DIC Entertainment

The Incredible World of DiC
LLC
Industry Animation, Production
children's
Fate merged with Cookie Jar Group
Successor Cookie Jar
Founded 1971
Founder Jean Chalopin[1]
Defunct 2008
Headquarters Burbank, California, United States
Key people
 Chairman & CEO:
Andy Heyward[2][3]
Products Children's television shows
Parent Radio-Television Luxembourg (1971–1986)
Independent (1986–1993, 2000-2008)
Capital Cities Communications, Inc. (1993–1996)
The Walt Disney Company (1996–2000)
Former DIC headquarters in Burbank, California, United States

DiC Entertainment, pronounced "DîC") was an international film and television production company. In addition to animated (and occasionally live-action) television shows such as Inspector Gadget (1983–1986), Captain Planet and the Planeteers (1990-1993), Madeline (1993-1994), Sonic the Hedgehog (1993-1994), Sabrina, The Animated Series, (1999-2000), Liberty's Kids (2002-2003), Super Duper Sumos (2002-2003), Strawberry Shortcake (2003-2008) and Trollz (2005-2006). DIC produced live-action feature films while under Disney, including 1998's Meet the Deedles and 1999's Inspector Gadget.

It was founded in 1971 as DIC Audiovisuel by Frenchman Jean Chalopin in Paris as a subsidiary of RTL Group (RTL), Europe's leading entertainment company. "DIC" was originally an acronym for Diffusion, Information et Communication. DIC later opened a US office in Burbank. Andy Heyward then bought the business and DiC became an American company. The company was also known as The Incredible World of DiC, DiC. Audiovisuel, DiC Enterprises, DIC Animation City and DIC Productions. In 2008, DIC was acquired by Cookie Jar Group and the company ceased to exist.

History

DIC Enterprises

DIC Audiovisuel's American arm was founded in 1982 as DIC Enterprises, headed by Andy Heyward, Jean Chalopin and Bruno Bianchi, in Burbank, California.

In 1985, DIC opened their own Japan-based satellite animation facility for animation production on some of their shows (such as the second seasons of Inspector Gadget and Heathcliff, among other shows), so they wouldn't have to mostly deal with other overseas animation subcontractors.

In 1986, Heyward and other investors bought the company from CLT, thus making the US headquarters the main base of operations.[4] Chalopin and Bianchi left around this time, so did formal producer Tetsuo Katayama, in favor of Robby London and Michael Maliani. Chalopin would form the company C&D (Créativité et Développement) in 1987, after selling his shares in DiC and continued to make animated shows during the late 80's and the 90's.

After the buyout, the company was in heavy debt and the foreign rights to the DIC library were sold to Saban Productions, who then sold the rights back to Chalopin.[1] At the time, Heyward considered Chalopin an enemy, despite the fact that he took over the company from Chalopin to begin with. DIC sued Saban for damages; in 1991, both companies reached a settlement.[5]

In 1989, the company's name changed to DiC Animation City.

ABC subsidiary

In 1993, DIC Animation City and Capital Cities/ABC formed a joint venture called DIC Entertainment LP.[6] With ABC in 1994, DiC programmed two children's blocks, Dragon Club and Panda Club, in China.[7] In 1996, DIC became a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, following Disney's acquisition of Capital Cities/ABC.[4] In May 1998, DIC agreed to provide a children's programming block, Freddy's Firehouse, to soon to be launched Pax Net.[8]

Independent

In 2000, with an investment by Bain Capital and Chase Capital Partners, Heyward re-purchased DIC Enterprises.[4][9] He purchased Bain Capital's interest in 2004 and took the company public the following year.

In January 2003, DIC announced 3 syndicated children's programming E/I blocks called DiC Kids Network.[10][11] While in July, DIC Entertainment signed with POW! Entertainment on a TV series production deal starting with Stan Lee's Secret Super Six, about alien super powered teens taught by Lee about humanity.[12]

In 2005, Mexico City-based Ánima Estudios was considering a partnership with DIC Entertainment. However, the latter studio wanted to focus independently on its own projects.[13]

DIC Entertainment and CBS Corporation agreed to a new 3-hour long programming block for Saturday mornings on CBS called KOL Secret Slumber Party, which was launched on September 15, 2006.[14] On September 15, 2007, a new programming block KEWLopolis premiered, a joint venture between DIC, CBS, and American Greetings.[15]

In April 2007, DIC Entertainment, Nelvana and NBC Universal Global Networks announced plans to launch KidsCo, a new international children's entertainment network.[16]

On June 20, 2008, it was announced that DIC Entertainment would be acquired by Cookie Jar Group.[17] On July 23, 2008, the deal was completed, and the company was immediately folded into Cookie Jar Entertainment.[18]

Freddy's Firehouse

Freddy's Firehouse (FFH) was a TV children's educational program block of DIC and distributed by Buena Vista International, both Disney affiliates in May 1998. At the block's start, most of the programming would be from DIC's library and was planned to air on Pax Net for two years with it running on weekends with three hours on Saturday and two hours on Sunday. Buena Vista would be free to sell to other outlets international.[8][19] However Pax went with their own Cloud 9 block.[20]

Productions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Haim Saban, producer, in Hollywood, Washington, Israel". The New Yorker. May 10, 2010. p. 12. Retrieved May 28, 2010.
  2. ↑ Adelson, Andrea (1987-12-30). "BUSINESS PEOPLE; For Maker of Cartoons, A Chance to Go Public". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
  3. ↑ Pfanner, Eric (2006-02-19). "Underdog takes shot at giants in kids television". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 DiOrio, Carl (Sep 18, 2000). "Bain backing buyout of DIC". Variety. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
  5. ↑ "Haim Saban, producer, in Hollywood, Washington, Israel". The New Yorker. May 10, 2010. p. 12. Retrieved May 28, 2010.
  6. ↑ Lowry, Brian (July 26, 1993). "DIC Ent. formed for kids TV fare". Variety. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
  7. ↑ McClellan, Steve (August 22, 1994). "ABC, DIC target children in China; two-form programing venture to create kids programing channels there". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Issue 3.2. "DIC Pacts With PAX". Animation World Magazine. May 1998. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  9. ↑ Lyons, Charles (Nov 20, 2000). "DIC plays new toon". Variety. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
  10. ↑ Oei, Lily (Jan 28, 2003). "DIC offers kidvid blocks". Variety. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
  11. ↑ Oei, Lily (Aug 12, 2003). "DIC sets 3 hours of kid programs". Variety. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
  12. ↑ Rick DeMott, Rick DeMott (July 18, 2003). "POW! Stan Lee Reloaded". AWN Profile. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  13. ↑ O'Boyle, Michael (17 July 2005). "Studio tries alien toon". Variety (magazine). Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  14. ↑ Paoletta, Michael (August 12, 2006). "Pre-Fabulous?". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media). Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  15. ↑ Ball, Ryan (August 23, 2007). "CBS Blocks out KEWLopolis". Animation Magazine. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Children's specialists DIC and Nelvana partner with international broadcaster Sparrowhawk". April 3, 2007.
  17. ↑ "Cookie Jar, DIC Entertainment to Merge". Broadcasting and Cable (NewBay Media). Jun 20, 2008. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  18. ↑ "COOKIE JAR ENTERTAINMENT EXPANDS BRAND PORTFOLIO, TALENT AND GLOBAL REACH WITH CLOSING OF DIC TRANSACTION". Cookie Jar Group. 2008-07-23. Retrieved 2008-12-20.
  19. ↑ Katz, Richard (April 3, 1998). "Paxson, DIC in kidstuff deal for Pax Net". Variety. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
  20. ↑ Carman, John (August 28, 1998). "PAX Going For Piece Of TV Pie". SF Gate. Retrieved November 3, 2014.

External links