🧭 The Ultimate Guide to Cartoons That Take Place in Venice
Venice isn’t just a city — it’s a dream world made of water, bridges, and imagination. Over the years, it has inspired countless artists, filmmakers, and yes, even animators. From mischievous mice to heroic plumbers, spy penguins, and adventurous Pokémon, this floating city has appeared again and again in animated form — each time as whimsical, mysterious, and unforgettable as the real thing.
👉 Want to explore some of these cartoon-perfect places in real life? Join our Private Walking Tours or our Hidden Gems Tour — perfect for families, animation fans, and dreamers of all ages.
🎮 1. Super Mario: Venetian Inspirations
You can’t start this list without mentioning Super Mario — gaming’s most famous Italian hero. While Mario’s adventures take place in the Mushroom Kingdom, parts of his world draw direct inspiration from Venice.
In Super Mario Sunshine and several official artworks, players can spot Venice-like canals, gondolas, arched bridges, and narrow alleys. It’s not officially “Venice,” but the influence is crystal clear. Mario, with his Italian roots and adventurous spirit, feels right at home in a city full of waterways and surprises.
👉 Try strolling across the Rialto Bridge and imagine Mario jumping for coins above the Grand Canal!
🐭 2. Mickey Mouse in Venice
Of course, Mickey Mouse couldn’t resist Venice’s charm. In Mickey’s Around the World in 80 Days and other vintage Disney shorts, Mickey and friends float through gondola-filled canals, zip under bridges, and marvel at St. Mark’s Basilica — all animated in that timeless Disney style.
Venice becomes a playground of romance, laughter, and adventure, capturing its spirit better than most live-action films.
👉 Walk through St. Mark’s Square and you’ll instantly understand why Mickey’s animators fell in love with it.
🪄 3. Oggy and the Cockroaches: Venetian Mayhem
The French comedy Oggy and the Cockroaches brings its trademark chaos to Venice — and it’s hilarious. In episodes set in Europe, Venice becomes a playground for gondola crashes, frantic chases, and slapstick chaos among the canals.
It’s a wilder, cartoonish version of Venice, but still full of the city’s vibrant color and character.
🕵️♂️ 4. The Penguins of Madagascar: Spy Games in Venice
Skipper, Kowalski, Rico, and Private — everyone’s favorite spy penguins — brought their covert antics to Venice too. In The Penguins of Madagascar series, the team races through canals, dodges tourists, and stages high-speed missions in true 007 style (if Bond were a penguin, that is).
Venice’s narrow waterways and ancient architecture make it the perfect cartoon spy playground.
😈 5. Dennis the Menace: Trouble in Venice
Even Dennis the Menace couldn’t resist a bit of Venetian mischief. In both British comics and animated episodes, Dennis and his family vacation in Venice — and of course, everything goes delightfully wrong.
Expect canal pranks, gondolier mishaps, and a very messy Piazza San Marco. Venice becomes Dennis’s ultimate playground of trouble.
🧳 6. Mister Rossi’s Holiday
Created by legendary Italian animator Bruno Bozzetto, Mister Rossi’s Vacation (Le vacanze del signor Rossi) is a nostalgic gem. The cheerful everyman Rossi travels around the world — and one of his most charming stops is Venice.
Through his wide-eyed wonder, viewers see gondolas, masks, and Venetian music come to life. It’s a heartfelt love letter to the city, drawn in warm Italian humor.
🖤 7. Felix the Cat in Venice
Before Mickey, there was Felix the Cat — the original animated trickster. In vintage cartoons and comics, Felix travels through whimsical versions of real-world cities, including Venice.
His adventures feature gondola escapes, clever disguises, and, of course, that magic bag of tricks helping him navigate the canals. Felix’s Venice is pure 1920s charm — quirky, black-and-white, and full of heart.
⚡ 8. Pokémon: Pikachu’s Venetian Adventure
Even the world of Pokémon has been enchanted by Venice. In Pokémon Heroes: Latios and Latias, the fictional city of Alto Mare is directly inspired by Venice.
With gondolas, bridges, marble palaces, and bustling canals, Alto Mare is Venice — just with a few extra Pokémon running around. Ash, Pikachu, and friends race through the waterways, battle villains, and explore stunning, festival-filled streets that feel unmistakably Venetian.
👉 Want to recreate Alto Mare? Explore Venice’s real-life backstreets on our Hidden Gems Tour.
🎭 Why Venice Is So Popular in Cartoons
Why does Venice appear so often in animation? Simple: it’s visually irresistible.
- 🏛 Unique Architecture: The canals, bridges, and piazzas are a dream for animators.
- 🌫 Romantic & Mysterious: Perfect for both love stories and spy adventures.
- 🎭 Cultural Icons: Carnival masks and gondolas are globally recognizable.
- ✍️ Timeless Beauty: Venice looks good in hand-drawn, stop-motion, and CGI alike.
Venice is a natural stage for imagination — a place where history meets fantasy.
🐤 Other Animated Appearances
- 🦸 Carmen Sandiego (Netflix) — A stylish heist during Carnival.
- 🦆 DuckTales (2017) — Scrooge and family explore a treasure-filled Venice.
- 🕵️ Inspector Gadget — Multiple escapades in canal cities.
- 👑 Anastasia (1997) — Not set in Venice, but several scenes echo its elegance.
📝 We Want to Hear from You!
Did we miss your favorite cartoon set in Venice? ✨
Animation keeps finding new ways to celebrate the city’s magic — and your suggestions can help us make this list even better.
👉 Write to us and share your favorite animated Venice moments!
🌅 Final Thoughts: Venice and Animation — A Perfect Match
From Super Mario to Mickey Mouse, Pokémon, and Felix the Cat, Venice continues to enchant audiences young and old. It’s the perfect blend of art, history, and imagination — a city that looks like it was drawn straight out of a storybook.
Whether it’s a funny chase, a romantic gondola ride, or a Pokémon battle under the bridges, Venice proves again and again that it’s not just a setting — it’s a character.
🎨 Stay tuned — we have a feeling more animated heroes will be visiting soon.
👉 Ready to see the real-life version of your favorite cartoon Venice? Book your Private Walking Tour today and let us bring the magic to life!
