Type | Production company |
---|---|
Founded | April 1995 |
Founder | Iginio Straffi |
Headquarters | |
Key people | Iginio Straffi (Founder/CEO) |
Products | Television series, films |
Owner | Paramount Global (30%)[1] |
Parent | Paramount Networks EMEAA (30%) Iginio Straffi (70%) |
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 co-owned by Iginio Straffi and Paramount Global.[2] It has collaborated with Paramount Global's other company, Nickelodeon, on multiple shows, including Winx Club and Club 57.[3] 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 (now known as Paramount Global) purchased 30% of the company for 62 million euros (US$83 million),[4] leaving the remaining 70% to Iginio Straffi.[2][5] Viacom's Nickelodeon networks broadcast Rainbow's shows worldwide[6] and Rainbow acts as the licensing agent for Nickelodeon's shows in Italy.[7] Nickelodeon's American studios have also collaborated with Rainbow on several productions, including Winx Club from 2011 to 2015 and Club 57 in 2019.[3]
In 2015, Rainbow purchased fellow animation studio Bardel Entertainment.[8] In 2017, Rainbow acquired a majority stake in Gruppo Iven S.p.A., which owns the production company Colorado Film.[9]
In 2018, Straffi and Viacom listed the company on the Italian stock exchange.[10] The listing followed years of consideration regarding which country's stock market to enter (the United States or Italy).[11] According to Straffi, this presented "a real dilemma" as Viacom was already listed on an American stock exchange,[11] but Rainbow performed best in European countries.[11] Straffi and Viacom withdrew Rainbow from the stock market in May 2018, citing a lack of suitable market conditions.[12]
Show | Start date | Co-production |
---|---|---|
Tommy and Oscar | 2000–2002 | Rai Fiction |
Prezzemolo | 2002–2003 | Gardaland |
Winx Club | 2004–2019 | Rai Fiction (seasons 1-7) Nickelodeon[13] (seasons 5-7) Rai Ragazzi (season 8) |
Monster Allergy | 2005–2009 | Rai Fiction |
Huntik: Secrets & Seekers | 2009–2012 | |
PopPixie | 2010–2011 | |
Mia and Me | 2012–2015 | M4E |
Crazy Block (pilot)[14] | 2014 | Nickelodeon[14] |
Regal Academy | 2016–2018 | Rai Fiction |
Maggie & Bianca: Fashion Friends | 2016–2017 | Rai Fiction Nickelodeon (pilot only)[15] |
World of Winx | 2016–2017 | Rai Fiction |
44 Cats | 2018–present | Rai Ragazzi Institute of Antoniano |
Club 57 | 2019–2021 | Rai Ragazzi Nickelodeon[16] |
Fate: The Winx Saga | 2021–2022 | Archery Pictures Young Blood Productions |
Summer & Todd: Happy Farmers | 2021–present | RTVE Motion Pictures |
Pinocchio and Friends | 2021–present | Rai Ragazzi Toonz Media Group |
Mermaid Magic | TBA | Bardel |
Movie | Released | Distributor | Co-production |
---|---|---|---|
Tommy and Oscar: The Movie | 2007 | Rai Fiction | Miramax |
Winx Club: The Secret of the Lost Kingdom | 2007 | 01 Distribution Paramount Pictures |
Rai Fiction |
Winx Club 3D: Magical Adventure | 2010 | Medusa Film Paramount Pictures |
Sky Cinema |
Gladiators of Rome | 2012 | Medusa Film Paramount Pictures |
Sky Cinema Mediaset Premium |
Winx Club: The Mystery of the Abyss | 2014 | 01 Distribution Paramount Pictures |
Rai Fiction |
Classe Z | 2017 | Medusa Film | Colorado Film |
Tiro libero | 2017 | ||
The Girl in the Fog | 2017 | ||
My Big Gay Italian Wedding | 2018 | ||
No Kids | 2018 | ||
When Mom Is Away | 2018 | ||
The Nest | 2019 | ||
Into the Labyrinth | 2019 | ||
Me contro Te - Il film: La vendetta del Signor S | 2020 | Warner Bros. | |
Cambio tutto! | 2020 | Medusa Film Amazon Prime Video | |
10 giorni con Babbo Natale | 2020 | Medusa Film Amazon Prime Video |
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.