Winx Club is an Italian-American animated series co-produced by Rainbow S.p.A. and Nickelodeon. It was created by Iginio Straffi. The show is set in a magical universe that is inhabited by fairies, witches, and other mythical creatures. The main character is a fairy warrior named Bloom, who enrolls at Alfea College to train and hone her skills. The series uses a serial format that has an ongoing storyline. It premiered on 28 January 2004, becoming a ratings success in Italy and on Nickelodeon networks internationally.
Iginio Straffi initially outlined the show's plot to last three seasons. He chose to continue the story for a fourth season in 2009. Around this time, Winx Club's popularity attracted the attention of the American media company Viacom, owner of Nickelodeon. Viacom purchased 30% of the show's animation studio, Rainbow SpA, and Nickelodeon began producing a revival series. Production on the fifth and sixth seasons was divided between Rainbow and Nickelodeon Animation Studio while Nickelodeon financed the seventh season. To attract an American audience, Viacom assembled a voice cast of Nickelodeon actors (including Elizabeth Gillies and Ariana Grande), invested US$100 million in advertising for the series, and inducted Winx Club into Nickelodeon's franchise of Nicktoons.
Beginning in 2010, episodes of Winx Club have been jointly written with Nickelodeon's American team. Nickelodeon's writers aim to make the series multicultural and appealing toward viewers from different countries. In 2019, Straffi commented on his near-decade of collaboration with Nickelodeon, saying that "the know-how of Rainbow and the know-how of Nickelodeon are very complementary; the sensibilities of the Americans, with our European touch." The continued partnership between Rainbow and Nickelodeon on Winx Club has led to the development of more co-productions, including Club 57 in 2019, on which much of Winx Club's staff worked.
The series was subject to budget cuts in 2014, during its seventh season. The 3D computer-generated segments and Hollywood voice actors were deemed too costly to keep using. The seventh season eventually premiered on Nickelodeon's worldwide channels in 2015. After a four-year hiatus, an eighth season premiered in 2019. At Straffi's decision, this season was heavily retooled for a preschool target audience.
A live-action adaptation of Winx Club for young adults, titled Fate: The Winx Saga, premiered in 2021. In January 2023, after almost 12 years of co-ownership, Viacom (now known as Paramount Global) sold its stake in Rainbow SpA back to Straffi. While Nickelodeon will continue to be a broadcast partner for the studio, the purchase allows Straffi full control of Rainbow's new projects, including an upcoming animated reboot of the Winx Club franchise. The buyout does not affect the seasons of Winx Club that Nickelodeon produced, as the copyright is still registered to Paramount.
Cast and characters[]
| Character | Italian voice actor | English voice actor |
|---|---|---|
| Bloom | Letizia Ciampa | Molly C. Quinn |
| Stella | Perla Liberatori | Amy Gross |
| Flora | Ilaria Latini | Alejandra Reynoso |
| Musa | Gemma Donati | Romi Dames |
| Tecna | Domitilla D'Amico | Morgan Decker |
| Aisha | Laura Lenghi | Keke Palmer |
| Roxy | Debora Magnaghi | Liliana Mumy |
| Sky | Alessandro Quatra | Matt Shively |
| Brandon | Massimilano Alto | Adam Gregory |
| Nex | Daniele Raffaeli Marco Bassetti | |
| Timmy | Corrado Conforti | Charlie Schlatter |
| Thoren | Alessio De Filippis | |
| Gantlos | Christian Iansante | |
| Riven | Mirko Mazzanti | Sam Riegel |
| Acheron | Marco Bassetti | |
| Helia | Francesco Pezzulli Leonardo Graziano |
David Faustino |
| Roy | Emanuele Ruzza | Bryton James |
| Nabu | Sasha De Toni | Will Blagrove |
| Icy | Tatiana Dessi | Larisa Oleynik |
| Darcy | Federica De Bortoli | Jennifer Cody |
| Stormy | Valeria Vidali | Kimberly Brooks |
| Lord Darkar (Shadow Phoenix) | Fabrizio Temperini | Michael Dorn |
| Valtor | Guido Di Naccio | Josh Keaton |
| Mandragora | Cinzia De Carolis | Carolyn Lawrence |
| Ogron | Patrizio Prata | Yuri Lowenthal |
| Duman | Davide Lepore | Josh Keaton |
| Anagan | Andrea Lavagnino | Bumper Robinson |
| Tritannus | Alberto Bognanni | Adam Wylie |
| Selina | Elenora Reti | Jessica DiCicco |
| Politea | Alessandra Korompay | Wendee Lee |
| Kalshara | Emilia Costa | Unknown |
| Brafilius | Carlo Scipioni | |
| Argan (Obscurum) | Paolo De Santis |
International broadcast[]
| Country | Network(s) | Local title |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | Rai 2, RaiSat Ragazzi, RaiSat Smash Girls, Rai Gulp, Rai Yoyo, DeA Kids, Nickelodeon | Winx Club |
| Albania | Tring Tring, Tring Kids, Vizion Plus | |
| Asia | Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Boomerang | |
| Latin America | Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Discovery Kids, Netflix | |
| Australia | Nickelodeon, Network Ten, GO!, Boomerang | |
| Austria | Nickelodeon, ORF eins | |
| Belgium | Nickelodeon, Club RTL, VT4 | |
| Cambodia | Hang Meas HDTV | |
| Canada | Nickelodeon, YTV | |
| Czech Republic | TV Barrandov, Barrandov Plus, Prima, TUTY, Nickelodeon | |
| Denmark | Nickelodeon, Netflix | |
| France | France 3, Gulli, Nickelodeon, Télétoon+ | |
| Germany | Nickelodeon, Nicktoons, RTL II | |
| Ghana | GNTV Junior | |
| Hungary | Nickelodeon, RTL Klub | |
| Iceland | Stöð 2 | |
| Indonesia | MyKids, RCTI, MNC Kids TV, OK TV, UseePrime, Nusantara TV, Global TV, Kompas TV | |
| Ireland | TG4 | |
| Japan | Disney Channel | |
| Kenya | KTN | |
| Kyrgyzstan | UTRK | |
| Malaysia | TV9, NTV7 | |
| Mexico | Azteca 7 | |
| Netherlands | Nickelodeon, MyTV, Disney Channel | |
| New Zealand | Nickelodeon, Boomerang | |
| Norway | Nickelodeon, Netflix, TV 2 | |
| Pakistan | Kids Zone HD, Pop | |
| Philippines | ABS-CBN, TV5 | |
| Seychelles | SBC 1 | |
| Singapore | Okto | |
| Slovenia | Nickelodeon, OTO, POP TV,Nicktoons | |
| South Africa | e.tv, SABC 1, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Nicktoons | |
| Spain (Spanish) | Clan, Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, Netflix | |
| Spain (Belaric Catalan) | IB3 | |
| Spain (Valencian) | Canal Nou, Punt 2 | |
| Sri Lanka | Hiru TV | |
| Sweden | TV4, Nickelodeon, Netflix | |
| Turkey | teve2, Planet Çocuk, Disney Channel, Show TV, D Çocuk, Nickelodeon, Netflix, Cartoon Network | |
| United Kingdom | Nicktoons, Pop Girl, CITV, Boomerang, Nick Jr. | |
| United States | Fox, The CW, Nickelodeon, Nicktoons, Nick Jr., KidsClick, Amazon Prime Video | |
| Azerbaijan | ARB Günəş, RegionTV, ARB Cənub | Vinks klub |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Federalna televizija, Hayatovci | |
| Croatia | Nickelodeon, Nova TV, Mini TV, Doma TV, Nicktoons | |
| China | CCTV-14, Youku, iQIYI, BesTV, LeTV, Tencent Video | 魔法俏佳人 |
| Taiwan | Cartoon Network, YOYO TV, Nickelodeon | |
| Arab World | Nicktoons, Nickelodeon | نادي وينكس |
| Armenia | ART21TV, ATV | Վինքս քլաբ |
| Brazil | Cartoon Network, Boomerang, SBT, TV Cultura, Nickelodeon, Discovery Kids, Netflix | O Clube das Winx |
| Bulgaria | Nickelodeon, Nova TV, TV7, Super 7, E-Kids, Eurocom, VTK, Super Toons | Уинкс Клуб |
| Estonia | TV3 | Winxid |
| Nickelodeon | Winxi Klubi | |
| Finland | MTV3, C More Juniori, Netflix | Winx-klubi |
| Georgia | Basti Bubu | ვინქსები |
| Palitra TV | ვინქს კლუბი | |
| Greece | Alter, Plus TV, Delta TV, Nickelodeon, Star Kentrikis | Γουίνξ κλαμπ |
| Hong Kong | TVB Jade, J2 | 魔法學園 |
| India (Assamese) | ETV Bal Bharat | ৱিন্স ক্লাৱ |
| India (Bengali) | উইংস ক্লাব | |
| India (Gujarati) | વિન્ક્સ ક્લબ | |
| India (Marathi) | विन्क्स क्लब | |
| India (Odia) | ୱିଙ୍କ୍ସ କ୍ଲବ୍ | |
| India (Punjabi) | ਵਿੰਕਸ ਕਲੱਬ | |
| India (Hindi) | Cartoon Network, Pogo, ETV Bal Bharat | विंक्स क्लब |
| India (Kannada) | Chintu TV, ETV Bal Bharat | ವಿಂಕ್ ಕ್ಲಬ್ |
| India (Malayalam) | Kochu TV, ETV Bal Bharat | വിങ്സ് ക്ലബ് |
| India (Tamil) | Chutti TV, ETV Bal Bharat | விங்ஸ் கிளப் |
| India (Telugu) | Kushi TV, ETV Bal Bharat | విన్క్స్ క్లబ్ |
| Israel | Nickelodeon, Arutz HaYeladim, KidZ | מועדון ווינקס |
| Kazakhstan | Balapan | Винкстер клубы |
| Kosovo | RTK 4, Sofia, Alsat M | Winks |
| Latvia | Nickelodeon | Maģiskās Vinksas |
| TV3 | Mazās burves | |
| Lithuania | LRT televizija | Magiški fėjų Vinksių nuotykiai |
| TV3 | Vinksių klubas | |
| Mongolia | Dream Box HD, NBTV, Eco TV, MNB | Вингс клуб |
| Dream TV, Боловсрол ТВ | Шидтэнүүдийн клуб | |
| North Macedonia | Kanal 5 | Клубот Винкс |
| Sitel | Винкс Клуб | |
| Poland | Minimax, ZigZap, Teletoon+, Nickelodeon, TV4, Puls 2, TVP2, Netflix | Klub Winx |
| Portugal | Canal Panda, SIC, TVI, Nickelodeon, Netflix, RTP1, 2: | Clube Winx |
| Canal Panda | Winx Clube | |
| Romania | Nickelodeon, Pro TV | Clubul Winx |
| TVR 1 | Clubul Zânelor | |
| Russia | STS, Carousel, Gulli Girl, Muz-TV, Ryzhiy, Ginger HD, Ani, Nickelodeon | Клуб Винкс - Школа Волшебниц |
| 2x2, Nickelodeon | Уинкс клуб | |
| Serbia | Ultra, Ultra Mini, RTS 1, RTV 1, Happy TV, TV Košava, Pink Kids, Nickelodeon, TV Istok, Dexy TV, Nicktoons | Винкс клуб Винкс виле Винкс |
| Slovakia | TV JOJ | Klub Vinks |
| South Korea | Nickelodeon, JTV SBS, Champ TV | 윙스 클럽 |
| Thailand | Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Nickelodeon, UBC TV, JKN Dramax, News 1, New18, Chocolate TV, Channel 5 | วิงซ์คลับ |
| Ukraine | Inter, Pixel TV, TET, PlusPlus | Вiнкс клуб |
| Vietnam | VTVcab 8 - BiBi, VTC 11 - Kids & Family TV | Winx Công chúa phép thuật |
| VTVcab 21 - Cartoon Kids | Những tiên nữ xinh đẹp | |
| HTV3 | Những nàng tiên winx xinh đẹp | |
| SaoTV, VTVcab 8 - BiBi, VTC 11 - Kids & Family TV, VTVcab 21 - Cartoon Kids, SeeTV, SCTV3 | Winx Công chúa phép thuật | |
| Wales | S4C | Clwb Winx |