Rainbow Group’s Pinocchio and Friends joins CBeebies lineup

Italy’s Rainbow Group has inked an exclusive agreement with the UK’s leading free-to-air preschool channel CBeebies to broadcast its new CGI animated series Pinocchio and Friends from early 2022.

The new adaptation featuring the much-loved wooden character ranks as the most watched and top-rated show on Italian channel Rai Yoyo, which premiered Pinocchio and Friends last November.

Produced by Rainbow in collaboration with Rai Ragazzi and Toonz Media Group, the 26 x 12-minute action-comedy show retains the original values that made Collodi’s novel a timeless classic, while taking the audience on brand-new adventures set in the artfully designed, contemporary world.

The puppet is joined on his adventures by Freeda, a pirate doll always ready to board, and grumpy Talking Cricket, appointed by the Fairy with Turquoise Hair to keep an eye on them. Among old and new encounters, modern technology, and surprising twists, Pinocchio aims to take the audience on a funny journey to discover everyday little wonders and universal values such as inclusion, friendship and the power of dreams.

Rainbow’s Founder and CEO Iginio Straffi, who devised the concept for the new show, says: “I have been waiting for the right time to bring this concept to light with the attention and quality it deserves. My new Pinocchio brings out the essence of what makes this story so inspirational while speaking to children in a light-hearted, educational show that empowers their dreams with key life values and exciting dynamics.

“I couldn’t be more delighted that we’ve partnered with top-quality broadcaster BBC to air on CBeebies for British children next year, and we look forward to seeing the series thrive.”

 

 

 

Italy’s Marco Verratti takes feline form to join 44 Cats campaign ahead of UEFA European Football Championship

The Italian footballer and national team champion, Marco Verratti is taking on a new feline appearance ahead of the upcoming UEFA European Football Championship, through a new partnership with the country’s own animation studio, Rainbow and its popular 44 Cats franchise.

Verratti has signed a new contract with the Make a Wish Italia Onlus, the local Make a Wish Foundation, in which the football star will feature – in cat form, no less – alongside the four protagonists from 44 Cats, on a customised Italian flag designed for this year’s major tournament.

The initiative, dubbed Italia Gattastica, will see the character Gatto Marco join the line up of Lampo, Milady, Pilou, and Meatball on a flag that will be sold to fans ahead of the Euro tournament this year. The revenues from the sale of the limited edition Italian flag – now available on Rainbow’s Amazon store – will be donated to the Make A Wish Italia Onlus.

“I’m really happy to kick off this project. The day I was asked to join this adventure my thoughts immediately turned to my children, who are huge 44 Cats fans,” said Verratti in human form.

“It was fun and stimulating to work with serious and very professional companies like Rainbow and Vanquish. Now I hope that the little fans of Buffycats and now also of Gatto Marco will like it, because during the next European Championships we will need the support and cheer of everyone. Go Azzurri! Go 44 Cats!” 

New content, contests and special activities will be rolled out for the entertainment of fans during the European Championship on all 44 Cats social networks.

Produced by Rainbow in collaboration with Antoniano and Rai Ragazzi, 44 Cats is an animated hit series that has been conquering fans worldwide. The Italian-made preschool series is a mix of action, comedy, friendship and original music, that has become a global phenomenon with record ratings since its debut in November 2018 on Rai Yoyo.

44 Cats is on air in over 100 countries and in more than 20 languages. Populating the soundtrack of the series is a run of original songs performed by Antoniano, Italy’s most famous Piccolo Coro.

Rainbow Group details new global marketing and licensing strategy for Winx Club

Rainbow Group has detailed the launch of a new global marketing and licensing strategy for its international hit series, Winx Club, as it looks to target the young adult audience through fashion, accessories, beauty, and make-up.

Winx Club has been a global ratings success for the Italian content studio since its debut back in 2004, with each new series landing further broadcast partners to help make it one of the leading girls’ properties on the international scene.

Alongside the global strategy aimed at kids, Rainbow’s in-house design team has created a variety of differing style guides and a look-book to support its enhanced global strategy for consumer products focusing on teenage girls and the 20-something female audience, with initial specific focuses on fashion, accessories, beauty and make-up. 

To support the new young adults’ consumer products strategy a variety of marketing, PR and digital activities will ensure the engagement of both evergreen fans, as well as new audiences worldwide. Additionally, the co-operation with Netflix and the timing of the successful launch of Fate: The Winx Saga, aligns with Rainbow’s new young adult CP strategy. 

Fate: The Winx Saga is an exclusive Netflix original live-action adaptation of the animation series and produced in collaboration with Rainbow. Within six weeks of its launch on Netflix (January ‘21), the series has established itself as a global ratings success and been commissioned for a second season (Netflix announcement 18 February ’21).  

As a TV series, Winx Club has crossed multi-cultural boundaries with its breadth of characters and themes such as friendship, courage, and determination. These themes are as relevant to today’s young children and young adults, as they were back in 2004 when season one debuted around the world.   

Italy’s Rainbow celebrates its 25th anniversary in style at the Giffoni Film Festival

The Italian animation and children’s content studio, Rainbow, celebrated its 25th anniversary at this year’s prestigious Giffoni Film Festival, one of the best-loved kids’ film festivals in Europe that this year was celebrating its own half a century.

A special Rainbow installation set the scene on Tuesday, August 18th, when the opening night paid homage to the entertainment company founded in 1995 by its president and CEO Iginio Straffi. Marking its own milestone, the Giffoni Film Festival will this year run as a four-part special edition, with activity taking place until December this year.

For the duration of the event, visitors can delve in the world of Rainbow through unpublished images and the first cartoon drawings that have conquered the hearts of children and adults, from the birth of the classic Winx Club world all the way up to 44 Cats, a revelation Series of 2018 broadcast in over 20 languages, and the latest news born from the inspiration of Iginio Straffi.

During the opening night at the Yaris Arena, a video celebrating the content company was also presented, and Claudio Gubitosi, founder and director of Giffoni Opportunity, honoured the company with the Giffoni 50 Award, for its 25 years of success.

“There is something magical uniting Giffoni’s story with Rainbow’s one,” said Iginio Straffi, founder of the Rainbow Group. “The same tenacious and passionate ambition to try make a dream come true, to transform a youthful aspiration into a great reality. Claudio Gubitosi loved cinema as a boy and managed to make Giffoni a world capital of cinema.

“I wanted my stories, created by looking at the horizon beyond the Apennines, to be told and heard all over the world. Two impossible dreams, two dreams that, once fulfilled, met each other.”

Among the protagonists of the world entertainment market, Rainbow is a constantly growing reality thanks to the imagination and vision of Iginio Straffi, an entrepreneur who was able to turn his dreams into reality, offering them to millions of people around the world.

Rainbow’s 44 Cats leaps into UK retail spearheaded by Lisle Licensing

Rainbow’s 44 Cats has landed on its feet across UK broadcasters and retail thanks to a growing popularity on channels such as Pop TV, Nick Jr, and Nick Jr Too, as well as a licensing programme spearheaded by Lisle Licensing.

Already a nightwear collection from TDP Textile Aykroyds is poised to enter the UK market through F&F and Amazon, while the UK’s official toy partner Simba Dickie’s Siso Toys has started distributing the all-cat collection to retailers including The Entertainer, Argos, Amazon, and Asda from this April.

The toys – created by master toy partner Toy Plus – are based on the key elements of the series: music, creative play patterns and collectability. From interactive plush toys to figurines, from play sets to musical toys, each item is deeply linked to the show.

Since its debut in the UK, global content group Rainbow’s 44 Cats has been consistently growing, with the show reaching millions of viewers and increasing audiences. The first season of 44 Cats started airing on Pop TV, Nick Jr and Nick Jr Too in 2019 and is already enjoying popularity across the world.

The 52 x 13’ animated series is a mix of music and cuteness telling the daily adventures of four kittens.

Consumer product deals are in place with UK partners including John Toys and Amscan developing products with multi territorial deals and others such as Sony Music, Dreamtex, Redan Publishing, Fashion UK, Ravensburger, Clementoni, Chicco & Bip.

“After captivating TV, social media and streaming platforms around the world, the brand is set to amaze with an extensive pr and marketing plan for both trade and consumer audiences,” said Rainbow.

Second season of Rainbow’s 44 Cats debut in Italy this week, with global roll out to follow

44 Cats, the popular children’s series from the European animation powerhouse, Rainbow, is ready to launch its second season to the global stage, making its debut on Italy’s Rai Yoyo channel this week.

Pay TV partners Discovery Kids and Nickelodeon will begin broadcast of the second season to audiences across Latin America and the rest of the world, respectively, from Q2 and Q3 this year. The show will later land on free to air broadcasters from autumn this year.

The first season of 44 Cats established record ratings since its very first launch in November 2018, and it’s proving a sensational success: 44 Cats is on air in over 100 countries and in more than 20 languages. According to Rainbow, the series is ‘conquering major kids networks,’ such as Carousel Russia where it is currently the number one show in the country for ratings and share.

Meanwhile, CCTV 14, China’s major kids’ content channel, the show launched early in February with ratings that confirm 44 Cats a leading show on the channel.

Produced by Rainbow in collaboration with Antoniano and Rai Ragazzi, the series is billed as a growing hit for ratings and web interactions, while making a significant impact on the licensing sector. Currently, more than 100 partners from across the world and a number of product categories have signed with 44 Cats, across both national and multi-territorial deals.

“Already on air on the major pay and free to air TV networks in the world and on leading digital platforms such as Netflix, Tencent and YOUKU in China, Start.ru and Yandex in Russia, 44 Cats is performing incredibly and turning into a true web phenomenon and a widespread success on YouTube, where the official channels have surpassed 320 million views in just 14 months,” said Rainbow in a press release.

The newest season comprises 52 episodes that follow the adventures of the Buffycats and Granny Pina as they are joined by new animal and human friends.

Rainbow added: “The explosive mix of action, comedy, friendship and great music makes 44 Cats a series that stands out worldwide, with a magnificent soundtrack of original songs by Antoniano.

After captivating TV, social media and the web around the world, the new chapter of the Made in Italy preschool classic by Rainbow is set to amaze again thanks to the great attention to product quality, universal values and educational content offer.”

Rainbow brings in former Toy Plus director Michael Block as CEO of its Witty Toys business

The European animation house and entertainment studio, Rainbow, has brought in the former Toy Plus director and senior Hasbro executive, Michael Block as CEO of its own toy company, Witty Toys.

Block will drive the vision of the group forward, utilising his experience as an executive and entrepreneur in the management of growing brands.

“I’m really excited to join the Rainbow family and bring my expertise to Witty Toys. I look forward to exploring new opportunities and to developing new projects, while facing the challenges the competitive and dynamic toy industry offers,” commented Block.

Prior to taking up this key role at Witty Toys – established by Rainbow back in 2008 – Block has been running a consulting business, served as a director of Greenmonkey Yoga and was advisor to Real Eats.

He was previously a partner and director of Toy Plus and director of Smart Christmas Solutions. For over 14 years, Block held senior management and international sales and marketing roles at Hasbro.

Alongside his career in the entertainment industry, Block is also an active philanthropist and leader, committed to addressing issues of food insecurity, hunger, and homelessness. He currently serves on the board of directors of several nonprofits, including Voices for Children Foundation, Feeding South Florida and Swipe Out Hunger.