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![The Shrek franchise is one of many DreamWorks films that have been popular in Russia. [Getty Images]](http://thebricspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/shrek-300x200.jpg)
The Shrek franchise is one of many DreamWorks productions that have been popular in Russia. [Getty Images]
The animations giant is licensing its movie characters for various theme parks being developed in Russia, an increasingly important market for DreamWorks.
The California-based company will work with Russian developer Regions Group under a licensing agreement.
DreamWorks will not be investing in the project, the company said.
The Regions Group is looking to invest over $3 billion in the construction of what is billed as Europe’s largest indoor theme parks.
The parks are to become the largest year-round indoor entertainment zones in Europe.
The theme parks are expected to pay for themselves within 10 years and the visitors will pay 1500-2400 rubles for the entry tickets.
Each park is expected to receive over 11 million visitors annually.
DreamWorks Animation own the rights for ‘Shrek’, ‘Madagascar’, ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ and ‘Kung Fu Panda’, which have been great box-office hits in Russia.
‘Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted’ is currently the second-highest-grossing animated film in Russia’s box office history, the studio said.
Each park will be part of vast shopping and entertainment complexes, including movie theaters, hotels, restaurants and retail centres.
Regions Group will be the sole investor in the project, said its co-owner and board member Amiran Mutsoev.
Mutsoev added that the firm planned to attract loans, primarily from state-run Sberbank and Gazprombank.
Regions says it is the fourth-largest retail property owner in Russia.
“Russia is one of the most important markets in the world for us,” DreamWorks Animation chief executive Jeffrey Katzenberg said in a statement.
“All of us at DWA are extremely excited to work with Regions CG. These parks are going to be groundbreaking cultural hubs that will give families the chance to truly enter the world of DreamWorks.”
Daria Chernyshova
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