Rainbow (company)

Last updated

Rainbow S.p.A.
Rainbow
FormerlyRainbow S.r.l. (1995-2018)
Company type Private
FoundedApril 1995;30 years ago (April 1995)
Founder Iginio Straffi
Headquarters
Loreto, Ancona, Italy
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Iginio Straffi (CEO)
Products
  • Television series
  • Films
Owner Iginio Straffi
Subsidiaries
  • Bardel Entertainment
  • Gruppo Iven S.p.A.
  • (Colorado Film)
  • Rainbow CGI
  • Moviement Talent Agency
  • Tridimensional
  • Witty Toys
Website rbw.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.

Contents

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

TitleYearsNetworkNotes
Tommy & Oscar [14] [15] 2000–2002 Rai 1 co-production with Rai Fiction
Prezzemolo 2002–2003 Italia 1 co-production with Gardaland
Colorado2003–2019co-production with Colorado Film and 3Zero2
Winx Club 2004–2019 Rai 2/Rai Gulp
Nickelodeon (International)
Rai Fiction (seasons 1-7), Nickelodeon Animation Studio (seasons 5–7) [16] and Rai Ragazzi (season 8)
Monster Allergy 2005–2009Rai 2
M6
Kika
co-production with Futurikon and Rai Fiction
Huntik: Secrets & Seekers 2009–2012Rai 2co-production with Rai Fiction and Big Bocca Productions (season 1)
PopPixie 2010–2011co-production with Rai Fiction
Mia and Me [17] [18] 2012–2023Rai 2/Rai Gulp
Kika (Germany)
seasons 1–2 only
co-production with Hahn & m4e Productions, Rai Fiction (seasons 1–2) March Entertainment (season 1)
Crazy Block (pilot) [19] 2014Nickelodeon [19]
Regal Academy 2016–2018 Rai Yoyo
Nickelodeon (International)
co-production with Rai Fiction
Maggie & Bianca: Fashion Friends 2016–2017Rai Gulp
Netflix (International)
co-production with Rai Fiction and Nickelodeon (pilot only) [20]
World of Winx co-production with Rai Fiction
Eccezionale veramente La 7 co-production Colorado Film
44 Cats 2018–2021Rai Yoyo
Nickelodeon (International)
co-production with Rai Ragazzi and Institute of Antoniano
Club 57 2019–2021Rai Gulp
Nickelodeon (United States)
co-production with Nickelodeon Productions, Rai Ragazzi and Cinemat
Nickelodeon [21]
Enjoy - Ridere fa bene2020RTI
Fate: The Winx Saga 2021–2022Netflixco-production with Archery Pictures and Young Blood Productions
Summer & Todd: Happy Farmers2021–presentRai Yoyo
Clan (Spain)
co-production with Motion Pictures
Pinocchio and Friends [22] Rai YoYoco-production with Rai Ragazzi and Toonz Media Group [23]
Mermaid Magic [24] 2024Netflixco-production with Bardel Entertainment [25]
Gormiti: The New EraRai 2co-production with Giochi Preziosi [25] and Rai Kids
Winx Club: The Magic Is Back 2025–presentRai 2
Netflix
co-production with Rai Kids

Original comics

ComicFirst issueLast issue
Maya Fox October 20082011

Films

MovieReleasedDistributorCo-production
Tommy and Oscar: The Movie2007 Miramax Rai Cinema
Winx Club: The Secret of the Lost Kingdom 01 Distribution (Italy)
Paramount Home Entertainment (International)
Winx Club 3D: Magical Adventure 2010 Medusa Film
Paramount Pictures
Sky Cinema
Gladiators of Rome 2012 Mediaset Premium
Sky Cinema
Winx Club: The Mystery of the Abyss 201401 Distribution
Paramount Pictures
Rai Cinema
Tiro libero2017Linfa Crowd 2.0
Classe ZMedusa Film
The Girl in the Fog
Daughter of Mine 201801 DistributionRai Cinema
My Big Gay Italian Wedding Medusa 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 Film
Amazon Prime Video
Colorado Film
When Mom Is Away... With the Family
Me contro Te - Il film: Il mistero della scuola incantata2021Warner Bros.
A Classic Horror Story Netflix Colorado Film
My Name is Vendetta
Me contro Te - Il film: Persi nel tempo2022Warner Bros.
Il mammoneMedusa Film
Il pataffio01 DistributionRai Cinema
UMédia
Vivo Film
The Price of Family NetflixColorado Film
Tre di troppo2023Warner Bros.
Me contro Te - Il film: Missione Giungla
Me contro Te - Il film: Vacanze in Transilvania
50km all'ora2024 Eagle Pictures Sony Pictures International Productions
The Tearsmith NetflixColorado 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. 1 2 Ramos-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. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 "Crazy Block - Nick Animated Shorts". YouTube . 8 December 2018. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021.
  20. 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.
  21. "Riprese della serie tv americana per ragazzi "Club 57" a Monopoli" (in Italian). 23 September 2018.
  22. Franks, Nico (10 December 2020). "Rainbow updates Pinocchio in CGI". C21Media.
  23. Lawes, Ruth (12 January 2021). "Toonz, Rainbow partner on Pinocchio". C21Media.
  24. "Mermaid Magic on Netflix from August 22". Rainbow SpA. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  25. 1 2 Ilaria 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.