http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118031575?refCatId=14
Viacom takes stake in Rainbow
Italo toon house produces 'Winx Club' franchise
By Nick Vivarelli
ROME -- Viacom has acquired a minority stake in Italian animation company Rainbow Group, maker of globally distributed "Winx Club" kiddie TV franchise, in a move that will propel the expansion of the ambitious privately owned studio and boost its bridgehead toward U.S. auds.
Founded in 1995 by former comicbook artist Iginio Straffi, Rainbow is an Italian success story largely thanks to his "Winx," six trendy teenage fairies designed with a style that mixes of Japanese manga and classic Western animation, that have bewitched millions of tween girls in more than 130 countries.
Last year, Viacom's Nikelodeon and Rainbow announced a global content-based partnership centered around "Winx Club" under which Nickelodeon secured TV and merchandising rights in the U.S. and pay TV rights for Latin America, Canada, U.K., and several other territories.
That partnership now expands to co-development and co-production of seasons five and six of "Winx Club," and to two existing theatrical "Winx" movie titles, CGI feature "Winx Club: The Secret of the Lost Kingdom" and "Winx Club 3D: Magic Adventure," which are now likely to be released Stateside via Paramount.
Neither financial terms nor the entity of the Viacom stake were disclosed.
According to Italian financial daily Il Sole 24 Ore, the Viacom stake in Rainbow is said to amount to 30%, allowing Straffi to stay in full control, with plans for a Rainbow Group flotation to follow.
Rainbow, which is based in the small central Italian city of Loreto, with a production outpost in Singapore, also makes the series "Tommy and Oscar," "Prezzy," "Monster Allergy" and, most recently, "Huntik Secrets and Seekers."
The group, which has emulated the Disney model, on a much smaller scale, also has a Rome theme park, called MagicLand, in the works based on the "Winx" franchise and other Rainbow properties.
Italo toon house produces 'Winx Club' franchise
By Nick Vivarelli
ROME -- Viacom has acquired a minority stake in Italian animation company Rainbow Group, maker of globally distributed "Winx Club" kiddie TV franchise, in a move that will propel the expansion of the ambitious privately owned studio and boost its bridgehead toward U.S. auds.
Founded in 1995 by former comicbook artist Iginio Straffi, Rainbow is an Italian success story largely thanks to his "Winx," six trendy teenage fairies designed with a style that mixes of Japanese manga and classic Western animation, that have bewitched millions of tween girls in more than 130 countries.
Last year, Viacom's Nikelodeon and Rainbow announced a global content-based partnership centered around "Winx Club" under which Nickelodeon secured TV and merchandising rights in the U.S. and pay TV rights for Latin America, Canada, U.K., and several other territories.
That partnership now expands to co-development and co-production of seasons five and six of "Winx Club," and to two existing theatrical "Winx" movie titles, CGI feature "Winx Club: The Secret of the Lost Kingdom" and "Winx Club 3D: Magic Adventure," which are now likely to be released Stateside via Paramount.
Neither financial terms nor the entity of the Viacom stake were disclosed.
According to Italian financial daily Il Sole 24 Ore, the Viacom stake in Rainbow is said to amount to 30%, allowing Straffi to stay in full control, with plans for a Rainbow Group flotation to follow.
Rainbow, which is based in the small central Italian city of Loreto, with a production outpost in Singapore, also makes the series "Tommy and Oscar," "Prezzy," "Monster Allergy" and, most recently, "Huntik Secrets and Seekers."
The group, which has emulated the Disney model, on a much smaller scale, also has a Rome theme park, called MagicLand, in the works based on the "Winx" franchise and other Rainbow properties.
All I can say is wow, I really didn't see this coming at all. Now it seems the Winx has a bit of an uncertain future, on a side note it has been found out that Viacom wanted to buy all of Rainbow; but Iginio Straffi wouldn't let that happen.
A lot of fans have had mixed recations back with Nick and Rainbow team up was announched this past summer. Now I myself am becoming worried, for both Rainbow and the Winx Club. All I can say is, that I truly hope we don't losse the WInx that we have all grown to love over the past years.
5 comments:
"Are you really serious, I know that Winx is targeted at younger views, but there are fans that are in their teens and older that are fans, much like myself. And it is a bit offensive."
It is aimed at children, no matter how you look at it. Even if there are teens and adults who watch it, most of their viewers are probably children. Judging from the level of language in the magazines, the articles are not going to appeal older readers.
Very true Kikurukina Bal Des'cagel.
this stinks nickelodeon is going kill the winx club >:( this is why animes are always reliable
I think I'm going to stick to the Italian version this is too confusing for me. Children won't understand all these problems they just watch the show. But for us we get very confused.
Wow,I'm kinda confused now.
Post a Comment