Editing DIC Entertainment (section)

===1987–1993: Move to North America===
Between late 1986 and 1987, Heyward, in collaboration with investors [[Bear Stearns|Bear Stearns & Co.]] and [[Prudential Financial|Prudential Insurance Co.]], acquired Chalopin and the Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Télédiffusion's 52% stake in DIC, resulting in the transformation of DIC into DIC Animation City, Inc.<ref name="Adelson" /><ref name="lat1">{{cite news |date=August 22, 1989 |title=Prudential Increases Stake in DIC Animation City |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-08-22-fi-856-story.html |access-date=May 19, 2016}}</ref> This acquisition, amounting to $70 million in a leveraged buyout, relocated the company's headquarters to the United States.<ref name="Adelson"/><ref name="Bates2"/> Following the transaction, key personnel such as Chalopin, Bianchi, Deyriès, and producer Tetsuo Katayama departed DIC, making way for Robby London and Michael Maliani to assume pivotal roles within the organization.<ref name="Adelson"/> Additionally, Chalopin retained control of DIC's original offices in France and its Japanese animation facility, establishing the entity [[Créativité et Développement]] (C&D) in 1987 to continue producing animated content. Meanwhile, the Japanese studio was renamed K.K. C&D Asia, operating until 1996.<ref name="DiOrio">{{cite magazine|first=Carl |last=DiOrio |url=https://variety.com/2000/tv/news/bain-backing-buyout-of-dic-1117786555/|title=Bain backing buyout of DiC |magazine=Variety |date=September 18, 2000 |access-date=January 27, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Isola">{{cite web |url=http://www.isola-capital.com/about-us/heritage/deltec-international-group |title=Deltec International Group |publisher=Isola Capital |access-date=January 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062042/http://www.isola-capital.com/about-us/heritage/deltec-international-group |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Subsequent to the buyout, DIC encountered significant financial indebtedness, partly stemming from their competitive strategy of underbidding on projects to outmaneuver rival animation firms, coupled with an overestimation of the market demand for children's television shows. Consequently, DIC's debt escalated, prompting the sale of foreign rights to their library to [[BVS Entertainment|Saban Productions]] in 1987, which were later transferred to Chalopin's C&D.<ref>{{Cite news|date=March 18, 1987|title=NBC-TV Takes 2 Kidvids Off Saban Prods.' Hands|page=47|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> This transaction strained the relationship between DIC and Saban, leading to legal disputes culminating in a settlement in 1991. Despite these challenges, DIC expanded its collaborations, partnering with [[NBC]] and [[Coca-Cola Telecommunications]] to produce and distribute television programs.<ref>{{Cite news|date=January 28, 1987|title=Tribune & DIC Link With Coca-Cola Unit|pages=44, 54|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> DIC also ventured into toy manufacturing with the introduction of the Old MacDonald talking toyline.

Amidst legal battles and strategic maneuvers, DIC continued to navigate the evolving landscape of the animation industry. Legal disputes with [[Family Home Entertainment]] and LBS/Lorimar Home Video were resolved, paving the way for DIC to forge partnerships with Golden Book Video and pursue distribution agreements with Bohbot Communications.<ref>{{Cite news|date=February 11, 1987|title=DIC Sues FHE|page=46|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> Furthermore, DIC diversified its international collaborations, teaming up with [[Mediaset|Reteitalia, S.p.A.]] and Telecinco, among others, to co-produce animated content. By the early 1990s, DIC expanded its operations to include subsidiaries such as Rainforest Entertainment and embarked on educational initiatives.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 2, 1987 |title=DIC Kidvid Strips Prepped For '88 |pages=44, 73 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref>

DIC's growth trajectory was marked by a landmark licensing agreement with [[Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment|Buena Vista Home Video]] in 1993, facilitating the distribution of over 1,000 half-hours of animated content and the establishment of a dedicated home video label.<ref>{{cite news |title=Disney signs licensing deal for DIC library |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1993/07/12/Disney-signs-licensing-deal-for-DIC-library/9809742449600/ |access-date=February 10, 2021 |work=[[United Press International]] |date=July 7, 1993}}</ref> This deal bolstered DIC's presence in the home entertainment market, heralding a new phase of expansion and consolidation within the animation industry.<ref>{{Cite web |title=JoeGuide.com - G.I.Joe Interviews > Buzz Dixon (conducted by David Thornton in November 2000) |url=http://joeguide.com/interviews/buzzdixon.shtml |access-date=2023-03-25 |website=joeguide.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=April 20, 1987|title=Saturday slate|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/87-OCR/BC-1987-04-20-OCR-Page-0059.pdf|access-date=October 21, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=June 3, 1987 |title=LBS And DIC Settle Lawsuit On Kideo Vid |pages=61, 76 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> DIC subsequently signed a deal with [[Golden Book Video]] to market titles under the DIC Video brand.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=August 29, 1987 |title=Convention Capsules |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1987/1987-08-29-Billboard-Page-0003.pdf |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=October 16, 2021}}</ref><ref name="bc0">{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=CBN sets DiC programing block for fall |url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1989/BC-1989-06-19.pdf |magazine=Broadcasting |date=June 19, 1989 |access-date=December 27, 2016 |pages=39–40}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=May 14, 1990|title=DiC Enterprises gets animated with new tour|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/90-OCR/BC-1990-05-14-OCR-Page-0038.pdf|access-date=October 16, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=August 24, 1992|title=Independent suppliers chase new opportunities|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/92-OCR/BC-1992-08-24-OCR-Page-0108.pdf|access-date=October 16, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|last=McCormick|first=Moira|date=September 5, 1992|title=Rincon Pacts With DIC; Disney Bows New Sales Line|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1992/1992-09-05-Billboard-Page-0058.pdf|access-date=October 23, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=DIC forms new education unit |url=https://variety.com/1993/tv/news/dic-forms-new-education-unit-107671/ |access-date=February 11, 2021|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=June 10, 1993}}</ref>