DreamWorks Animation starts in-house publishing company

GLENDALE, Calif., Feb. 13 (UPI) -- DreamWorks Animation says it has started up an in-house operation to publish digital and print books inspired by the U.S. film studio's library.

"As we continue to grow our brand on a global level, DreamWorks Press will give fans a meaningful way to interact with us on a year-round basis," DreamWorks Animation's Head of Franchise Shawn Dennis said in a statement. "Publishing is a crucial component of any successful franchise, and owning and developing this capability in-house will give us an unprecedented platform to expand the worlds of our most beloved characters as well as introduce families to new characters from within our library."

The in-house staff will produce digital and print books, along with book applications for mobile devices, featuring DreamWorks Animation franchises including "Kung Fu Panda," "Madagascar," "Shrek" and the upcoming "B.O.O.: Bureau of Otherworldly Operations," as well as assets from the DreamWorks Classics portfolio and recent acquisition AwesomenessTV.

The newly formed DreamWorks publishing division will join with The Perseus Books Group for the sale and distribution of its digital and print books through Perseus' Publishers Group West distribution unit.

The first wave of books from DreamWorks Press is to go on sale in time for the 2014 holiday season.