Cartoon Network To Create ‘Dragon' Series

Cartoon Network will team with DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. to create a weekly series based on the studio's popular film How To Train Your Dragon.
The series will continue the exploits of a young Viking named Hiccup and his unlikely friendship with a dragon that was portrayed in the animated film, which has grossed nearly $500 million worldwide at the box office.

"Great characters and captivating story telling along with state of the art animation is what we love giving our audience," said Stuart Snyder, President and COO of Turner's Animation, Young Adults & Kids Business in a statement. "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 that the series deal "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."

In a separate deal, Cartoon Network will air on Oct. 14a never-before-seen short dubbed The Legend of The Boneknapper Dragon that followed the original movie. The short features the original voices from the movie and follows Hiccup and his friends as they set sail in search of an all-new dragon, said the network.

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.