'Community' animated shorts to hit Web

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CULVER CITY, Calif., March 5 (UPI) -- Shorts featuring the animated alter-egos and voices of the stars of the U.S. sitcom "Community" are to debut online this week, Sony Pictures Television said.

The first of the three animated clips is to air Wednesday on Hulu, Hulu Plus and NBC.com. Fresh installments will air Thursday and Friday.

"These animated shorts are a vital component to our multi-pronged campaign aimed at driving awareness to the show's return to NBC on March 15," Chris Van Amburg, senior vice president of U.S. marketing for Sony Pictures Television, said in a statement. "The 'Community' actors and team were eager to lend their voices and support to an effort intended to engage their loyal fan base that has rabidly kept the show thriving via flash mobs, fan art, viral videos, dedicated fan sites and on Facebook and Twitter."

The show, now in its third season, stars Joel McHale, Chevy Chase, Gillian Jacobs, Yvette Nicole Brown, Danny Pudi, Alison Brie, Donald Glover, Ken Jeong and Jim Rash.