• by Wayne Friedman , February 3, 2006

Move over, SpongeBob--billionaire financier Warren Buffett could be the next big TV animated star.

DIC Entertainment, the mid-size kids' TV program producer and syndicator, is working on a direct-to-video animated kids' series called "The Secret Millionaire's Club," in which Warren Buffett, chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, offers up lessons on money and financing to children.

"It's about financial literacy," said Andy Heyward, chairman and CEO of the Burbank, Calif.-based DIC Entertainment.

How did DIC make a connection with the billionaire Buffett? It seems that Omaha, Nebraska--hometown of Berkshire Hathaway--is home to voice-over production, and it's where DIC Entertainment produces voice-overs for many of its kids' TV shows and direct to video DVDs. A children's theater and other facilities are also located in Omaha. DIC also contributes to specific children's charities in the area.

"We know him well," said Heyward. Other than Buffett's voice-over commitment, Berkshire Hathaway doesn't have other financial obligations to the show.

Buffett as cartoon host is an idea that sprang from previous DIC work for Berkshire Hathaway and Buffett. DIC produces animated spoofs, featuring Buffett, which open Berkshire Hathaway's shareholder meetings.

DIC Entertainment recently put together a deal to provide CBS with Saturday morning kids' TV shows, to be called "CBS's Secret Saturday Morning Slumber Party." That will start in the fall 2006. The deal is primarily for CBS stations to meet their obligations in running three hours a week of kids' educational programming as mandated by the FCC.

DIC Entertainment also runs the DIC Kids Network, a syndication network where stations can also meet FCC-kids' programming mandates. DIC's TV and direct-to-video library includes: "Madeline" and "Where On Earth Is Carmen Sandiego," "Sabrina: The Animated Series," "Strawberry Shortcake," "Trollz," "Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century," "Archie's Weird Mysteries," "The Littles," "Inspector Gadget's Field Trip," and "Sonic Underground."