DreamWorks' Dragons moves to Netflix

The CGI animated series set in the world of How to Train Your Dragon will broadcast new episodes on streaming video service Netflix from 2015.

DreamWorks' fantasy adventure saga has become a cult favourite franchise since the first movie was released in 2010. To fill the gap during the four years spent developing this summer's long-awaited cinematic sequel, the studio has also been producing the episodic Dragons TV series since 2012. So far, the show has been produced for Cartoon Network in the US, but the upcoming third season will abandon traditional TV for the online platform. 

The move is likely to be crushing for Cartoon Network. The series has been one of its highest rated programs, consistently averaging around two million viewers per episode. Those are the sorts of numbers Netflix will be all too happy to take on as the show becomComingSoon: "This is one of DreamWorks Animation's most beloved set of characters and we know that kids and families will be enjoying them for years to come." The deal is reportedly for multiple seasons of Dragons.

es the latest addition to its growing portfolio of original content. The move is set to be a long term one too, with Netflix's Vice President for Original Content, Cindy Holland, telling

Loosely based on the children's novels by Cressida Cowell, the franchise follows scrawny young Viking boy Hiccup, who overcomes his culture's preference for brawn over brains by taming the dragon Toothless, leading to peace between humans and giant flying lizards. Later adventures see the young hero and his friends protecting their village Berk from invaders and rival clans. While the first two seasons of Dragons - Riders of Berk and Defenders of Berk -- told their own stories, the third, subtitled Dragon Masters, is set to bridge the gap between the two films.
The movies' cast will continue to voice the characters for the Netflix run, including Jay Baruchel as Hiccup and America Ferrera as feisty Viking warrior girl Astrid. The new episodes will air in all Netflix territories from Spring 2015.

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