Thanks to Chinese government policy, DreamWorks will debut its new animated feature "Penguins of Madagascar" in China before it premieres in New York and the rest of the world.

"Madagascar 3," the previous 2012 film in the popular animated series, grossed more than $30 million in China, the third-best Chinese box office showing at the time. So, it looks like a boffo run is in store for DreamWorks Animation's latest mega-effort.

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Several interesting aspects of the early opening play into the narrative of China's recent emergence as a major player in the international animated film market.

Oriental DreamWorks, which operates with official government support, is partially owned by DreamWorks Animation. That company will distribute the new Madagascar film.

Another facet of the early opening is the continuation of the trend of China becoming a prime box office destination for family-friendly animated films rather than a center of international film piracy.

Jeffrey Katzenberg, now DreamWorks CEO, sued then-employer Walt Disney Co. for breach of contract in 1999. One of his major contentions was Disney underpaid him because it wouldn't honor a contract clause giving him a percentage of animated films he made at Disney. That percentage would have been substantial due to the size of the developing China market, he successfully argued.

A third tidbit involves the way China works when it comes to movie distribution. The Chinese government sets movie release dates, not individual companies. The government decreed the film debut in Beijing on November 14.

John Malkovich, Tom McGrath, Chris Miller and Benedict Cumberbatch voice the lead penguins for the film. Chinese theaters will have the choice of several versions. One version retains the original actor voices with Mandarin subtitles. Other versions features Chinese actors doing voices in local dialects.

"The Penguins of Madagascar" has a red carpet opening on November 16 in New York City. The film hits the rest of the U.S. on November 26 during the heavily trafficked Thanksgiving weekend.

Tagsdreamworks, animated features, films, penguins of madagascar, Disney, penguins, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Oriental DreamWorks, John Malkovich