DreamWorks Animation and Global Creatures Team to Bring 'How to Train Your Dragon' to Life

5/19/2009 6:18:00 PM

GLENDALE, Calif., May 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (Nasdaq: DWA) today announced that it is in the early development stages on a live arena show based on its upcoming March 26, 2010 release, "How to Train Your Dragon." DreamWorks Animation is collaborating with the Australia-based Global Creatures, the international entertainment group specializing in live theatrical productions employing the latest in state-of-the-art animatronic technology, to conceive and execute the arena show.

DreamWorks Animation Chief Operating Officer Ann Daly stated, "Global Creatures is the creative force behind the award winning Walking with Dinosaurs, the arena spectacular. They are at the cutting edge in creating life-like animatronics and we are extremely excited to be bringing our Dragons to life. With our collaboration, it will give us the unique opportunity to connect with our family audiences in cities around the country in fresh and inventive ways."

Global Creatures CEO Carmen Pavlovic adds, "We believe we have created a new genre in entertainment and hope to bring ground breaking product to arenas for years to come. A collaboration between our companies is a natural fit. DreamWorks Animation is a world leader in family oriented entertainment and Global Creatures is developing family shows for international arena touring. We are thrilled with the opportunity to combine our theatrical innovation with a creative juggernaut such as DreamWorks Animation. We hope audiences will be as excited by Dragons as they have been by Dinosaurs."

"How to Train Your Dragon" is an adventure comedy set in the mythical world of burly Vikings and wild dragons, based on the book by Cressida Cowell. The story centers around a scrawny teenager, who lives on the island of Berk, where fighting dragons is a way of life. Initiation is coming, and this is his one chance to prove his worthiness to his tribe and father. But when he encounters, and ultimately befriends, an injured dragon, his world is turned upside down. "How to Train Your Dragon" is produced by Bonnie Arnold and directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois. It stars Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrara, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Craig Ferguson, Kristen Wiig and T.J. Miller.

About DreamWorks Animation SKG

DreamWorks Animation is principally devoted to developing and producing computer generated, or CG, animated feature films. With world-class creative talent, a strong and experienced management team and advanced CG filmmaking technology and techniques, DreamWorks Animation makes high quality CG animated films meant for a broad movie-going audience. The Company anticipates releasing its feature films into both conventional and IMAX(R) theatres worldwide. The Company has theatrically released a total of eighteen animated feature films, including "Shrek," "Shrek 2," "Shark Tale," "Madagascar," "Over the Hedge," "Shrek the Third," "Bee Movie," "Kung Fu Panda," "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" and "Monsters vs. Aliens." All of the Company's feature films are now being produced in stereoscopic 3D technology.

About Global Creatures

Global Creatures is an international entertainment group the likes of which has never been seen before. The animatronics arm, The Creature Technology Company, invents, develops and deploys the latest in animatronic design. The production arm, The Creature Production Company, develops new and exciting theatrical productions to take to audiences all around the world.

Walking with Dinosaurs the arena spectacular, has been seen by over 3 million people in just two years and grossed over $200 million (AUD).

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This document includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company's plans, prospects, strategies, proposals and our beliefs and expectations concerning performance of our current and future releases and anticipated talent, directors and storyline for our upcoming films and other projects, constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industry in which we operate and management's beliefs and assumptions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein due to changes in economic, business, competitive, technological and/or regulatory factors, and other risks and uncertainties affecting the operation of the business of DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. These risks and uncertainties include: audience acceptance of our film and other projects, our dependence on the success of a limited number of releases each year, the increasing cost of producing and marketing feature films, piracy of motion pictures, the effect of rapid technological change or alternative forms of entertainment and our need to protect our proprietary technology and enhance or develop new technology. In addition, due to the uncertainties and risks involved in the development and production of our projects, the release dates described in this document may be delayed. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and our most recent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. DreamWorks Animation is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.

SOURCE DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.
05/19/2009
CONTACT: Jeff Hare, Publicity, +1-818-695-6055, Jeff.Hare@dreamworks.com, or Shannon Olivas, Corporate Communications, +1-818-695-3658, Shannon.Olivas@dreamworks.com, both of DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.
Web Site: http://www.dreamworksanimation.com