Vancouver-based studio and animation service provider Bardel Entertainment has been acquired by Italy-headquartered producer and distributor Rainbow.

Bardel, led by president Barry Ward and CEO Delna Bhesania, employs a staff of more than 650 across three divisions in Canada and specializes in service production, working with companies such as DreamWorks, Disney, Warner Bros. and Nickelodeon. Rainbow is the largest animation studio in Europe, with titles that include Mia and Me and the Winx Club franchise.

“Barry and I are very excited to be part of the Rainbow Group and look forward to working together to bring to life high quality feature films, TV series and new media. With Rainbow’s expertise in licensing and distribution and Bardel’s expertise in production the company is well positioned to create first class global brands,” said Bhesania in a statement.

Bardel will retain its name and no layoffs are expected. The management team at Bardel will also remain intact, with the company continuing to offer the same services it has over the past 30 years. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

– with files from Wendy Goldman Getzler, Kidscreen