'How To Train Your Dragon' To Spawn Animated Series On Cartoon Network

As it readies the upcoming sequel to its CG-animated hit How To Train Your Dragon, DreamWorks Animation has signed a deal with Cartoon Network for a How To Train Your Dragon weekly series, which will launch in both the U.S. and internationally in 2012. The original movie, an adventure-comedy about a young Viking and his unlikely friendship with a dragon was released in the spring and has grossed nearly $500 million at the worldwide box office. Its sequel is also targeted for 2012. DreamWorks has been actively exploiting its animated films for television. Madagascar‘s offshoot, The Penguins of Madagascar, runs on Nickelodeon, which also is developing a series based on the movie Kung Fu Panda. The company also has been producing a series of Shrek, Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda TV specials for ABC and NBC.