Cartoon Network Scores DreamWorks’ Dragon Series

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ATLANTA: Cartoon Network has secured the worldwide rights to a new series from DreamWorks Animation based on the critically acclaimed animated feature How to Train Your Dragon, which grossed close to $500 million in theaters worldwide.

The show is set to roll out in the U.S. and globally in 2012. The channel will also air, this week, a DreamWorks short called The Legend of the BoneKnapper Dragon. Airing Thursday, October 14, at 8 p.m., the short features the original voices from the movie, which was based on the book by Cressida Cowell about a young Viking who defies tradition when he befriends one of his deadliest foes—a ferocious dragon. (A sequel, in 3D, is in the works for 2013.)

Announcing the deal for the new series, Stuart Snyder, president and COO of Turner’s Animation, Young Adults & Kids Business, noted, “Great characters and captivating storytelling along with state of the art animation is what we love giving our audience. The How To Train Your Dragon weekly series definitely falls into that category of giving our viewers around the globe something they can’t find anywhere else on television and DreamWorks Animation is a proven leader in taking this art form to the next level. We are ecstatic to be bringing this project to our network and working with everyone at DreamWorks Animation.”

Ann Daly, COO of DreamWorks Animation, added, “How To Train Your Dragon has already captured the hearts and minds of audiences around the world and we are thrilled to join together with Cartoon Network to expand on this amazing movie in a television series of its own. It is incredibly exciting to be able to bring viewers deeper into the world of dragons and tell new stories each week inspired by our characters from the film.”