What Rainbow CGI does

Rainbow CGI S.r.l. is a Rome-based, privately held 3D animation and visual effects service studio founded in 2006 by Iginio Straffi and Francesco Mastrofini, operating as the core CGI production arm of Rainbow Group (founded 1995, 1,000+ artists worldwide, distribution in 100+ countries). The studio delivers four service lines from a 3,000+ sqm production facility at TecnoCenter Talenti: CG Animation (feature films, TV and web series, including Winx Club seasons 4-6, 44 Cats, Pupstruction, Monster High, and Italian theatrical CGI features), Visual Effects for Live Action (rotoscoping, camera tracking, green screen, compositing for cinema and streaming), Interactive Media (VR/AR apps, mobile games, 360° video, theme-park attractions), and Branding & Content (commercials and promotional CGI for brands such as Mercedes-Benz and AS Roma). Its technical stack centers on a proprietary production pipeline with Blender-based 3D workflow, Unreal Engine for VR/AR, Xsens motion capture, and an in-house R&D department, and the company operates Rainbow Academy, an in-studio professional CG training school that doubles as a talent pipeline.

The studio runs a B2B, project-based revenue model anchored in service fees from film/TV production companies, broadcasters, and brands, supplemented by intra-group Rainbow content work whose IP is licensed globally by the parent group across 100+ countries. Rainbow CGI generated the largest Italian box-office debut of 2021 (Me contro Te — Il Mistero della Scuola Incantata, €811,314 in the first 24 hours), and individual projects — such as Fabbricante di Lacrime on Netflix, which became the platform's most-watched movie within three days, and Me contro Te — Vacanze in Transilvania, which grossed €2M in its opening weekend — illustrate the studio's tier-1 distribution footprint. Named enterprise clients include Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Junior/Titmouse, Hasbro, Moonbug, Warner Bros. Italia, Colorado Film, Mercedes-Benz, AS Roma, Monini, Giochi Preziosi, MAECI, and Rainbow Magicland.

The company's R&D roadmap includes the MuseAI project (PR FESR 2021–2027, €541,710.80 grant) developing generative-AI avatars for cultural institutions, and it is pursuing interactive immersive products including VR art exhibitions and AI-enhanced museum experiences. Founded in 2006 with 101–250 employees and led by CEO Francesco Mastrofini and CTO Pascal Morra, Rainbow CGI sits within Rainbow Group's broader licensing and production ecosystem while positioning itself externally as a creative and technical service partner for global media and brand owners.

Name

Rainbow CGI

Legal name

Rainbow CGI S.r.l.

Website

https://rbw-cgi.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Rainbow CGI is a Rome-based, private 3D animation and VFX service studio serving global film, TV, and streaming clients (Netflix, Amazon, Disney Junior, Warner Bros.) and brands, operating as the CGI production arm of Rainbow Group with a 3,000+ sqm facility and an in-house training academy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animation and Visual Effects Services

NAICS

Postproduction Services and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (51219), Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (512199)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro primary industry

3D Character Animation (MPAHACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

3D/CGI Animation Production (MPADACAB), Animation Production (2D/3D/Stop-Motion) (MPAAAMAD), Immersive/Interactive Animation (AR/VR/Real-Time) (MPAHACAN)

Keywords

• 3D animation services
• Visual effects production
• CGI film production
• Interactive media development
• VR AR experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Roma

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. VFX and Animation Service Production: Rainbow CGI provides fee-for-service CGI animation and visual effects production for film, television, commercials, and interactive media. Revenue is earned through project-based contracts with studios, broadcasters, and brands.
2. Licensing and IP: As part of Rainbow Group, Rainbow CGI contributes to productions whose content is licensed globally across more than 100 countries, generating licensing and royalty revenue streams through the parent group's distribution network.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Rainbow CGI is a Rome-based 3D animation studio that produces CGI animated films, TV/web series, and visual effects for cinema and television. The studio also delivers interactive media including VR/AR applications, mobile games, and themed attractions, plus branded CGI content for commercials and marketing campaigns. It operates as a B2B service studio with end-to-end production capabilities from pre-production through compositing, supported by a 3,000+ sqm facility with motion capture, green screen, and recording studios.

Product overview

Rainbow CGI is a Rome-based CGI animation studio and production services company offering four primary service lines: CG Animation (3D animated films, TV series, and web content production), Visual Effects for Live Action (VFX compositing and post-production for cinema and television), Interactive Media (VR/AR applications, mobile games, 360° video, and themed attractions), and Branding & Content (commercial and promotional CGI content). The studio operates a 3,000+ sqm production facility with professional green screen studio, recording booth, screening room, and Xsens motion capture equipment. Key productions include Winx Club films and series, 44 Cats, Pupstruction, and extensive VFX work for Italian cinema. Rainbow CGI is part of Rainbow Group, founded in 1995 by Iginio Straffi, with subsidiaries worldwide. The studio also includes Rainbow Academy (professional CG training school) and conducts R&D through projects like MuseAI for museum AI applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rainbow Academy: Professional training school for aspiring Computer Graphics designers, founded in 2011 and based within the Rainbow CGI production studio.

Products and services

• CG Animation

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Rainbow GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Rainbow CGI is a strategic production company within Rainbow Group, one of the largest animation studios and licensors in the world, founded by Iginio Straffi in 1995. Rainbow Group employs over 1,000 artists and has subsidiaries in Moscow, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Canada. Rainbow CGI serves as the Group's primary CGI production arm for films, TV series, and VFX projects.
• Giochi PreziosimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGiochi Preziosi co-produced the Gormiti: The New Era TV series with Rainbow. Rainbow CGI provided VFX for the live-action/composite series broadcast on Rai 2 starting October 2024.
• Alterface, Art Project, Vida Studio, Sample, Hytechnology, Alfa ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple companies collaborated on the Huntik 5D Dark Ride attraction at Rainbow Magicland, created in 2011. Rainbow CGI was the CGI production partner responsible for the animated content and interactive elements of the attraction.
• PLAYMARCHE SRL, REKORDATA S.R.L.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRainbow CGI leads an enterprise consortium under the PR FESR 2021-2027 'Research and Development to Innovate Brands' grant. The project, MuseAI: Enhancing Museum Interactions with AI (CUP: B59J24000860007), involves developing AI avatar technology for immersive museum experiences with a total approved contribution of €541,710.80.
• Rainbow AcademycoreOthersFounded in 2011 by Iginio Straffi and Francesco Mastrofini, Rainbow Academy provides professional training for aspiring Computer Graphics designers, tutored by senior supervisors from Rainbow CGI. It is the only 3D animation, VFX, and video games school in Italy located within an international production studio, serving as a talent pipeline for the studio.
• Titmouse / Disney JuniormajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRainbow CGI produced the Pupstruction TV series (2023) for Titmouse and Disney Junior. The series was loved by audiences and praised by critics, demonstrating Rainbow CGI's role as a service provider for major international animation franchises.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mondo TV: Rome-based Mondo TV produces and co-produces 3D and 2D animated kids' series and films for international broadcasters and platforms. Comparable to Rainbow CGI in Italian footprint, kid/family IP focus, and B2B service-plus-co-production model.
• Mikros Animation: Paris-headquartered Mikros Animation is a mid-large European CGI animation and VFX service studio serving global film, TV, and brand clients (including Netflix, Illumination tie-ins). Closely comparable to Rainbow CGI as a multi-service European animation house bidding for international content commissions.
• BRB Internacional: BRB Internacional is a Spanish animation studio producing and co-producing kids' series and feature animation for global distribution. Comparable as another southern-European animation service and IP studio targeting international family content.
• Anima Vitae: Anima Vitae is an Italian production house providing 3D animation and VFX services to Italian and international film and advertising clients. Direct geographic and service-line peer to Rainbow CGI in the Italian animation market.
• Squeeze Animation Studios: Squeeze is a Canadian animation and experiential content studio producing TV series and immersive experiences. Comparable as a mid-sized animation studio serving global brands and entertainment IPs with a similar service mix.
• ReelFX Animation: ReelFX is a US-based animation and VFX service studio producing feature films and series for major studios and streamers. Highly comparable as a mid-sized full-service animation/VFX studio competing for global animated content work.

Broad incumbents

• Framestore: Framestore is a major global VFX and immersive content studio with feature, episodic, VR, and brand work. Comparable to Rainbow CGI's VFX-for-live-action and immersive media service lines, though materially larger and broader in scope.
• Illumination Mac Guff: Illumination Mac Guff (now part of Illumination/Universal) is the Paris-based European arm of a global animated-feature studio. Comparable as a European animation production center serving a large studio parent, with the same hybrid of feature production and IP licensing.
• Cinesite Studios: Cinesite is a global VFX and animation studio serving feature, episodic, and advertising clients. Comparable in its combined feature VFX and animation service offering, though at materially larger scale.

Regional players

• Dog Head Animation Studios: Dog Head Animation Studios is an Italian independent animation studio focused on long-form CGI feature production. Regional peer with overlapping Italian roots, service-studio model, and focus on CGI animation content.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RainbowCGI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rainbow-cgi
• Instagraminstagram.com/rainbow_cgi/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rainbow CGI