Cristina D'Avena is the most famous Italian singer of TV song themes, particularly for Japanese animation series. A true pop star in the '80s, D'Avena sang the Italian-version songs (and sometimes wrote the lyrics) for countless series, starred in her own TV shows, and sold millions of records. The key event in D'Avena's life came in 1981, when her song "Bambino Pinocchio" became a big hit and launched her recording career when she was still a 17-year-old high-school student. D'Avena's popularity peaked when she starred in the live action version of the popular anime series Kiss Me Licia, becoming a teen idol in several European countries. It is estimated that D'Avena has released more than 600 singles and 140 albums, selling over five million copies worldwide. ~ Mariano Prunes