Editing Winx Club (section)

=== Concept and creation ===
[[File:Iginio Straffi.jpg|thumb|Iginio Straffi, creator of ''Winx Club'']]

During the 1990s, comic artist Iginio Straffi noticed that most action cartoons were focused on male heroes;<ref name="lespresso">{{cite web|url=http://espresso.repubblica.it/visioni/societa/2011/02/24/news/winx-le-fatine-fanno-il-botto-1.29024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708073253/http://espresso.repubblica.it/visioni/societa/2011/02/24/news/winx-le-fatine-fanno-il-botto-1.29024|archive-date=8 July 2017|title=Winx, le fatine fanno il botto|work=[[L'espresso]]|date=24 February 2011|last=Minardi|first=Sabina|language=it}}</ref> at that time, he felt that the "cartoon world was devoid of female characters".<ref name="lastampa">{{cite web|url=https://www.lastampa.it/2014/05/11/spettacoli/iginio-straffi-le-mie-winx-sono-le-ragazze-doggi-5OQgybfPXQgVJSDqggTqIO/pagina.html|title=Iginio Straffi: le mie Winx sono le ragazze d'oggi|work=[[La Stampa]]|date=11 May 2014|last=Marmiroli|first=Adriana|language=it|access-date=28 February 2019|archive-date=28 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228130433/https://www.lastampa.it/2014/05/11/spettacoli/iginio-straffi-le-mie-winx-sono-le-ragazze-doggi-5OQgybfPXQgVJSDqggTqIO/pagina.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Straffi hoped to introduce an alternative show with a female lead aged 16 to 18, as he wanted to "explore the psychological side" of the transition to adulthood.<ref name="affaritaliani">{{cite web|url=http://www.affaritaliani.it/mediatech/straffi-winx211108_pg_1.html|title=Iginio Straffi, padre delle Winx, ad Affaritaliani: così ho rilanciato il cartoon made in Italy nel mondo|work=[[:it:Affaritaliani.it|Affaritaliani.it]]|date=24 November 2008|last=Cavazzuti|first=Nicole|language=it|access-date=24 September 2019|archive-date=24 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924193420/http://www.affaritaliani.it/mediatech/straffi-winx211108_pg_1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He decided to develop a pilot centred on the conflict between two rival colleges; one for fairies and another for witches.<ref name="wisesociety">{{cite interview|last=Straffi|first=Iginio|title=Iginio Straffi: l'Italia non dimentichi la sua capacità creativa|date=14 April 2011|url=https://wisesociety.it/incontri/iginio-straffi-il-papa-delle-fatine-made-in-italy/|interviewer=Vincenzo Petraglia|language=it}}</ref> Straffi compared his original premise to "a sort of '[[Oxford–Cambridge rivalry]]' in a magical dimension".<ref>{{cite interview|last=Straffi|first=Iginio|subject-link=Iginio Straffi|title=Fenomeno Winx|url=http://www.mondoerre.it/index.php?method=section&action=zoom&id=301|date=2005|interviewer=Chiara Galavotti}}</ref> In expanding the concept, Iginio Straffi drew his inspiration from Japanese manga<ref name="borders"/> and the comics of [[Sergio Bonelli]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/finanza-e-mercati/2018-05-21/borsa-addio-fatine-winx-non-riesce-mai-magia-piazza-affari-194951.shtml|title=Borsa addio, alle fatine Winx non riesce mai la magia di Piazza Affari|work=[[Il Sole 24 Ore]]|last=Filippetti|first=Simone|access-date=28 February 2019|archive-date=28 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228191849/https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/finanza-e-mercati/2018-05-21/borsa-addio-fatine-winx-non-riesce-mai-magia-piazza-affari-194951.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

Straffi's pilot, which was titled "Magic Bloom",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llEufiOwnho|title=Magic Bloom - Pilot 2001|publisher=[[Rainbow S.p.A.]]|location=[[Lucca Comics & Games]]}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}}</ref> featured the original five Winx members in attires like those of traditional European fairies.<ref name="kidscreen">{{cite web|url=http://kidscreen.com/2003/09/01/fashion-20030901/|title=Kids TV producers turn to style specialists for design innovations|work=[[Kidscreen]]|date=1 September 2003|last=Ashdown|first=Simon|access-date=28 February 2019|archive-date=5 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505150840/http://kidscreen.com/2003/09/01/fashion-20030901/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was produced during a twelve-month development period that included animation tests, character studies, and market surveys.<ref name="ilgiornale">{{cite web|url=http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/pap-fenomeno-winx-cos-ho-sconfitto-i-giapponesi.html|title=Il papà del fenomeno Winx: "Così ho sconfitto i giapponesi"|work=[[Il Giornale]]|date=20 January 2007|language=it|access-date=28 February 2019|archive-date=3 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003033355/http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/pap-fenomeno-winx-cos-ho-sconfitto-i-giapponesi.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The animation attracted the interest of [[Rai Fiction]],<ref name="pilotinterview">{{cite interview |last= Straffi |first= Iginio|interviewer= Federico Taddia|title= Nautilus Arte - Iginio Straffi|url= http://www.raiscuola.rai.it/articoli-programma-puntate/nautilus-arte-iginio-straffi/19909/default.aspx|format= video|access-date= 2019-09-01 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181228133303/http://www.raiscuola.rai.it/articoli-programma-puntate/nautilus-arte-iginio-straffi/19909/default.aspx|archive-date= 2018-12-28|language=it}}</ref> which paid for 25% of the production cost in exchange for Italian broadcast rights and a share of the series' revenue over 15 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.videoagedaily.com/digitalissues/PDF/Video%20Age%20International%20September-October%202014/files/assets/common/downloads/page0022.pdf|title=When the Drama of Fiction Enters Politics, It Turns Into a RAI Sitcom|work=[[VideoAge International]]|date=October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214185359/http://www.videoagedaily.com/digitalissues/PDF/Video%20Age%20International%20September-October%202014/files/assets/common/downloads/page0022.pdf|archive-date=14 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> After holding test screenings of the pilot, however, Straffi was unhappy with the audience's unenthusiastic reaction to the characters' outdated clothing style<ref name="kidscreen"/> and stated that the pilot did not satisfy him.<ref name="pilotinterview"/> In a 2016 interview, Straffi said the result "looked like just another Japanese-style cartoon&nbsp;... but nothing like [the modern] ''Winx''{{sp}}".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://movieplayer.it/articoli/rainbow-lintervista-a-iginio-straffi-sullanimazione-in-italia_15112/|title=Animazione: perché l'Italia resta indietro? Ce lo racconta Iginio Straffi|work=Movieplayer.it|date=3 January 2016|last=Zampa|first=Alice|language=it|access-date=28 February 2019|archive-date=19 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219101325/https://movieplayer.it/articoli/rainbow-lintervista-a-iginio-straffi-sullanimazione-in-italia_15112/|url-status=live}}</ref> He likened his feelings about the pilot to an "existential crisis" and chose to scrap the entire test animation despite an investment of over {{€|100,000}} in the completed pilot.<ref name="pilotinterview"/>

To rework the concept, Straffi's team hired Italian fashion designers to restyle the show and give the characters a brighter, more modern appearance.<ref name="vedomosti">{{cite web|url=https://finance.rambler.ru/economics/5851301/|title=Девочки понимают, что наши Winx — настоящие|work=[[Vedomosti]]|date=31 March 2010|language=ru}}</ref><ref name="conquista">{{cite web|url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2004/04/23/le-fatine-di-winx-club-alla-conquista.html|title=Le fatine di Winx club alla conquista dell' America|work=[[la Repubblica]]|date=23 April 2004|access-date=15 March 2019|archive-date=4 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404015612/https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2004/04/23/le-fatine-di-winx-club-alla-conquista.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Production of the restyled series began by 2002, and Rainbow estimated the episodes would be delivered to distributors by late 2003.<ref name="rbw2002">{{cite web|url=http://www.rbw.it:80/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020727141306/http://www.rbw.it/|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 July 2002|title=In Production: The Winx|work=[[Rainbow S.p.A.]]|date=27 July 2002|language=it|quote=DELIVERY: Autumn 2003|access-date=6 October 2006}}</ref> The new name of the series ("Winx") was derived from the English word "[[wings]]".<ref name="lespresso"/> Straffi's aim was to appeal to both genders, including action sequences designed for male viewers and fashion elements for female viewers.<ref name="rbw2002"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.awn.com/news/mipcom-news-rainbow-puts-designs-winx-club-monster-allergy|title=MIPCOM News: Rainbow Puts Designs on WINX CLUB, Monster Allergy|work=[[Animation World Network]]|date=26 September 2003|last=Baisley|first=Sarah|access-date=28 February 2019|archive-date=4 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404003910/https://www.awn.com/news/mipcom-news-rainbow-puts-designs-winx-club-monster-allergy|url-status=live}}</ref> At the October 2003 [[MIPCOM]] event, Rainbow screened the show's first episode to international companies.<ref>{{cite web|last=Meza|first=Ed|url=https://variety.com/2003/scene/markets-festivals/mipcom-jr-big-draw-1117893727/|title=Mipcom Jr. big draw|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=9 October 2003|access-date=28 February 2019|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327233227/https://variety.com/2003/scene/markets-festivals/mipcom-jr-big-draw-1117893727/|url-status=live}}</ref> The first season had its world premiere on Italian television channel Rai 2 on 28 January 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ansa.it/web/notizie/specializzati/lifestyle/2014/01/27/Winx-10-anni-fa-fatine-tv_9969288.html|title=Winx, 10 anni fa le fatine in tv|work=[[Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata]]|date=27 January 2014|last=Fascia|first=Claudia|language=it|access-date=28 February 2019|archive-date=4 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404003653/http://www.ansa.it/web/notizie/specializzati/lifestyle/2014/01/27/Winx-10-anni-fa-fatine-tv_9969288.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

From the beginning of development, Iginio Straffi planned an overarching plot that would end after "a maximum" of 78 episodes.<ref name="corriereadriatico">{{cite news|url=https://www.corriereadriatico.it/SPETTACOLI/rainbow_avventure_winx_iginio_straffi_villa_musone_marche_rai2/notizie/421983.shtml|title=Ecco le avventure delle mie Winx|work=[[Corriere Adriatico]]|date=3 January 2014|last=Fabrizi|first=Stefano|access-date=28 February 2019|archive-date=19 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219101348/https://www.corriereadriatico.it/SPETTACOLI/rainbow_avventure_winx_iginio_straffi_villa_musone_marche_rai2/notizie/421983.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Straffi stated that the ''Winx'' saga "would not last forever"<ref name="ilgiornale"/> in 2007, and he intended the first movie (''[[Winx Club: The Secret of the Lost Kingdom]]'') to resolve any plot points remaining from the third-season finale.<ref name="corriereadriatico"/> In 2008, Straffi decided to extend the series, citing its increasing popularity.<ref name="corriereadriatico"/>