Nickelodeon to air 'Kung Fu Panda' series

BURBANK, Calif., May 14 (UPI) -- The U.S. television network Nickelodeon has announced plans to air "Kung Fu Panda: The Series," starting in 2010.

The computer-generated animated show is based on the 2008 animated blockbuster "Kung Fu Panda."

The announcement that Nickelodeon has ordered 26 episodes of "Panda" was made Thursday and follows the March 28 premiere of "The Penguins of Madagascar," which was watched by 6.1 million viewers.

The "Panda" and "Penguins" series are both co-productions between Nickelodeon and DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.

"Our seamless collaboration with DreamWorks Animation has now reached an anticipated 78 half-hours of unparalleled television CG animation," Brown Johnson, president of animation for Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids & Family Group, said in a statement. "With the pick-up of 'Kung Fu Panda: The Series,' we are thrilled to be bringing to our audience the rich stories and energy-packed character and action sequences Po the panda delivered on the big screen."

"We are thrilled to extend our ongoing collaboration with Nickelodeon, whose creative expertise in producing hit TV series is second to none," added Ann Daly, chief operating officer of DreamWorks Animation. "The characters and worlds we originally created for 'Kung Fu Panda' are particularly well-suited to be further developed and explored in new and exciting ways."