Winx Club: The Real Story By Amanda Smith

What is Winx Club?

• Italian animated TV show created by Iginio Straffi about a group of six fairies called The Winx

English Dubs

• Dubbed in English by two companies in 2004

– Cinelumé in Canada (Rai English version)

• Dubbed Seasons 1-4

– 4kids Entertainment in America (4kids version)

• Dubbed Seasons 1-3

• 4kids license expired in 2007

• Rainbow partnered with Nickelodeon in 2010

Main Differences

• Character Changes

• Plot Changes

• Scene Alterations and Deletions

• Dialogue Changes

Meaning of “Winx”

• Bloom made up the word

• 4kids made it into a “real” word that means magic

Home Worlds

• All the home worlds, except Stella’s were renamed – Bloom: Domino to Sparx

– Flora: Linphea to Fifth Moon of Marigold

– Musa: Melody to Harmonic Nebula

– Tecna: Zenith to Third Vector of the Binary Galaxy

– Aisha: Andros to Realm of Tides

• In some episodes, Stella’s home world, Solaria, was pronounced differently in 4kids – Sol-air-ia to Sol-are-ia

Character Aspect Changes

Or how to recreate a person!

Aisha vs. Layla

• Known as Aisha in Italy

• Layla in both Rai English and 4kids versions

• Changed back to Aisha in Nick version

Random Name Changes

• Valtor to Baltor

• Miele to Rose

• Chimera: Shi-mare-uh to Kim-er-uh

• Glim to Blinkey

• Princess Amentia to Queen Amentia

Musa, a Princess?

• Originally a commoner 4kids made her a Princess, daughter of a “disowned prince”

• Eventually meet the real princess, Galatea

Voice Differences

• 4kids voice actresses “added” new aspects to the characters

Plot Changes and Additions

Or how to get the action going faster!

Good Decision or Potion? Rai English Version:

The Winx were doing kitchen duty

4kids Version:

The Winx helped Bloom make a potion.

Spell or Yell? Rai English Version:

Bloom was reaching for Kiko, calling his name.

4kids Version:

Bloom used a spell to try to rescue Kiko.

Adoption?? Rai English Version:

Bloom finds out her parents found her in a burning house and adopted her.

4kids Version:

Bloom already knows she’s adopted, but finds out how she came to be adopted.

Deleted Scenes

Or let’s find out what we’re missing!

Meanwhile, During the Fight

• In the first episode, a scene where a minor character complained about the noise (from the fight going on) was cut

Cut:

Scene Shuffling

Or let’s change things around to make it better!

New Bike and New Friend Rai English Version: Bloom wakes up and receives a bike. Bloom meets Stella and brings her home. Stella wakes up and hangs with Bloom. Monsters attack and are defeated. 4kids Version: Bloom meets Stella. Bloom wakes up and goes out on her bike. Bloom returns home and Stella wakes up. Bloom and Stella hang out. Monsters attack and are defeated.

Fight and Concert Rai English Version:

Musa and Stormy fight.

Next episode, Stormy crashes Musa’s concert.

4kids Version:

Musa and Stormy fight.

Later in the same episode, Stormy crashes Musa’s concert.

Scene Alterations

Or how to make things look more magical!

Magic Smoke? Rai English Version:

Stella held out her hand and was apologizing.

4kids Version:

Stella held a ball of smoke that contained a slide show.

Censorship When Stella transforms, the lower part of her breast is slightly visible. 4kids altered the scene so the breast isn’t visible.

Dialogue Changes

Or let’s make everything sound more Americanized!

Afro or Squeaky?

Rai English Version:

She was walking to her dressing room and her hair suddenly puffed up.

4kids Version:

She used a spell and it backfired, making her voice high pitched and squeaky.

Court or Parents? Rai English Version:

Bloom returns to Gardenia to support her mother when she goes to court.

4kids Version:

Bloom goes to Gardenia to ask her mother for support in finding her birth parents.

Wait, What Did You Say?! Aisha, Stella, and Musa are shopping around Gardenia when they are stopped by a cop.

Rai English Version:

Aisha takes over and smoothes things over with the cop and he leaves them alone.

4kids Version:

Aisha, Stella, and Musa are stopped by a cop. Aisha speaks in a foreign language to make the cop leave them alone.

Future of Winx Club

• Nickelodeon began airing Winx Club in 2011

– Condensed Season 1 into 3 specials, each 1 hour long

– Merged Season 2 into a single hour long special

– Redubbed Season 3 and 4

• Closer to Italian version

• Nickelodeon coproduced Season 5

– Will also coproduce Season 6