Rainbow (company)
Italian studio
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rainbow S.p.A. is an Italian studio founded by Iginio Straffi and formerly 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 | |
| Formerly | Rainbow S.r.l. (1995–2018) |
| Type | Private |
| Founded | April 1995 |
| Founder | Iginio Straffi |
| Headquarters | |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Iginio Straffi (CEO) |
| Products |
|
| Owner | Iginio Straffi |
| Subsidiaries |
|
| Website | rbw.it |
History
Rainbow began as an animation studio, providing creative services for larger companies until it secured enough funds for original productions.
In April 2008, Rainbow signed a five-year co-production partnership with German media entertainment company Made 4 Entertainment (M4E) to develop and produce television series with M4E granting the rights to then-upcoming season of Rainbow's series Winx Club and its then-upcoming spin-off Pixie (now PopPixie) as the latter would manage distribution to the two series alongside Rainbow whilst Rainbow and M4E would co-produce a new television series.[2][3]
In February 2011, Viacom purchased 30% of the company for 62 million euros (US$83 million),[4] leaving the remaining 70% to Iginio Straffi.[5][6] Viacom's Nickelodeon networks broadcast Rainbow's shows worldwide,[7] and Rainbow acts as the licensing agent for Nickelodeon's shows in Italy.[8] 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.[9]
In June 2016, Rainbow who produced the CGI/live-action property Mia and Me with German media brand management and media company Made 4 Entertainment (m4e) under the latter's subsidiary Hahn & m4e Productions had sold their 50% majority international rights stake in the popular show to the German entertainment company Made 4 Entertainment (m4e) as the latter company will plan to grow its IP to other countries while Rainbow had retained distribution rights to the show in Italy.[10][11]
In August 2017 following the success of its teen series Maggie & Bianca Fashion Friends, Rainbow strenghed its live-action and animation production & distribution operations by acquiring a majority stake in entertainment company Gruppo Iven S.p.A. and its production subsidiaries including production arm Colorado Film, recording unit San Isidro Edizioni Musicali and film production/distributor Gavila, the buyout of a majority stake in Gruppo Iven had increased Rainbow's live-action production operations as the latter grouo became a subsidiairy and would ultize Rainbow's internarional reach while Gruppo Iven's chairmen Maurizio Totti continued to lead the group under Rainbow.[12][13]
In April 2018, Straffi and Viacom listed the company on the Italian stock exchange.[14] The listing followed years of consideration regarding which country's stock market to enter (the United States or Italy).[15] According to Straffi, this presented "a real dilemma" as Viacom was already listed on an American stock exchange,[15] but Rainbow performed best in European countries.[15] Straffi and Viacom withdrew Rainbow from the stock market in May 2018, citing a lack of suitable market conditions.[16]
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.[17][18]
In December 2025, the company celebrated its 30th anniversary. Rainbow also expanded its publishing portfolio with the acquisition of the successful children's book franchise Geronimo Stilton, alongside its spin-off series Tea Sisters, from its creators Elisabetta Dami and Pietro Marietti. Rainbow had previously handled licensing for Geronimo Stilton and Tea Sisters globally.[19][20]
Filmography
Television series
| Title | Years | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tommy & Oscar[21][22] | 2000–2002 | Rai 1 | co-production with Rai Fiction |
| Prezzemolo | 2002–2003 | Italia 1 | co-production with Gardaland |
| Colorado | 2003–2019 | co-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)[23] and Rai Ragazzi (season 8) |
| Monster Allergy | 2005–2009 | Rai 2 M6 (France) Kika (Germany) | co-production with Futurikon and Rai Fiction |
| Huntik: Secrets & Seekers | 2009–2012 | Rai 2 | co-production with Rai Fiction and Big Bocca Productions (season 1) |
| PopPixie | 2010–2011 | co-production with Rai Fiction | |
| Mia and Me[24][25] | 2012–2023 | Rai 2/Rai Gulp Kika (Germany) | seasons 1–2 only co-production with Hahn & m4e Productions, Rai Fiction (seasons 1–2) and March Entertainment (season 1) Currently owned by Studio 100 International[26] |
| Crazy Block (pilot)[27] | 2014 | Nickelodeon[27] | |
| Regal Academy | 2016–2018 | Rai Yoyo Nickelodeon (International) | co-production with Rai Fiction |
| Maggie & Bianca: Fashion Friends | 2016–2017 | Rai Gulp Netflix (International) | co-production with Rai Fiction and Nickelodeon (pilot only)[28] |
| World of Winx | co-production with Rai Fiction | ||
| Eccezionale veramente | La 7 | co-production Colorado Film | |
| 44 Cats | 2018–2021 | Rai Yoyo Nickelodeon (International) | co-production with Rai Ragazzi and Institute of Antoniano |
| Club 57 | 2019–2021 | Rai Gulp Nickelodeon (United States) | co-production with Nickelodeon Productions, Rai Ragazzi and Cinemat Nickelodeon[29] |
| Enjoy - Ridere fa bene | 2020 | RTI | |
| Fate: The Winx Saga | 2021–2022 | Netflix | co-production with Archery Pictures and Young Blood Productions |
| Summer & Todd: Happy Farmers | 2021–2024 | Rai Yoyo Clan (Spain) | co-production with Motion Pictures |
| Pinocchio and Friends[30] | Rai YoYo | co-production with Rai Ragazzi and Toonz Media Group[31] | |
| Mermaid Magic[32] | 2024–2026 | Netflix | co-production with Bardel Entertainment[33] |
| Gormiti: The New Era | Rai 2 | co-production with Giochi Preziosi[33] and Rai Kids | |
| Winx Club: The Magic Is Back | 2025–2026 | Rai 2 Netflix | co-production with Rai Kids |
Original comics
| Comic | First issue | Last issue |
|---|---|---|
| Maya Fox | October 2008 | 2011 |
Films
| Movie | Released | Distributor | Co-production |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tommy and Oscar: The Movie | 2007 | 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 | 2014 | 01 Distribution Paramount Pictures |
Rai Cinema |
| Tiro libero | 2017 | Linfa Crowd 2.0 | |
| Classe Z | Medusa Film | ||
| The Girl in the Fog | |||
| Daughter of Mine | 2018 | 01 Distribution | Rai Cinema |
| My Big Gay Italian Wedding | Medusa Film | ||
| No Kids | |||
| When Mom Is Away | |||
| The Nest | 2019 | ||
| Into the Labyrinth | |||
| Me contro Te - Il film: La vendetta del Signor S | 2020 | 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 incantata | 2021 | Warner Bros. | |
| A Classic Horror Story | Netflix | Colorado Film | |
| My Name is Vendetta | |||
| Me contro Te - Il film: Persi nel tempo | 2022 | Warner Bros. | |
| Il mammone | Medusa Film | ||
| Il pataffio | 01 Distribution | Rai Cinema UMédia Vivo Film | |
| The Price of Family | Netflix | Colorado Film | |
| Tre di troppo | 2023 | Warner Bros. | |
| Me contro Te - Il film: Missione Giungla | |||
| Me contro Te - Il film: Vacanze in Transilvania | |||
| 50km all'ora | 2024 | Eagle Pictures | Sony Pictures International Productions |
| The Tearsmith | Netflix | 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.