Wednesday October 21, 03:38 PM

New cartoon in Harlem Globetrotters' game plan

TORONTO (Hollywood Reporter) - The Harlem Globetrotters appear headed back to television as animated characters after signing a licensing and production partnership with the Cookie Jar Group.

Toronto-based Cookie Jar is to become global licensing agent for the traveling troupe of merry basketball players.

In addition, Cookie Jar will bring the pro sports entertainment property back to TV for the first time since Hanna-Barbera Prods.' "The Harlem Globetrotters." That show aired on CBS' Saturday morning cartoon slate in 1971 and '72, and NBC reran the cartoon series as "The Go-Go Globetrotters" in 1979.

Cookie Jar provided few details concerning its plans to develop animated content around the Globetrotters brand, with consumer product spin-offs.

Cookie Jar is best known for its "Caillou," "Inspector Gadget" and "The Doodlebops" cartoon series.

(Editing by SheriLinden at Reuters)