Nickandmore!

via Nickelodeon press release:

GLOBAL HIT ANIMATED SERIES WINX CLUB COMES TO NICKELODEON, STARTING MONDAY, JUNE 27, AT 8 P.M.

Hour-Long Specials Feature Voice Talents of Nickelodeon’s Keke Palmer, Matt Shively, Elizabeth Gillies and Ariana Grande

Burbank, Calif. – June 9, 2011 – Nickelodeon brings even more magic to its air this summer with the hit international series, Winx Club, beginning Monday, June 27, at 8 p.m. (ET/PT). Launching first with four one-hour specials, followed later this year with a weekly series, Winx Club focuses on six best friends enrolled in fairy school as they face many adventures together with strength, smarts and teamwork. Culled from the first two seasons of the Italian hit series from Rainbow S.p.A, the four specials include state-of-the-art visual effects and feature the voices of some of Nick’s biggest stars, including: Keke Palmer (True Jackson, VP) as Aisha; Elizabeth Gillies (Victorious) as Daphne; Ariana Grande (Victorious) as Diaspro; and Matt Shively (True Jackson, VP) as Skye; as well as Molly Quinn (Castle) as Bloom. Cymphonique Miller (How to Rock) performs the show’s theme song, “Winx You’re Magic Now.”

The four specials will premiere monthly through the fall, followed by a weekly series of Winx Club seasons three and four, both featuring the new Nick voice talent. Nickelodeon and Rainbow are currently in production on 52 additional episodes of original 2D/CG-animated seasons five and six, which are scheduled to bow in 2012.

“Winx Club is all about girl power,” said Brown Johnson, President, Animation, Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids and Family Group. “It focuses on a group of super-fashionable fairies whose friendship and teamwork empower them to face any challenge thrown their way – from scary monsters to evil witches.”

Winx Club is an animated modern fantasy adventure series that follows six best friends — Bloom, Stella, Flora, Musa, Tecna and Aisha — enrolled in Alfea College, the finest fairy school in all the realms. When trouble arises, the Winx transform into beautiful fairies who use their unique magical powers to fight villains and save the world from evil. Winx Club first debuted in Italy six years ago and quickly became a hit that has generated an international franchise of toys, books, clothing, and DVDs, as well as a CG-animated feature film.

Bloom (Quinn) is the most powerful fairy and leader of the Winx. She has an inborn ability to sense danger, combined with a lively intelligence and a deep sense of loyalty. As the fairy of the waves, Aisha (Palmer) is fearless, determined, energetic, and a sports enthusiast. Skye (Shively) is the leader of the Specialists, a group of teenage boys from a neighboring school who befriend the Winx fairies and fight alongside them to battle evil. The fairy sister of Bloom, Daphne (Gillies), sacrifices her life in order to keep Bloom safe and sometimes appears to her sister as an advisor. And, Diaspro (Grande), a somewhat materialistic princess who can be difficult at times.

In support of the specials, beginning June 23, kids can visit Nick.com to play Winx Club: Enchantrix, a magic-themed animated game, where players can select and dress a Winx Club character to help guide them through environments and adventures all their own. Petpet Park, Nickelodeon’s virtual life fantasy world inspired by the iconic virtual world pioneer,Neopets and its popular companion characters Petpets, is offering a special virtual item giveaway. Players who visit Petpet Park from June 16-30 will receive a free Winx Club magical charm bracelet for their Petpets.

About Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon, now in its 32nd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 16 consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).

About Rainbow S.p.A.

Founded in 1995, Rainbow S.p.A. is a content company which develops animated and multimedia properties. Today it is one of the largest and most internationally renowned animation studios in the world. It is the only production company in Italy able to complete all stages of animation internally, including 3D animation. It currently has 200 full-time employees, as well as a network of animation freelancers and professionals who work with the company on a regular basis. The companies within the Rainbow group holding include: Rainbow Distribution BV in the Netherlands and Rainbow Spain (local offices which manage TV and licensing interests in association with the head office in Loreto); Rainbow CGI in Rome (film production, special effects and 3D animation); Rainbow Entertainment in Rome (fiction and live action); Rainbow Media in Singapore (videogames, internet, and on-line games); Tridimensional in Loreto (publishing and DVDs sold in kiosks); and Witty Toys in Amsterdam and Hong Kong (toy manufacturing). Rainbow S.p.A. creates and distributes original properties Winx Club, Huntik, PopPixie, Monster Allergy, Tommy & Oscar, and Maya Fox. For more information visit www.rbw.it