"Made with Maga"
your partner in Europe for animated projects
NORA just reached an exciting milestone! After receiving two nominations in the U.S., she has now won her first official award at the Milan Independent Awards Film Festival (MIAFF), taking home Best Music Video for “Beat of a Romance / Cha Cha Cha".
The award celebrates a project we’ve poured a lot of passion into: NORA’s first official music video, the result of our team’s work in animation, design, music and world‑building, all combined to shape her identity and bring her universe to life. Every detail, from the visual style to the rhythm of storytelling, was crafted to express who NORA is and what she represents as a digital pop star.
MIAFF is known for spotlighting independent creativity and works that can move audiences in unexpected ways. Seeing our video recognized in this context is a meaningful step for the project and for the vision behind NORA.
We’re happy to see this journey growing and grateful to everyone who has supported the work so far!
"Le Avventure di Cibì", the animated series created by our studio in collaboration with CBM Italia, is now available for the first time on TIMvision, Italy’s leading on‑demand platform.
The series follows Cibì, a curious young rhino who travels across distant countries and discovers the importance of solidarity and inclusion. Through simple everyday gestures, Cibì learns how small acts of kindness can make the world more accessible and welcoming for everyone. It’s a joyful, vibrant journey designed to help children understand how empathy can open doors and build bridges.
Our partner in this project, CBM Italia, is a Milan‑based humanitarian organisation committed to improving the lives and rights of people with disabilities in Italy and around the world. As part of the international CBM network, active since 1908, the organisation brings long‑standing expertise and purpose to this collaboration.
Watch “Le Avventure di Cibì” now on TIMvision!
Exciting news for NORA, our original project that brings to life a unique digital popstar through music and animation. The official music video for "Beat of a Romance / Cha Cha Cha" has been honored with two nominations in the United States in the Best Music Video category: first at the New York Shorts Awards, a festival dedicated to showcasing independent short films and supporting emerging filmmakers, and then at the Miami Women Film Festival, a competition committed to empowering female voices in cinema and media.
These recognitions mark an important milestone for NORA, a virtual idol who embodies artistic freedom and cultural fusion, blending music, technology and storytelling in a way that resonates globally.
We are proud to see this vision gaining international attention and grateful to everyone supporting this journey. NORA continues to make waves on the global stage!
Maga Animation Studio has been honored with the Best Web-Series Award at the New York Shorts Awards festival for Mr. Men Little Miss Mini Adventures, directed by Francesca Pietrobelli and Eleonora Di Nardo.
This series is a collection of short, colorful stories produced by our studio for Sanrio, inspired by the classic books written by Roger Hargreaves and continued by Adam Hargreaves. These timeless tales have entertained generations, and the series reimagines them in a fresh, digital-friendly format, bringing their humor and life lessons to today’s audience while staying true to the beloved characters.
A huge thank you to Sanrio for trusting us with this wonderful project and to the festival for recognizing our work among incredible indie talents worldwide.
Watch the full series on the official Mr. Men Little Miss YouTube channel and dive into these delightful mini animated gems!
We’re proud to share a milestone that reflects our passion for storytelling and innovation: Maga Animation Studio handled the CG animation production for the reveal trailer of Bradley the Badger, the brand-new video game by Day 4 Night Studios, unveiled during The Game Awards 2025.
Our team worked on character animation for Bradley and secondary characters, layout, modeling of various elements, selected VFX and both cinematic and in-game animations. Every movement was designed to convey curiosity, determination and humor, giving Bradley a distinctive personality and reinforcing the satirical tone of the concept.
Bradley the Badger is more than a game: it’s a wild, satirical love letter to the art of making games. Players explore unfinished worlds inspired by iconic titles using the Kit, a powerful tool that allows real-time asset modification, to transform exploration, puzzle-solving and combat into something systemic and unpredictable.
Collaborating with Day4Night Studios and with the creative vision of Davide Soliani and Cristian Cantamessa was an inspiring experience. Witnessing the trailer’s debut at The Game Awards live from Milan reminded us how gaming continues to evolve as a space for culture, innovation and shared emotion.
Wishlist Bradley the Badger on Steam and discover more about this unique adventure!
As the world gets ready for Milano Cortina 2026, our animated series returns to YouTube with a fresh new look and a renewed mission: to celebrate the spirit of the Winter Olympics through laughter, movement and discovery.
GoGoPig and Mr. Cat are ready to take children on a whirlwind adventure across the snowy landscapes of winter sports. Each episode dives into a different Olympic discipline - from ski jumping to bobsled, ice hockey to figure skating - combining adrenaline and humor with a touch of magic. For the first time, the series will be available in Spanish, alongside Italian and English, making it accessible to even more kids around the world.
At Maga, we like to think of animation as a playground for ideas, especially when it involves snow, sports and a pig in motion. With The GoGoPig, we’re turning winter sports into a weekly adventure where kids can laugh, learn and get ready to live the Olympic spirit like true little champions.
A new episode will be released every week on the official YouTube channel.
On October 17th, we had the pleasure of presenting our talk at VIEW Conference in Turin, titled “NORA: the first Italian V-Idol and digital pop star”. It was a chance to share Maga’s creative and technical journey behind a project that’s been close to our hearts and represents a bold step into the future of digital storytelling.
NORA ノラ isn’t just a character, she’s a virtual artist, born from the fusion of animation, music and technology. As Italy’s first V-Idol, she embodies a new kind of pop star: one that lives in the digital space, connects with audiences through emotion and performance, and opens up new possibilities for how stories are told and experienced.
On stage were Serena Tripepi, director of NORA’s first music video, and Max Carrier Ragazzi, executive producer and showrunner. Together, they walked the audience through the process of creating NORA, from concept to execution, and reflected on the cultural and emotional layers that make her more than just a digital persona.
VIEW Conference was the perfect setting for this kind of exchange, bringing together artists, technologists and creatives from around the world. We’re grateful for the warm response and the curiosity around NORA and we’re excited to keep building her story.
On October 9th Serena Tripepi, director of NORA's debut music video and technical director at our studio, joined a lively and forward-looking panel at MIA Market in Rome, titled “The new production pipeline: how game engines are reshaping animation's business”. The conversation explored how real-time tools and interactive storytelling are changing the way animation is created and produced, opening up new possibilities for cross-media projects and multiplatform IPs.
Serena was joined by Zoltán Bathó, producer and educator in R&D, real-time and virtual production, and Davide Tromba, CEO of Animoka. The panel was moderated by Cristian Jezdic, producer at beQ Entertainment, who guided the discussion through the intersections of animation and gaming, and the evolving skill sets needed in this new creative landscape.
It was a great opportunity to share Maga’s vision and connect with professionals who are pushing the boundaries of what animation can be.We’re happy to have been part of it, Rome gave us the perfect backdrop for inspiration.
On September 18th, 2025, Maga Animation Studio officially presented NORA, the first-ever made in Italy virtual idol, to a live audience at Milano Licensing Day. The event marked the public unveiling of the IP, introduced by Serena Tripepi, project director, during a day dedicated to licensed properties, creative innovation, and industry networking.
NORA was revealed as a new kind of icon, designed to resonate with Gen Z and a wide spectrum of global audiences. Her presence at MLD 2025 drew attention for its originality and strong cross-media potential, blending music, animation and digital identity.
This memorable debut followed the release of NORA’s first single on September 12th, Beat of a Romance/Cha Cha Cha, now available on all major music streaming platforms. Thanks to collaborations with leading music distributors in Japan, Korea, China, France and beyond, NORA is already gaining international traction.
And this is just the beginning.
Meet NORA ノラ, the first Italian digital popstar with a real voice, created by Maga Animation Studio after two years of artistic and technical research.
Her debut video, “Beat of a Romance / Cha Cha Cha”, is more than a music release: it’s a handcrafted CG animation project. Every movement was animated with traditional key-frame techniques, working closely with dancers and choreographers: no generative AI, just pure creativity.
To build her world, we used Unreal Engine as a cinematic tool, creating immersive environments and dynamic lighting inspired by vaporwave aesthetics.
NORA is not just a character, but a creative statement about identity and the future of digital expression. This is only the beginning of a project designed to grow across platforms and formats.
We’re back from Cartoons On The Bay 2025 in Pescara, and we’re buzzing with inspiration, new connections, and exciting projects on the horizon!
On May 29th, our CEO Massimo Carrier Ragazzi took part in the round table “Made in Italy and global properties”, alongside Gian Paolo Tagliavia (Rainbow), Pedro Citaristi (Red Monk Studio), and Francesco Manfio (Gruppo Alcuni), moderated by Federica Pazzano. It was a great opportunity to showcase our latest reel, featuring some of our most recent works, and to share insights from our experience working on international IPs.
We were especially proud to talk about our collaboration with Sanrio on the upcoming Mr. Men Little Miss Mini Adventures, launching in just a couple of days!
A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by, joined the conversation, or simply shared a smile. Events like Cartoons on the Bay are a reminder of how powerful creative exchange can be. We’re already looking forward to what’s next.
