In 1988, the show switched production companies to DIC Enterprises; the first 11 episodes of season 6 were produced by Murakami-Wolf-Swenson, and the series was renamed to The Chipmunks.

The film was directed by Janice Karman and featured the Chipmunks and Chipettes in a contest traveling around the world.

The series made its debut on September 17, 1983, on NBC, originally under the name Alvin and The Chipmunks, and was animated by Ruby-Spears Enterprises.

Episodes were time-compressed (similar to a PAL speed-up) and/or trimmed in an effort to make room for more commercials.

In Canada, the original run of the series was aired on the Global Television Network, while the package was later carried on YTV from 1994 until 2005 and later Teletoon Retro from October 1, 2007 until that channel's dissolution on September 1, 2015.

The show also made it through French Canadian television, when TQS and later Super Écran began airing the series in 1991.

The syndication package was also carried overseas in the 1990s when it aired on Children’s BBC, later Nickelodeon, and finally Channel 5's Milkshake!