DreamWorks Classics debuts at Mipcom

MUMBAI: DreamWorks Animation has announced that DreamWorks Classics has made its debut at the on-going television trade event Mipcom 2012, in Cannes, bringing to worldwide telecasters a television portfolio highlighted by DreamWorks Dragons: Riders of Berk, which is inspired by the film How to Train Your Dragon, and an all-new television series based on the studio‘s upcoming animated feature film Turbo.

DreamWorks Animation Worldwide Head of Franchise Strategy and Distribution Kelley Avery said, "DreamWorks Classics is now the home of an expansive collection of high-quality properties that will resonate with a worldwide audience, and we are proud to make our Mipcom debut this year, spearheaded by DreamWorks Dragons: Riders of Berk, one of our premiere television series based on our blockbuster film, together with Turbo, one of our most highly-anticipated future franchises."

Classic Media founder, CEO Eric Ellenbogen said, "Over the last four years DreamWorks Animation has proven to be a consistently successful producer of CG animated television content with its three series already in existence. I believe that our longstanding success in the family market combined with DreamWorks Animation‘s unparalleled original content will present many exciting growth opportunities for DreamWorks Classics in the future."

DreamWorks Dragons: Riders of Berk is inspired by the studio‘s popular How to Train Your Dragon franchise, of which the second and third feature film installments are due in theaters on 20 June 2014 and 18 June 2016, respectively.

Also highlighting the DreamWorks Classics portfolio at Mipcom 2012 is the all-new CG animated television series Turbo, based on the upcoming DreamWorks Animation 3D feature film of the same name. The movie tells the story of a garden snail with an impossible dream: to win the Indy 500. When a freak accident gives him extraordinary speed, Turbo sets out to try to make this dream come true. The film stars Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti and Michael Pena. It will be released in theaters on 19 July 2013.

Two CG animated television series inspired by other DreamWorks Animation film franchises currently air on Nickelodeon. Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness debuted in November of 2011 and Penguins of Madagascar in March 2009. Both programmes air in approximately 140 countries, reaching over 450 million households worldwide. Nickelodeon will also debut a future Monsters vs. Aliens television series.

Beginning with The Croods on 22 March 2013, all films from DreamWorks Animation will be distributed by Fox. Rise of the Guardians, which will be released in theaters on 21 November 2012, will be distributed by Paramount Pictures.

This makes DreamWorks Animation the first major film studio to debut at Mipcom in more than a decade. In addition to the original CG animated television productions from DreamWorks Animation, DreamWorks Classics will represent Classic Media‘s well-known movies, series and specials. The DreamWorks Classics sales team, headed by London-based Chloe Van Den Berg, are at Mipcom along with Avery and Peter Gal, head of Television Development at DreamWorks Animation.