Nickelodeon and DreamWorks Animation just announced plans to join forces on a new, 26-episode, computer-generated animated comedy series tentatively titled "The Penguins of Madagascar."

The series will be based on the beloved penguin brothers in DreamWorks Animation's hit feature film, "Madagascar" and upcoming sequel, "Madagascar, the Crate Escape."

The series, which tells the story of a group of penguins who believes it leads an elite strike force from its Central Park Zoo headquarters, will be produced at the Nickelodeon Animation Studio in Burbank, California and is scheduled to premiere on Nick in early 2009.

The series will feature the all-new adventures of Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private, four penguins who rule the roost at their Central Park Zoo home. While the brothers have their flippers full keeping their multi-species zoo neighborhood happy, at times their secret missions beckon them to venture out onto the busy streets of New York City.

Just as the team thinks it has its urban acreage under control, a new neighbor moves in next door: Julien, King of the Lemurs, a party animal with an entourage and an overactive ego. Much to the penguins' exasperation, King Julien and his friends are there to stay, proving once again that opposites do not attract.

Source: Nickelodeon