Rainbow (company)

Rainbow S.p.A.
Rainbow
FormerlyRainbow S.r.l. (1995-2018)
Company typePrivate
FoundedApril 1995 (April 1995)
FounderIginio Straffi
Headquarters
Loreto, Ancona, Italy
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Iginio Straffi (CEO)
Products
  • Television series
  • Films
OwnerIginio Straffi
Subsidiaries
  • Bardel Entertainment
  • Gruppo Iven S.p.A.
  • (Colorado Film)
  • Rainbow CGI
  • Moviement Talent Agency
  • Tridimensional
  • Witty Toys
Websiterbw.it

Rainbow S.p.A. is an Italian studio founded by Iginio Straffi and co-owned by Viacom (later Paramount Global) from 2011 to 2023. Rainbow has collaborated with Viacom/Paramount's other company, Nickelodeon, on multiple shows, including Winx Club and Club 57.[1] The studio is based in Loreto, Marche and was founded by Straffi in 1995. Rainbow began as an animation studio, providing creative services for larger companies until it secured enough funds for original productions.

In February 2011, Viacom purchased 30% of the company for 62 million euros (US$83 million),[2] leaving the remaining 70% to Iginio Straffi.[3][4] Viacom's Nickelodeon networks broadcast Rainbow's shows worldwide,[5] and Rainbow acts as the licensing agent for Nickelodeon's shows in Italy.[6] Nickelodeon's American studios have also collaborated with Rainbow on several productions, including Winx Club from 2011 to 2015 and Club 57 in 2019.[1]

In 2015, Rainbow purchased fellow animation studio Bardel Entertainment.[7] In 2017, Rainbow acquired a majority stake in Gruppo Iven S.p.A., which owns the production company Colorado Film.[8]

In April 2018, Straffi and Viacom listed the company on the Italian stock exchange.[9] The listing followed years of consideration regarding which country's stock market to enter (the United States or Italy).[10] According to Straffi, this presented "a real dilemma" as Viacom was already listed on an American stock exchange,[10] but Rainbow performed best in European countries.[10] Straffi and Viacom withdrew Rainbow from the stock market in May 2018, citing a lack of suitable market conditions.[11]

After almost 12 years of co-ownership, Paramount sold its stake back to Straffi in January 2023. While Nickelodeon will continue to be a broadcast partner for the studio, the purchase allows Straffi full control of Rainbow's new projects.[12][13]

Filmography

Television series

Title Years Network Notes
Tommy & Oscar[14][15]2000–2002Rai 1co-production with Rai Fiction
Prezzemolo2002–2003Italia 1co-production with Gardaland
Colorado2003–2019co-production with Colorado Film and 3Zero2
Winx Club2004–2019Rai 2/Rai GulpNickelodeon (International)Rai Fiction (seasons 1-7), Nickelodeon Animation Studio (seasons 5–7)[16] and Rai Ragazzi (season 8)
Monster Allergy2005–2009Rai 2M6 (France)Kika (Germany)co-production with Futurikon and Rai Fiction
Huntik: Secrets & Seekers2009–2012Rai 2co-production with Rai Fiction and Big Bocca Productions (season 1)
PopPixie2010–2011co-production with Rai Fiction
Mia and Me[17][18]2012–2023Rai 2/Rai GulpKika (Germany)seasons 1–2 onlyco-production with Hahn & m4e Productions, Rai Fiction (seasons 1–2) and March Entertainment (season 1)Currently owned by Studio 100 International[19]
Crazy Block (pilot)[20]2014 Nickelodeon[20]
Regal Academy2016–2018Rai YoyoNickelodeon (International)co-production with Rai Fiction
Maggie & Bianca: Fashion Friends2016–2017Rai GulpNetflix (International)co-production with Rai Fiction and Nickelodeon (pilot only)[21]
World of Winxco-production with Rai Fiction
Eccezionale veramenteLa 7co-production Colorado Film
44 Cats2018–2021Rai YoyoNickelodeon (International)co-production with Rai Ragazzi and Institute of Antoniano
Club 572019–2021Rai GulpNickelodeon (United States)co-production with Nickelodeon Productions, Rai Ragazzi and CinematNickelodeon[22]
Enjoy - Ridere fa bene2020 RTI
Fate: The Winx Saga2021–2022Netflixco-production with Archery Pictures and Young Blood Productions
Summer & Todd: Happy Farmers2021–presentRai YoyoClan (Spain)co-production with Motion Pictures
Pinocchio and Friends[23]Rai YoYoco-production with Rai Ragazzi and Toonz Media Group[24]
Mermaid Magic[25]2024Netflixco-production with Bardel Entertainment[26]
Gormiti: The New EraRai 2co-production with Giochi Preziosi[26] and Rai Kids
Winx Club: The Magic Is Back2025–presentRai 2Netflixco-production with Rai Kids

Original comics

Comic First issue Last issue
Maya FoxOctober 2008 2011

Films

Movie Released Distributor Co-production
Tommy and Oscar: The Movie2007 MiramaxRai Cinema
Winx Club: The Secret of the Lost Kingdom01 Distribution (Italy)Paramount Home Entertainment (International)
Winx Club 3D: Magical Adventure2010 Medusa FilmParamount Pictures Sky Cinema
Gladiators of Rome2012 Mediaset PremiumSky Cinema
Winx Club: The Mystery of the Abyss2014 01 DistributionParamount Pictures Rai Cinema
Tiro libero2017 Linfa Crowd 2.0
Classe ZMedusa Film
The Girl in the Fog
Daughter of Mine2018 01 Distribution Rai Cinema
My Big Gay Italian WeddingMedusa Film
No Kids
When Mom Is Away
The Nest2019
Into the Labyrinth
Me contro Te - Il film: La vendetta del Signor S2020 Warner Bros.
Cambio tutto!Medusa FilmAmazon Prime VideoColorado Film
When Mom Is Away... With the Family
Me contro Te - Il film: Il mistero della scuola incantata2021 Warner Bros.
A Classic Horror StoryNetflixColorado Film
My Name is Vendetta
Me contro Te - Il film: Persi nel tempo2022 Warner Bros.
Il mammoneMedusa Film
Il pataffio01 Distribution Rai CinemaUMédiaVivo Film
The Price of FamilyNetflix Colorado Film
Tre di troppo2023 Warner Bros.
Me contro Te - Il film: Missione Giungla
Me contro Te - Il film: Vacanze in Transilvania
50km all'ora2024 Eagle PicturesSony Pictures International Productions
The TearsmithNetflix Colorado Film

Other divisions

Rainbow founded Tridimensional, a magazine publishing division, in 2004. A 3D animation division, Rainbow CGI, was formed in 2006. Rainbow also established Witty Toys, a toy division, in 2008.

References

  1. ^ abRamos-Weiner, Maribel (20 November 2018). "Iginio Straffi de Rainbow: Tuvimos una influencia muy importante en la historia de Club 57 para garantizar su atractivo en Europa". Produ.com (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 21 June 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  2. ^"Straffi's Rainbow: Europe's Largest Animation House Has Growing Pains"(PDF). VideoAge International. October 2014. Archived(PDF) from the original on 24 September 2017. In 2011, 16 years after Straffi founded Rainbow, Viacom gained 30 percent ownership of the animation division... for 62 million euro ($83 million), thus valuing the company at $277 million.
  3. ^Vivarelli, Nick (26 February 2011). "Winx creator in the pink: Viacom draws on Italian animation shop". Variety. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  4. ^Serafini, Domenico (5 November 2014). "I dolori di Rainbow per arrivare prima in Europa". Millecanali (in Italian). Archived from the original on 14 September 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  5. ^Minardi, Sabina (24 February 2011). "Winx, le fatine fanno il botto". L'espresso (in Italian).
  6. ^Rusak, Gary (April 2011). "Rainbow to rep Nick, lands new master toy deal"(PDF). Kidscreen. Archived from the original(PDF) on 15 October 2011.
  7. ^"Rainbow buys Canadian animation studio Bardel". Kidscreen. 5 October 2015.
  8. ^Montanari, Andrea (21 August 2017). "Rainbow-Viacom compra la Colorado"(PDF). MF Milano Finanza. Archived from the original(PDF) on 20 August 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  9. ^"Winx take to the stock exchange". Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata. 12 April 2018. Rome: The shares will be put on sale by Straffi and Viacom Holdings Italia.
  10. ^ abc"Rainbow ripensa alla Borsa". Bebeez.it (in Italian). 3 November 2015.
  11. ^"The Winx Withdraw from the Stock Market". 22 May 2018. The Rainbow studio based in Loreto, Marche, 30% of which belongs to Viacom, decided to go public... However, investors have not responded with the awaited enthusiasm
  12. ^Vivarelli, Nick (4 February 2011). "Viacom takes stake in Rainbow". Variety.
  13. ^Bianchi, Nicole (24 January 2023). "Good Morning, Cinecittà!". Cinecittà News (in Italian).
  14. ^"Tommy & Oscar". La Repubblica (in Italian). 20 May 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  15. ^Cucciniello, Cristina (4 June 2003). "Tommy e Oscar, ancora insieme". www.film.it (in Italian). Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  16. ^"Nickelodeon Announces JAKKS Pacific as Master Toy Licensee for Innovative Girls Brand: Winx Club". Winx Club is a co-production with Rainbow S.p.A. and Nickelodeon.
  17. ^Whittock, Jesse (1 December 2009). "M4E greenlights hybrid toon". C21Media.
  18. ^"ZDF, Rai take swing at Lucky Punch toon". C21Media. 5 October 2010.
  19. ^"Mia and Me". Studio 100 International.
  20. ^ ab"Crazy Block - Nick Animated Shorts". YouTube. 8 December 2018. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021.
  21. ^Magliaro, Alessandra (19 July 2015). "Rainbow, oltre Winx, 1/a serie con attori". Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (in Italian). Archived from the original on 20 July 2015.
  22. ^"Riprese della serie tv americana per ragazzi "Club 57" a Monopoli" (in Italian). 23 September 2018.
  23. ^Franks, Nico (10 December 2020). "Rainbow updates Pinocchio in CGI". C21Media.
  24. ^Lawes, Ruth (12 January 2021). "Toonz, Rainbow partner on Pinocchio". C21Media.
  25. ^"Mermaid Magic on Netflix from August 22". Rainbow SpA. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  26. ^ abIlaria Ravarino (25 September 2023). "Alla corte di Iginio Straffi, il Re Mida del cinema italiano". The Hollywood Reporter Roma (in Italian). Retrieved 12 October 2023.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rainbow_(company)&oldid=1323612417#Television_series"