In January 1935, the politician
Alfredo Rocco decided to commission the first Italian animated film at the newly formed CAIR. The studio chose to faithfully adapt the Collodi novel
The Adventures of Pinocchio, and began work after buying the rights from its publisher, R. Bemporad & Figlio. To date, it is not clear who directed the film; some sources cite Umberto Spano and Raul Verdini, while others cite
Romolo Bacchini and his son Carlo, who were also the photographers. The
model sheet was made by Verdini and Barbara Mamelli, designers of the satirical newspaper ''Marc'Aurelio''. Romolo Bacchini was also the producer and the
artistic director with Verdini. The
scenography was entrusted to Mario Pompei with Franco Fiorenzi and Gioacchino Colizzi. The composer has sometimes been credited as
Umberto Giordano. in disguise hang
Pinocchio in a frame of the film However, various technical problems stalled production, as Barbara recalled in June 1992. By the end of 1936, CAIR had exhausted the film's financing, and ceased activities. All material was left unused, including about 150,000 drawings and 2,500 feet of film, estimated to last 105 minutes (1 hour and 45 minutes). Raoul Verdini attempted to finish the film while converting it to color with the Catalucci system, but was unsuccessful. ==See also==