Iginio Straffi

Iginio Straffi (born May 30, 1965) is an Italian animator and former comic book author.^[1] He is the founder and president of Rainbow SpA, which he co-owned alongside the American media company Paramount Global from 2011^[2] until 2023. Straffi is the creator of the studio's animated series Winx Club and Huntik: Secrets & Seekers, as well as the co-creator of its comic book series Maya Fox.

While at university, Straffi published his first comic story in a 1985 issue of Tilt.^[3] He continued to work as a comic book illustrator through the 1990s, eventually drawing an issue of Sergio Bonelli Editore's Nick Raider series.^[4] In 1995, Straffi founded Rainbow with the assistance of Lamberto Pigini and Giuseppe Casali.^[5] The studio began with a capital of 10,000 euros,^[6] which was mostly used to purchase computers and software for digital design.^[7] Rainbow initially provided creative services for other companies until securing funds for original projects.^[2]

In 2004, Iginio Straffi's creation Winx Club premiered in Italy. The series became internationally successful and attracted the attention of the American media company Viacom, owner of Nickelodeon and Paramount Pictures. After a "long courtship,"^[5] in February 2011 Viacom became a co-owner of Rainbow, purchasing 30% of the studio and leaving the remaining 70% to Straffi.^[2] The purchase was called "Straffi's most important agreement" by L'espresso,^[8] as it led to the worldwide distribution of Rainbow's shows by Paramount and Nickelodeon, as well as various co-productions.^[8] Straffi later took full ownership of the studio after buying the remaining stake from Paramount Global in January 2023.^[9] As of 2019, Straffi continues to work in creative roles at Rainbow, but he has shifted his focus from animation to live action.^[10] Among his first live-action works are Nickelodeon's Club 57 and Fate: The Winx Saga, an adaptation of Winx Club.^[10]