List of DIC programs

This is a list of programs produced and/or acquired by DIC Entertainment. Much of DIC's catalogue is currently owned by WildBrain, the successor in interest to Cookie Jar Group, which acquired DIC in 2008. In 1990, DIC signed an international distribution deal with Silvio Berlusconi Communications, covering five or six series. In 2006, DIC reclaimed the international distribution rights to 20 of its series from The Walt Disney Company, the successor in interest to Créativité et Développement.^[1]

Television series

DIC Audiovisuel animated series

DIC Audiovisuel, the French arm of DIC Entertainment founded in 1971, specialized in international co-productions during its early years, focusing on animated series with adventure and science fiction themes targeted at young audiences. These productions often partnered with European broadcasters and animation studios, resulting in shows that blended mythological elements with exploratory narratives. Premiering primarily on French networks like Antenne 2 and FR3, these series marked DIC's initial foray into television animation before expanding to U.S. markets. One of the earliest series was Cro et Bronto (1980), a comedic short-form animated show depicting a caveman's futile attempts to hunt a brontosaurus, with each scheme backfiring in slapstick fashion reminiscent of classic chase cartoons. Produced as a co-production with Antenne 2, it aired as interstitial segments on the French network.^[2] Following closely was Archibald le Magi-chien (1980–1981), a Franco-Belgian miniseries about a boy named Peter and his magical dog Archibald, who uses time travel to educate him on historical events and figures through whimsical adventures. The series was produced by DIC Audiovisuel in collaboration with the Comité français d'éducation pour la santé.^[3][4] Ulysses 31 (1981–1982) represented a ambitious space opera, reimagining Homer's Odyssey in a futuristic setting where Ulysses captains a spaceship across the galaxy to return home, battling gods and cosmic threats along the way. This 26-episode series was a co-production between DIC Audiovisuel and Japan's TMS Entertainment, originally airing on FR3 in France and later on ABC in the United States.^[5] The Mysterious Cities of Gold (1982–1983) followed three children—Esteban, Zia, and Tao—on a perilous journey through 16th-century South America in search of legendary golden cities, uncovering ancient Inca secrets and solar-powered technologies amid themes of exploration and friendship. Comprising 39 episodes, it was co-produced with Japan's Studio Pierrot and Japan's NHK, debuting on Antenne 2 in France and later on Nickelodeon in the U.S.^[6][7] These early DIC Audiovisuel series laid the groundwork for the company's growth, influencing later phases with their emphasis on cross-cultural storytelling and high-stakes adventures.

DIC Enterprises / DIC Entertainment / DIC Animation City animated series

DIC Enterprises, DIC Entertainment, and DIC Animation City represented the core phases of the company's expansion into the U.S. market, producing numerous animated television series from 1983 to 2007 that emphasized action-adventure formats tied to popular toy lines and aimed at children. These productions were typically syndicated via The Program Exchange or broadcast on networks such as ABC, CBS, NBC, UPN, and later Nicktoons, with many incorporating merchandising strategies to boost toy sales from partners like Kenner, Hasbro, and Mattel. The era marked DIC's shift toward commercial, high-volume output, often featuring 65-episode runs to facilitate syndication sales, and included reboots of established properties alongside original concepts blending humor, fantasy, and moral lessons.^[8] The following table catalogs key animated series from this period, including premiere years, primary U.S. and international networks, episode totals, and notable integrations or unique elements: These series exemplified DIC's strategy of leveraging animation for cross-media synergy, particularly through toy integrations that drove commercial success in the 1980s and 1990s toy boom. For instance, shows like M.A.S.K. and Care Bears generated millions in retail sales, establishing benchmarks for animated merchandising. International adaptations, such as French airings on FR3 or TF1, often retained core U.S. elements while adjusting for local audiences.^[13]

Live-action series

DIC's live-action television series, produced primarily in the 1980s, were a small but diverse segment of its output, emphasizing children's programming with themes of imagination, adventure, and competition through co-productions that facilitated syndication and network placement. Unlike the company's dominant animated fare, these shows utilized actor-driven narratives and real-world elements to engage young viewers, often tying into toys, games, or educational concepts for broader appeal.^[14] The following table summarizes DIC's live-action series, including premiere details, episode counts, broadcasters, and key production notes: These series often encountered distribution challenges abroad due to their U.S.-centric formats and tie-ins, but they demonstrated DIC's ability to adapt live-action concepts for global markets, such as through European co-productions for Botts and Record Breakers. Photon and Zoobilee Zoo, in particular, leveraged promotional partnerships with games and greeting cards to extend their impact beyond television.^[16][14]

Specials

Madeline-related specials

The Madeline-related specials consist of five animated television adaptations produced by DIC Entertainment in partnership with Cinar Corporation and France Animation, based on Ludwig Bemelmans' beloved children's books featuring the spirited protagonist Madeline and her eleven classmates at a Parisian boarding school. These early 1990s productions utilized traditional cel animation to capture the whimsical, hand-drawn style of the original illustrations, focusing on themes of bravery, friendship, and lighthearted adventures in Paris to engage young viewers. Narrated by Christopher Plummer across all entries, the specials highlight Madeline's escapades while emphasizing moral lessons suitable for preschool and early elementary audiences. Voice acting was led by Marsha Moreau as the titular character, with supporting roles filled by talents such as Judith Orban as Miss Clavel and Sonja Ball as Nicole. The specials aired as direct-to-TV events, primarily on The Family Channel in the US and Canada, with some broadcasts on ABC, and each ran approximately 25 minutes, allowing for concise storytelling drawn directly from the source books.

• Madeline's Christmas (1990): This holiday-themed special, directed by Stephan Martinière, follows Madeline as she tends to her ill classmates and encounters a magical Christmas surprise amid Parisian winter festivities. It premiered on November 22, 1990, with a runtime of 24 minutes. Key voice cast includes Marsha Moreau as Madeline, Christopher Plummer as the narrator, and Liz MacRae as Danielle. Production emphasized festive cel-animated sequences of snow-covered Paris streets and school decorations.^[18][19]
• Madeline and the Bad Hat (1991): Adapting the story of the arrival of mischievous neighbor Pepito, this special explores themes of bullying and redemption as Madeline confronts "the bad hat" next door. Directed by Stephan Martinière and Cassandra Schafhausen, it premiered on March 7, 1991, with a 25-minute runtime. Voice highlights feature Marsha Moreau as Madeline, Christopher Plummer as narrator, and additional roles by Sonja Ball and Neve Campion. The cel animation vividly depicts Pepito's antics, including a memorable song about his pet mistreatment.^[20]
• Madeline and the Gypsies (1991): In this adaptation, Madeline and Pepito join a gypsy circus after a mishap, learning about trust and family during their runaway adventure. Premiering on October 14, 1991, the 25-minute special was directed by Stephan Martinière and Cassandra Schafhausen. Cast credits include Marsha Moreau as Madeline and Christopher Plummer's narration, with cel-animated circus scenes showcasing vibrant Parisian and traveling motifs.^[21]
• Madeline's Rescue (1991): Focusing on Madeline's heroic save of a stray dog, this special aired on June 6, 1991, with a 25-minute runtime, highlighting animal compassion and community. Directed by Stephan Martinière and Cassandra Schafhausen, it features Marsha Moreau as Madeline and Christopher Plummer as narrator, with traditional cel techniques for dynamic rescue sequences along the Seine. The precursor 1988 Madeline special received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Animated Program.^[22]
• Madeline in London (1991): The final special transports the girls to London for a family visit turned mystery, emphasizing exploration and quick thinking. Premiering on November 28, 1991, it runs 25 minutes and was directed by Stephan Martinière and Cassandra Schafhausen. Voice cast reprises Marsha Moreau as Madeline and Christopher Plummer as narrator, with cel animation contrasting Parisian elegance against London landmarks like Big Ben.^[23]

These specials laid the groundwork for the subsequent Madeline TV series, introducing key characters and the enchanting world of Bemelmans' stories to television audiences through DIC's accessible animation style.

Other specials

DIC Entertainment produced a variety of animated specials beyond the Madeline series, primarily holiday-themed one-offs and promotional telefilms from the 1980s to the 2000s. These productions often featured tie-ins to popular toy lines or book series, delivering self-contained stories with educational or moral messages for young audiences. Many aired on major networks like ABC and NBC, with runtimes typically ranging from short formats to full telefilms, and some received international distribution to expand the reach of the associated IPs. Dennis the Menace: Dinosaur Hunter, a 1987 telefilm aired on NBC, adapted Hank Ketcham's comic strip in an animated format for this one-off production. The story centered on Dennis discovering a dinosaur bone, leading to comedic chaos with a fraudulent paleontologist. Running approximately 100 minutes, it served as a promotional bridge to the Dennis the Menace animated series, with unique facts including its blend of adventure and humor to appeal to comic fans.^[24] Globehunters: An Around-the-World in 80 Days Adventure, a 2000 animated TV movie aired on NBC, drew inspiration from Jules Verne's novel for a 72-minute global escapade involving three intelligent animals escaping a lab. Produced as a musical adventure, it included voice work by celebrities and tie-ins to educational themes of exploration and friendship, with international distribution in multiple languages.^[25]

Films

Animated films

DIC Enterprises produced several animated feature films and direct-to-video releases during the 1980s and 1990s, often adapting popular children's book series or toy franchises into family-oriented adventures using traditional 2D animation techniques. These projects typically emphasized whimsical storytelling, moral lessons, and vibrant visuals to appeal to young audiences, with distribution handled by major studios like Warner Bros. and Atlantic Releasing. While most were modest in scope compared to theatrical blockbusters, they contributed to DIC's portfolio of franchise extensions beyond television. Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer (1985) was DIC's first theatrical animated feature, co-produced with Hallmark Properties and released by Warner Bros. on November 15, 1985. The 85-minute film follows the title character as she battles an evil princess to save a distant planet, grossing approximately $4.9 million at the U.S. box office.^[26] It served as an extension of the Rainbow Brite television series, incorporating musical elements and colorful fantasy worlds characteristic of 1980s toy-based media.^[27] Here Come the Littles (1985), based on John Peterson's children's book series, was an animated fantasy film produced by DIC Enterprises and released theatrically by Atlantic Releasing Corporation on May 24, 1985. Running 73 minutes, it depicts a boy befriending tiny human-like creatures called the Littles who live in his home's walls, earning $6.6 million in box office revenue.^[28] The project tied into DIC's ongoing Littles animated television series, using traditional cel animation to blend adventure with themes of family and discovery.^[29] Barbie and the Rockers: Out of This World (1987) was a 45-minute animated television musical special co-produced by DIC Animation City, Saban Productions, and Mattel, released on VHS by Hi-Tops Video. Directed by Bernard Deyriès, it features Barbie and her band embarking on a global concert tour with fantastical elements, marking an early expansion of the Barbie franchise into animated storytelling.^[30] Madeline: Lost in Paris (1999) served as a direct-to-video extension of the Madeline animated series, produced by DIC Entertainment and released on VHS and DVD by Buena Vista Home Video on August 3, 1999. The 76-minute musical adventure follows the young Parisian orphan as she uncovers a family secret during a trip to Vienna, narrated by Christopher Plummer and featuring original songs.^[31] It utilized traditional 2D animation to maintain the whimsical style of Ludwig Bemelmans' original books, emphasizing themes of independence and friendship.^[32] Globehunters: An Around the World in 80 Days Adventure (2000) was a direct-to-video animated film co-produced by DIC Entertainment and Frederator Studios, distributed on DVD by MGM Home Entertainment in 2003 following its initial Nickelodeon broadcast. The 73-minute story centers on genetically enhanced animals escaping a lab to travel the globe, loosely inspired by Jules Verne's novel, with voice talents including Willem Dafoe and Chaka Khan.^[33][25] This late DIC project highlighted international co-production efforts and musical sequences to engage younger viewers.

Live-action films

DIC Enterprises, during its tenure as a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company from 1996 to 2000,^[34] ventured into live-action feature films, marking a departure from its primary focus on animation. These productions, often co-financed by Disney, blended comedy and adventure elements, with some extending franchises from DIC's animated catalog. The output was limited, emphasizing theatrical releases in the late 1990s alongside direct-to-video sequels. The following table enumerates DIC's key live-action films, including release details, creative personnel, and highlights: These films showcased DIC's expansion into practical effects and human-led narratives, leveraging Disney's distribution network for broader reach. The Inspector Gadget entries, in particular, bridged DIC's animated heritage with live-action spectacle, featuring gadgetry inspired by the original television series.^[37]

Acquired content

ABC Entertainment programs

The ABC Weekend Specials was a long-running anthology series of animated and live-action shorts designed for young audiences, airing on ABC from 1977 to 1997 and featuring adaptations of children's literature, original stories, and educational content. The 1993 joint venture between DIC Animation City and Capital Cities/ABC Video Enterprises formed DIC Entertainment L.P., enabling the integration of select DIC-produced episodes from this library into DIC's international syndication catalog and subsequent rights transfers following Disney's 1996 acquisition of Capital Cities/ABC.^[41][42] Key acquired specials included multi-part animated entries produced by DIC, such as "The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin" (aired November 30 and December 7, 1985), a two-part story where the animatronic bear Teddy Ruxpin and his earthworm companion Grubby embark on a quest following a map to magical crystals, encountering royalty and adversaries along the way.^[43] Other notable examples from the 1980s encompassed the "Liberty and the Littles" trilogy (October 18, October 25, and November 1, 1986), in which young Littles Tom and Lucy discover their French ancestors' role in gifting the Statue of Liberty while thwarting modern-day threats on Liberty Island; and "Here Come the Littles" (April 23, April 30, and May 7, 1988), depicting orphan Henry Bigg teaming with the tiny Littles family to prevent his greedy Uncle Augustus from demolishing their shared home.^[44] These episodes highlighted DIC's focus on family-oriented adventure narratives with whimsical animation styles. This acquisition circa 1993 emphasized standalone animated shorts over full series, distinguishing them from DIC's original productions and allowing for targeted syndication to cable outlets and international markets.

Other acquired programs

In the 2000s, DIC Entertainment expanded its portfolio by acquiring licenses for several international anime series, focusing on dubbing and distributing them to U.S. audiences through networks like Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon. These acquisitions often involved partnerships and sublicenses from Japanese producers, reflecting DIC's syndication efforts to bring popular overseas content to American viewers.^[45] One notable acquisition was the anime series Saint Seiya, originally produced by Toei Animation from 1986 to 1989. In 2003, DIC secured a sublicense to dub and distribute 40 episodes under the title Knights of the Zodiac, partnering with General Mills for U.S. television broadcast. The English dub was handled by DIC's production team, and the series aired on Cartoon Network from September 2003 to 2004, targeting a Saturday morning slot. However, the license expired after the initial run, limiting further distribution.^[46][45] DIC also acquired rights to the 2001–2002 reboot of Mach GoGoGo, titled Speed Racer X in its English adaptation. In 2002, through a deal with Speed Racer Enterprises, DIC edited and dubbed the series for U.S. release, with the English version produced at DIC's facilities. Only 13 episodes were completed and aired on Nickelodeon's SLAM! block starting in February 2003, as the project was halted due to a legal dispute between DIC and the rights holders. The original series, produced by Tatsunoko Production, featured a darker tone compared to earlier Speed Racer iterations.^[47][48] Earlier, in the 1990s, DIC held the initial North American license for the first two seasons of Sailor Moon (1992–1993 and 1993–1994), produced by Toei Animation. DIC won the rights in 1995 after a competitive bidding process and outsourced the dubbing to Optimum Productions, resulting in a 65-episode package that aired in syndication and on networks like YTV in Canada. The license, which included Sailor Moon R, expired in late 1999 without renewal, leading to rights reverting to Toei and subsequent handling by other distributors like Cloverway.^[45][49]

Unproduced projects

Cancelled shows

DIC Entertainment developed several television projects that advanced to scripting, pitching, or pilot production stages but were ultimately cancelled prior to full production or broadcast, often owing to shifts in corporate priorities, funding constraints, or changes in licensing partnerships. One notable example is Gadget Girl, an animated spin-off from the Inspector Gadget franchise announced in November 1992. The project centered on a female protagonist and reached preliminary discussions with a major network for development.^[50] Despite this progress, Gadget Girl was shelved, likely due to evolving creative directions at DIC; the studio instead launched Gadget Boy & Heather in 1995, a related spin-off featuring Inspector Gadget's son as the lead, which aired for two seasons on syndication and The History Channel (retooled as Gadget Boy's Adventures in History for its second season in 1997). Another cancelled project was Super Sonic Sisters, a proposed animated spin-off from the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise pitched to DIC in 1993. The concept followed Sonic's twin cousins, Monica and Isabelle, living on Asteroid 896 near Mobius, where they hosted a school news program called Comet Sense at Mobius Moon High while thwarting schemes by Robotnik's nephew, Obnotnik. Development included detailed pitch documents, story treatments, and outlines for six episodes, but the project was not greenlit, possibly overshadowed by DIC's existing Sonic the Hedgehog series (Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog aka SatAM). The pitch remained obscure until 2023, when DIC writer Phil Harnage shared the documents publicly for archival preservation.^[51]

Unmaterialized shows

DIC Entertainment, known for its extensive portfolio of animated series in the 1980s and 1990s, developed several conceptual projects that remained in the pitch stage without advancing to production. These unmaterialized shows often stemmed from efforts to expand popular franchises, but were ultimately shelved due to shifting priorities, network negotiations, or internal retooling. Other examples include GI Gadget (1999), a proposed spin-off blending G.I. Joe elements with Inspector Gadget, and Josie and the Pussycats (2001), a reboot of the classic series that did not progress beyond initial concepts. These unmaterialized ideas reflect DIC's aggressive expansion strategy during the 1990s, where pitches from the 1980s through early 2000s were often abandoned amid corporate changes, including the 2008 merger with Cookie Jar Entertainment that redirected resources toward acquired libraries. While none reached production, elements like female-led adventures in Gadget Girl influenced later franchise revivals.