination and creativity.
Pimpa has truly left an indelible mark on Italian culture, becoming an icon of children’s literature. And her timeless adventures continue to enchant today’s children, offering them a world of fantasy, friendship, and fun. The simplicity and positivity conveyed by Pimpa remain a cheerful source of inspiration for generations of readers, confirming her status as an emblem of Italian popular culture.
The 50th anniversary of Pimpa was celebrated with an exceptional initiative: the issuance of a special postage stamp dedicated to the sweet red-dotted puppy. Poste Italiane announced the release, by the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, of a standard postage stamp, part of the thematic series "The Excellence of Italian Cultural Heritage," with a B-rate value of €1.25. The stamp, naturally designed by Altan, has a print run of 400,008 copies and was printed by the Polygraphic and Mint Institute of the State, using rotogravure on white, neutral-coated, self-adhesive paper with optical brightener. The vignette depicts Pimpa in front of a cake full of candles, celebrating the 50th anniversary of her creation. The stamp, which in the top right corner features the logo of the iconic comic character, is completed with the inscription "50," the word "ITALIA," and the tariff indication "B."
The name Pimpa, in 1975, was essentially born by chance: Altan was inspired by a cousin of Kika’s, who used to mispronounce the word "bimba" (girl), always saying "pimpa" instead. After all, we know that mistakes can be creative.
Gianni Rodari, in his "Grammar of Fantasy," wrote: "Learning by making mistakes is an old proverb: The new might be that by making mistakes, we invent." The hope is that from the great mistakes of today’s men, we can invent a better world for tomorrow.
Pimpa teaches us.