Huntik Set for $10 Million Revamp

LORETO: Rainbow is investing $10 million in the second season of Huntik: Secrets and Seekers, which now has a multi-territory master toy deal in place with Giochi Preziosi. 

The toy deal covers Europe, along with the U.K. and Russia. It includes action figures, role-play and play sets. In Italy, where the second season of the boy-focused show debuts this fall, Giochi Preziosi will distribute ranges such as back-to-school and gifts. 

The rollout for the toys will coincide witht he launch of the 26 brand-new episodes of Huntik in 2011. A high level of marketing and cross promotion will be provided by the many Huntik-themed attractions at the upcoming Rainbow Magicland theme park, including the first 4D attraction in Europe, Dark Ride. 

The first season of Huntik sold into more than 30 countries, including the U.S. and U.K. The boys action-adventure property, aimed at 6- to 12-year-olds, has a story set around two rival groups: The Huntik Foundation’s Seekers and the evil Organization. The Seekers’ mission is to search the world over for long lost ancient Amulets containing the magic energy of the Titans, and keep them out of the hands of the Organization.

The toy deal for Huntik extends a long-standing partnership between Rainbow and Giochi Preziosi. In Italy, Giochi Preziosi has distributed Winx Club dolls for Rainbow since 2004. It now also distributes both Winx Club and Bandai-produced PopPixie toys in Spain, Italy and Greece. Auguri Preziosi will also give its back-to-school support to PopPixie in Greece and Winx Club in Spain. 

Iginio Straffi, the founder and CEO of Rainbow, said, “We are delighted to enter yet another partnership with Giochi Preziosi for Huntik: Secrets and Seekers. This series is an extremely important brand for Rainbow, with huge potential and we are confident that Giochi Preziosi will, once again, contribute to make our property an international success.”