Rainbow sells Mia share to m4e

Mia and Me was created by Gerard Hahn

German producer and distributor m4e has bought out Italian animation studio Rainbow’s stake in the children’s property Mia and Me worldwide, excluding Italy.

The takeover is backdated to January 1 this year and gives m4e the 45% share of the international rights to the fairytale brand held by Rainbow.

It will not, however, hold rights in Italy where Rainbow – the show’s coproducer – will continue to have 100% ownership of the series.

Hahn Film, the production company owned by the property’s creator Gerhard Hahn, will take over the remaining 5% of the rights from Rainbow’s 50% stake.

The remaining 50% of the international rights to Mia and Me will remain unchanged and stay with Hahn & m4e Productions, a 50/50 joint venture between Gerhard Hahn/Hahn Film and m4e.

The financing of the 45% rights package came from a bank loan, m4e said in a statement.

The series follows a schoolgirl-turned-elf’s fight to save the Unicorn population and has sold to multiple broadcasters around the world. It is currently in production on a third season, while a fourth and a feature film are in development.

“This is a milestone in m4e’s development. With now almost 100% of the shares, which we are holding together with Gerd Hahn/Hahn Film AG, we are able to market the brand in an even more targeted way and to further expand it internationally,” said m4e CEO Hans Ulrich Stoef.