Rainbow and Poliarte Enchant at World Expo 2025 Osaka

Rainbow’s Winx Club has lit up the Italian Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka ahead of the global launch of the new series Winx Club – The Magic is Back, which is set to premiere on Netflix globally, including in Japan, in October 2025.

Created by Iginio Straffi, founder of Rainbow, the beloved Italian animated brand has enchanted children and teens in over 150 countries for more than 20 years, and now makes its official debut in the Japan.

During a special event designed to promote the Marche region of Italy, Iginio Straffi spoke to the audience about the creative journey and extraordinary global success of the franchise.  This was followed by the culmination of an international illustration contest, Under the Sign of Winx – “Illustration Beyond Borders”, which invited young artists from Italy and Japan to reinterpret Winx Club through a cultural fusion between the two countries, who share a rich history of tradition and innovation.  The two winners, Matteo Masciari from Italy and Saku Harase from Japan, will now participate in an exclusive exchange program between the two countries.

Also captivating the audience in Osaka were members of the Japanese Winx Cosplay Club, coordinated by famed cosplayer Yuriko Tiger, and featuring an appearance by Daniela Aiko, who spoke about the global phenomenon of the Winx Cosplay Club, a community that brings together thousands of fans worldwide with meetups, contests, and celebrations.

The Winx Club celebration was part of an event day featuring Rainbow and the Rainbow-owned Poliarte – Academy of Design, Fashion and Cinema who joined forces to promote  the cultural delights of the Marche region “ARS: THE MARCHE’S GENIUS AND SKILLS.”

The day celebrated visual arts, creativity, animation, and pop culture, serving us a symbolic event between Italy and Japan, with highlights including the world premiere of the short film “Sakura サクラ – Land of Symphony”, produced by Poliarte as part of the Raffaello Metaverse project, funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with support from the European Union – Next Generation EU.

Directed by Paolo Doppieri, written by Sergio Ramazzotti, with artistic direction by Marco Delio Rossi, the short film was executive produced by Roberto Venuso for Genesis Srl, with support from Fondazione Marche Cultura – Marche Film Commission.  A poignant and poetic work, the film follows the inner journey of a Japanese violinist through the Marche region, encountering landscapes, people, and emotional inspirations.

Leading local figures and producers were involved in the filming: Umani Ronchi, a historic Marche winery; Spinosi, a leader in local gastronomy; Lardini, Fabi Shoes, Cult, and Gaia Segattini Knotwear for clothing and footwear; Cantiere delle Marche, which contributed renderings, sketchbooks, and original designs; Quagliano Violin Makers in Jesi; and the Conservatory of Fermo, with students and musicians conducted by maestro Luca Marziali.

The locations showcased the Marche region’s extraordinary natural and cultural richness: Tenuta di Tavignano (Cingoli), Liuteria Quagliano (Jesi), Teatro dell’Aquila and Palazzo dei Priori (Fermo), Arch of Trajan (Ancona), Eremo dei Frati Bianchi (Cupramontana), Sferisterio in Macerata, Urbino, Conero Park, and the Sibillini Mountains. The scenes set in Japan were filmed at WabiSabi Culture in San Ginesio.

The soundtrack, a fundamental part of the short film, was the result of a collaboration between Marche composer Stefano “Stèv” Fagnani and Japanese sound designer Yudai Iwata, with the help of invīsi, a Japanese creative studio specializing in sound. A piece from the first act of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly was performed by maestro Fabrizio Castania, paying tribute to the meeting of the two musical cultures.

Design and innovation also took center stage with the premiere presentation of MADE – MArche DEsign Museum, the first digital museum dedicated to Marche’s creative industry, available online from 2026. Created by Poliarte in collaboration with CNR and numerous local companies, MADE will showcase over a century of cultural production, from furniture to fashion and from graphic design to music. Presenters included Michele Capuani (Director of Poliarte) and Carlo Vannicola (University of Camerino), with academic contributions from Daichi Iwase, Ph.D. at Tokyo Zokei University, Tatsu Matsuda, Associate Professor in the Design Department of Shizuoka University of Art and Culture, and Keito Oonogi, Professor at Kyoto University of Arts, representing Japan’s top art and design universities.

Ignio Straffi said: “This event was a wonderful opportunity to not only mark the union between Italy and Japan, two nations with distinctive cultural histories, but also to celebrate Winx Club ahead of the global launch of the new series and debut in Japan.”