‘Meerkat Manor’ Getting Animated Movie from Warner Bros. Pictures Animation

Animal Planet’s classic hit Meerkat Manor is getting the animated treatment from Warner Bros. Pictures Animation.

In early development, the feature will be produced by Seth Green and Tracy Falco via the duo’s The Green Room production banner, the studio announced Tuesday.

The original producer of the show, Caroline Hawkins and Clare Birks of Oxford Scientific, will executive produce.

Airing on Warners-owned Animal Planet from 2005 to 2008, the show centered on the exploits of a family of meerkats dubbed The Whiskers living in South Africa’s Kalahari Desert. The show became a worldwide hit, garnering Emmy nominations and at one point was Animal Planet’s most watched show.

Warners plans to produce the feature using photoreal animation, in what it dubbed “in the spirit of Happy Feet,” the 2006 animated feature co-directed by George Miller that centered on penguins.

“It’s 20 years since we experimented with a wildlife soap opera in a London basement, and now here we are,” said Meerkat Manor creator Hawkins in a statement. “What greater evidence could there be of the enduring appeal of meerkats?  I am sure they would be thrilled at attaining stardom in Hollywood!”

Green and Falco jointly stated, “We believe that the heartwarming and entertaining story of Meerkat Manor, replete with all the drama, emotion and humor of the human experience, will resonate with audiences of all ages.”