DreamWorks Starts New In-plant

DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc., the studio behind such films as “Shrek” and “Madagascar,” has opened an in-house printing division to release print and digital books featuring its animated characters.

“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,” noted Shawn Dennis, head of franchise, in a statement.

The in-plant, called DreamWorks Press, will reportedly be run by children’s publishing veteran Emma Whittard, who spent eight years at Walt Disney Co. The staff of eight will produce digital and print books, along with book applications for mobile devices, featuring DreamWorks Animation franchises, as well as assets from the DreamWorks Classics portfolio. (No word on which devices the operation will use to print these books.) DreamWorks Press is planning to have books ready in time for the 2014 holiday season. Read more here. And here.