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100 years of Topolino: Fiat and Disney celebrate centenary with five enchanting designs
In a special meeting of two worlds, Mickey Mouse appears on Fiat’s cutest small car. But which is your favourite round-eared icon?
Did you know that Topolino is the Italian nickname for the most famous animated character of all time? That’s right, Disney’s iconic mouse shares his title with Fiat’s tiny quadricycle, but that’s not all they have in common.
Hosted by Fiat and Abarth CEO, Olivier Francois, the world’s motoring press learned of the illustrious and symbiotic 100-year history of Mickey Mouse and the Fiat 500 (Topolino), at yesterday’s Torino media conference.
Paying homage to these intertwined stories, Francois revealed five Disney inspired Topolino pieces. With just one brief in mind: “to have fun together and create something unique and magical,” Rosella Guasco, Stellantis Head of Colour and Materials, presented the first four Topolino artworks — bringing together the worlds of entertainment and mobility once more.
Image credit: Stellantis
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Depicting Mickey’s evolution in chronological order, the first piece unveiled celebrated the Mouse’s inaugural appearance on the big screen in the famed black and white motion picture, Steamboat Willy.
A further three interpretations showcased the themes of modern, street, and abstract Disney. With the latter two wrapped Topolino’s bearing especially lucid and eye-catching artworks. And, for a final cherry on the cake moment, the fifth car received a special one-off commission from Disney’s in-house designer, Giorgio Cavazzano.
Speaking at the press conference, Cavazzano explained how the project had been a magical adventure and he felt as though there was a “dialogue” between him and Mickey Mouse as he envisioned the final piece.
Image credit: Stellantis
All five finished artworks are to be displayed at the North ramp of Fiat’s Lingotto building, where visitors to the shopping center can admire the blend of “creativity and popular culture.”
As Francois succinctly states, for Fiat’s Topolino and Disney’s Mickey Mouse, “the key to staying forever young is playing a wider cultural role, and always having more than one story to tell.”
Which reimagined Disney masterpiece is your favourite?
Hero image credit: Stellantis