Pimpa celebrates her 50th birthday! The famous little white dog with red spots has won the hearts of generations of children and adults since her debut on July 13, 1975, on the pages of the Corriere dei Piccoli. Her popularity grew, and in 1982 she became the star of an animated series. Cartoonist Francesco Tullio-Altan first created the friendly and curious Pimpa to entertain his daughter. As her audience expanded, Pimpa soon became a playmate for many more children.
Pimpa is a tireless traveler who explores fantastic worlds, among talking animals and animated objects, facing new experiences every day. She travels by plane, by boat, and even into outer space. When she returns home, she tells Armando — both a friend and a father figure — about her extraordinary stories. Her unwavering curiosity and innate ability to see magic and goodness in the world around her is what makes Pimpa such a beloved and timeless character.
To celebrate this important anniversary, from March 30 to May 24, 2025, the Salaborsa Library in Bologna will host the exhibition “Happy Birthday Pimpa” as part of the eighth edition of “BOOM! Crescere nei libri” (Growing up in books). The exhibition was created and curated by Franco Cosimo Panini Editore in collaboration with the Department of Libraries and Cultural Welfare of the City of Bologna, Hamelin, Kika Tullio-Altan, Anna Ferri, and Quipos.
It is a three-part exploration of Pimpa’s world, designed to reveal the richness of her comic stories and to immerse visitors playfully in her adventures. Children will be the real stars of the show: they can live the dream of entering Pimpa’s house to play, read her books, and watch her cartoons.
Visitors can admire Altan’s original drawings on specially lit displays. Adults who grew up with Pimpa can travel back in time thanks to a timeline of children’s publishing and television entertainment in Italy from the 1970s to today. The final section, Pimpa Off, explores the character’s evolution as a Gen Z icon and a symbol of freedom and inclusion.
On March 30 at 6:30 p.m., at the Salaborsa Library in Bologna, Altan will meet the public for a talk full of stories and anecdotes from Pimpa’s 50 extraordinary years. He will be joined by cartoonists Ratigher, Maicol & Mirco, and illustrator Noemi Vola. Pimpa’s birthday will be a great celebration for all ages, with activities, workshops, and special events animating the entire city for two months.
