DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. has started an in-house printing division to release print and digital books featuring its animated characters.

The Glendale studio behind the “Shrek,” “Kung Fu Panda,” and “Madagascar” films will team on DreamWorks Press with Perseus Books Group for the distribution of the titles to be released starting for the holiday season later this year.

DreamWorks Press gives the company a way to interact with fans of its films in a way outside the movie theater, said Shawn Dennis, head of franchise.

“Publishing is a crucial component of any successful franchise, and owning and developing this capability in-house will give us an unprecedented platform to expand the worlds of our most beloved characters as well as introduce families to new characters from within our library,” Dennis said in a prepared statement.

In addition to books with characters from its films, the publishing division will use characters from the DreamWorks Classic portfolio, including Lassie, Casper The Friendly Ghost and characters from AwesomenessTV, an online video channel.

DreamWorks Press will be run by Emma Whittard, an 18-year veteran of children’s publishing, including eight years at Walt Disney Co.

Shares of DreamWorks closed Monday down 16 cents or less than 1 percent to $33.53 on the Nasdaq.