NEW YORK, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- The U.S. cable TV network, Nickelodeon, is working with DeamWorks Animation on a series based on the films "Madagascar" and "Kung Fu Panda."
The collaboration will feature the Viacom cable network at the forefront of the TV adaptation of the films, while DreamWorks provides the inspiration, Daily Variety reported Tuesday.
"We've given them all the elements that exist in the movies and then, really ... we're pretty deferential on this," DreamWorks' Jeffrey Katzenberg told Variety. "They spent a lot of time with the creators, directors, producers and talent involved in the two movies, but it was more to pick their brains and then take the properties and make them their own."
"Madagascar" made a splash in theaters in 2005 with its popular lead penguin characters and Nickelodeon President Cyma Zarghami said "Kung Fu Panda," due out in 2008, offers similar likable leads.
"We thought the characters in 'Kung Fu Panda' were very funny and could live beyond the movie universe," he said. "And everyone loves those penguins."
