'Community' to Return One Week Early With Animated Short (Video)

Fans awaiting the return of NBC’s Community will soon have something to tide them over until new episodes resume March 15.

The Community gang gets animated for a three-part short, Abed’s Master Key, with Part I hitting NBC.com and Hulu March 7. Parts II and III will be available on March 8 and 9.

Series regulars voiced their characters, for the short, which sees trouble brewing when Abed, played by Danny Pudi, gets his hands on the master key to Greendale Community College, the fictional school the characters attend.

PHOTOS: On the 'Community' Set

The shorts were written by Dave Seger and Tom Kauffman, creators of the web series Ikea Heights.

“The Community actors and team were eager to lend their voices and support to an effort intended to engage their loyal fan base that has rabidly kept the show thriving,”said Chris Van Amburg, senior vice president of U.S. marketing at Sony Pictures Television, in a statement.

NBC says the shorts are being rolled out to raise awareness of the show’s return March 15 at 8 p.m.