Italian animation studio and licensor Rainbow’s first full live-action production is set for its global premiere later this month.

Maggie & Bianca: Fashion Friends will premiere on August 29 on Rai Gulp, one of Italy’s leading channels for kids and teens.

A marketing plan, including media partnerships, TV cast appearances, live concerts and street activities like flashmobs, will support the release of the show.

In terms of a consumer products push, Simba has signed on as pan-European master toy partner, and Italy-based publishing house Mondadori Libri is producing a range of titles based on the series. In April, Rainbow sold the series to to Brazilian free-to-air network TV Cultura, where it will debut in December, and is now on the hunt for additional broadcasters. 

The series tells the story of Maggie, an American girl following her dream of becoming a fashion designer. She embarks on a two-year scholarship at the Milan Fashion Academy, where she befriends Italian student Bianca.

While Rainbow was beginning production on Maggie & Bianca in 2015, the company acquired the Vancouver, Canada-based animation studio Bardel Entertainment.