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Mike Young Productions and DQ Entertainment develops new series based on American Greetings's Twisted Whiskers.

American Greetings Properties, the IP and outbound licensing division of US company American Greetings, has formed a partnership to develop its CGI greeting card crossover animation Twisted Whiskers.

A 26x30' series based on the same 'twisted' bunch of cats and dogs used in the greetings card franchise is now being developed by US independent studio Mike Young Productions and Indian animation studio DQ Entertainment.

The series will be distributed to broadcasters in other territories, specifically Europe and Latin America, by Mike Young Productions' sister company Taffy Entertainment. Hyderabad-based distributor DQ Entertainment has the rights for India and Asia, with American Greetings retaining North American and global new media distribution rights.

The franchise, launched in 2001, is one of the fastest selling ever launched by American Greetings, with one St Patrick's Day-themed card being shared online by more than 580,000 users.

In addition to 26 half-hour episodes, Mike Young Productions and DQ Entertainment are producing a series of 30-second shorts, to be made available online and via mobile.

Each half-hour episode will comprise four separate segments, two 10-minute segments involving longer storylines and two of the 30-second comic shorts that depict the animals in unexpected misadventures.

"In addition to being very popular with pet owners and animal lovers, the off-kilter look and attitude of the characters gives them strong cross-generational and cross-cultural appeal," Sean Gorman, American Greetings Properties' new VP of production and development, told C21.

Twisted Whiskers also brings Bill Kopp, the creative talent behind The Simpsons during its tenure on the Tracey Ullman Show, on board to help oversee the creative direction of the series.

American Greetings Properties recently formed a partnership with DIC to provide programming for US broadcaster CBS's weekend morning slot, featuring its new Care Bears series, Strawberry Shortcake and Holly Hobbie and Friends.

The company is currently in discussion with networks and coproducers for its new animated comedy-action series Super Badguy, which focuses on a luckless superhero shunned by the city he serves, and action series Sushi Pack, being created by the team behind Tiny Toons.