Rainbow has announced that its new pre-school animation will start screening across Russia next year.

Rainbow’s new property 44 Cats is developed in collaboration with Antoniano Bologna and Rai Ragazzi.

A 52 x 13’ CGI series, the pre-school comedy follows the daily adventures of Lampo, Milady, Pilou, and Meatball – four musician kittens who are part of a music band named The Buffycats. The four protagonists live in the Clubhouse, a garage inside caring Granny Pina’s house, and love helping others with their ever creative solutions to everyday hitches. Their adventures explore the themes of friendship and altruism, tolerance, diversity and acceptance.

Carousel is a long-term Rainbow partner, having already successfully screened animation hits Winx Club and Regal Academy. The channel will start screening 44 Cats from September 2019.

Tatyana Tsyvareva, editor-in-Chief of Carousel, commented: “We are very pleased with our cooperation with Rainbow. We hope that this new animated series will be a great success with Russian kids. It is a good thing that now the Russian audience has one more opportunity to meet new heroes and follow their adventures.”

Andrea Graciotti, head of TV sales at Rainbow Group, added: “We are delighted to be announcing this new deal, particularly as 44 Cats fits so well with Carousel’s audience. It’s a privilege to be partnered with Carousel and we are very pleased to have such a great Russian partner for our new brand.”