DreamWorks Animation Reveals Slate Of Twelve Movies Over The Next Four Years

Most movie studios release information about their upcoming slates a year or two at a time. But today DreamWorks Animation released a four-year slate, driven in part by the new distribution deal the company has with Fox, as well as the long lead time needed to make animated films, and also perhaps by the not-so-hot view of the publicly-traded company on Wall Street.

We've known that DA has a mind towards heavy sequel production, and that is reflected in this slate, with dates for two more How to Train Your Dragon films, another Kung Fu Panda sequel, and another Madagascar spinoff. But, in addition to films we know about (The Croods, Turbo) there are some other new projects that adapt kids books, and more details on the previously-announced animated Bollywood-style musical.

Here's the press release featuring titles and dates for many films:

The following DreamWorks Animation films will be distributed by Fox: The Croods for March 22, 2013, Turbo for July 19, 2013 and Mr. Peabody & Sherman for November 1, 2013; Me and My Shadow for March 14, 2014, How to Train Your Dragon 2 for June 20, 2014 and Happy Smekday! for November 26, 2014; The Penguins of Madagascar for March 27, 2015, Trolls (working title) for June 5, 2015, B.O.O.: Bureau of Otherworldly Operations for November 6, 2015 and Mumbai Musical (working title) for December 19, 2015; Kung Fu Panda 3 for March 18, 2016 and How to Train Your Dragon 3 for June 18, 2016.

Below is additional detail on each of DreamWorks Animation's 2013-2016 releases:

The Croods will be released on March 22, 2013.

It is being written and directed by Academy-Award® nominee Chris Sanders (How to Train Your Dragon) and Kirk DeMicco (Space Chimps) and produced by Kristine Belson (How to Train Your Dragon) and Jane Hartwell (Shrek). The film stars Nicolas Cage, Ryan Reynolds, Emma Stone, Catherine Keener, Clark Duke, and Cloris Leachman. When their cave is destroyed, the Crood family is forced to embark on an epic adventure into a pre-historic world in search of a new home. With the help of a brash, know-it-all nomad named Guy, the Croods learn to conquer their fears and discover what it takes to survive – each other.

Turbo will be released on July 19, 2013.

It is based on an original idea by David Soren (Merry Madagascar), who is directing the film. It is produced by Lisa Stewart (Monsters vs. Aliens). Soren is writing the script with Robert Siegel (The Wrestler) and Darren Lemke (Shrek Forever After). The film stars Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti, Michael Pena, Luis Guzmán, Bill Hader, Richard Jenkins, Ken Jeong, Michelle Rodriguez, Maya Rudolph, Ben Schwartz, Kurtwood Smith, Snoop Lion and Samuel L. Jackson. Turbo is the story of a garden snail with an impossible dream: to win the Indy 500. When a freak accident gives him extraordinary speed, Turbo sets out to try to make this dream come true.

Mr. Peabody & Sherman will be released on November 1, 2013.

It is directed by Rob Minkoff (Stuart Little, The Lion King) and produced by Alex Schwartz (Journey to the Center of the Earth, Bridge to Terabithia) and Denise Cascino (Megamind, Shrek the Third). Bullwinkle Studios' Tiffany Ward and Classic Media's Eric Ellenbogen are executive producers, along with Jason Clark (Monster House, Stuart Little). It is being written by Craig Wright (United States of Tara, Six Feet Under). The film stars Emmy Award® winner Ty Burrell, Max Charles, Stephen Colbert, Emmy Award® winner Allison Janney, Ariel Winter and Stephen Tobolowsky. Based on Jay Ward's classic cartoon, Mr. Peabody is the world's smartest person who happens to be a dog. When his "pet" boy Sherman uses their time traveling WABAC machine without permission, events in history spiral out of control to disastrous and comical results.

Me and My Shadow will be released on March 14, 2014.

The studio will pioneer a groundbreaking combination of CG and traditional animation techniques seamlessly together throughout the film. Animation veteran Alessandro Carloni (How to Train Your Dragon) will make his directorial debut and Melissa Cobb (Kung Fu Panda, Kung Fu Panda 2) will produce. Tom J. Astle and Matt Ember (Get Smart) are writing the screenplay. The film stars Josh Gad, Bill Hader and Kate Hudson. Dan, our hero's shadow, yearns for a more exciting life but happens to be stuck with Daniel Grubb, a timid guy with an aversion to adventure. When both of their lives are put in danger, Dan is forced to take control of Daniel, commencing a madcap adventure in which they both learn the meaning of true friendship.

How to Train Your Dragon 2 and How to Train Your Dragon 3, the next two chapters to the Academy Award®-nominated original film from 2010, will be released on June 20, 2014 and June 18, 2016, respectively.

Both are being directed and written by Dean DeBlois (How to Train Your Dragon) and produced by Bonnie Arnold (How to Train Your Dragon). DeBlois and Chris Sanders (The Croods, How to Train Your Dragon) are serving as executive producers. Also inspired by the book series by Cressida Cowell, the sequels will again star Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, T.J. Miller and Kristen Wiig.

Happy Smekday!, based on the critically acclaimed book "The True Meaning of Smekday" by Adam Rex, will be released on November 26, 2014.

It is directed by Tim Johnson (Over the Hedge, Antz) and produced by Chris Jenkins (Surf's Up) and Suzanne Buirgy (Kung Fu Panda 2). The screenplay is being written by Tom J. Astle and Matt Ember (Get Smart). The film stars Jim Parsons and Rihanna. When the galaxy's most annoyingly optimistic alien finds himself on the run from his own alien race, he's forced to team up with a fiercely stubborn teenage girl. Together they become the most unlikely fugitives ever to save the planet.

The Penguins of Madagascar, featuring the beloved penguins from DreamWorks Animation's Madagascar franchise, will be released on March 27, 2015.

It is directed by Simon J. Smith (Bee Movie) and produced by Lara Breay (Megamind). It is being written by Michael Colton and John Aboud. Executive producers include Mireille Soria, Tom McGrath and Eric Darnell (Madagascar series).

Trolls (working title), inspired by the mythology behind the wildly popular Troll dolls, will be released on June 5, 2015.

It is directed by Anand Tucker (Leap Year) and produced by Gina Shay (Shrek Forever After). Aron Warner (Shrek films) is serving as executive producer, alongside Andrew Adamson (Shrek series, The Chronicles of Narnia series) and Dannie Festa. The screenplay is being written by Wallace Wollodarsky and Maya Forbes (Monsters vs. Aliens). The film stars Jason Schwartzman and Chole Moretz.

B.O.O.: Bureau of Otherworldly Operations, in which DreamWorks Animation will bring you ghosts as you've never seen them before, will be released on November 6, 2015.

It is based on an original idea by Tony Leondis (Igor), who is directing the film. It is produced by Maryann Garger (Flushed Away) and the screenplay is being written by Tom Wheeler (Puss in Boots). The film stars Seth Rogen.

Mumbai Musical (working title), the studio's first-ever Bollywood-style animated musical adventure inspired by the great Indian epic tale of The Ramayana but told from the point of view of the monkeys, will be released on December 19, 2015.

Kevin Lima (Enchanted, Tarzan) is directing and Lisa Stewart (Turbo, Monsters vs. Aliens) and Chris Chase (Enchanted, Tarzan) are producing. Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Prince of Egypt, Enchanted) is writing the lyrics, A.R. Rahman (127 Hours, Slumdog Millionaire, Bombay Dreams) is writing the music, and both are executive producers on the film. It is being written by David Sussman.

Kung Fu Panda 3 is being released on March 18, 2016.

Filmmakers returning for the third installment of the franchise include director Jennifer Yuh Nelson, producer Melissa Cobb and writers Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger. Guillermo del Toro will serve as executive producer.