Italy-based animation studio Rainbow is flying to America with two of its most popular properties. It has tapped licensing agency Earthbound to represent girl-skewing series Winx Club and Mia and me across the US.
In its first ever licensing deal with a children’s entertainment property, the New York-based company will have an early focus on the fashion potential for Winx and Mia, notably in kids apparel.
Founded in 2000 with focus on direct-to-retail licensing, Earthbound has worked with fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi to get placement in Target stores and the shopping channel QVC. Several years ago, Earthbound expanded into more traditional licensing programs for corporate, fashion and entertainment brands, such as helping grow the merchandising program for the movie Sharknado to more than 30 licensees.
Winx Club is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, and the world premiere for its third feature film — The Mystery of the Abyss—aired in Italy last month. To date, the adventure-comedy show about a group of young fairies has six seasons under its belt, while a seventh season is currently in production.
Last week, Rainbow announced a Winx Club spin-off series coming exclusively to Netflix. Winx Club WOW: World of Winx will have 13 x 22-minute episodes available on the SVOD service in early 2016.
Mia and me, co-produced with Lucky Punch GmbH/M4e, combines live action and CGI animation as the narrative follows 12-year-old Mia in the land of Centopia. The show has more than 70 broadcasters in 80 territories and a second season is currently in production. A full slate of merchandise has arrived in the established territories, including an array of products from international toy partner Mattel.