Stephen Merchant, left, and Ricky Gervais, seen at the 2004 British Comedy Awards, will serve as producers of the new animated TV comedy The Ricky Gervais Show, along with their friend Karl Pilkington. (Claire Greenway/Getty Images)

An animated comedy inspired by Ricky Gervais's popular podcasts is set to make its debut in the new year.

HBO announced Tuesday that the 13-episode series The Ricky Gervais Show will debut on Feb. 19.

The project, unveiled earlier this year, will feature the voices of Gervais, his longtime collaborator Stephen Merchant and their friend, radio producer Karl Pinkington, whose quirky musings and unusual tales often make him the butt of their jokes.

"The Ricky Gervais Show debuts on HBO a month after the Globes," Gervais wrote recently on his blog, noting that the launch followed his upcoming gig hosting the Golden Globe Awards.

"I think it could be bigger than Extras. Big words. Well to Karl they're big words."

The trio will serve as producers for half-hour show, with the visuals created by animation studio Wildbrain, the company behind hit preschooler program Yo Gabba Gabba.

Gervais is acclaimed for creating and starring in the British TV comedies The Office — which spawned an equally successful U.S. version — and Extras. He has also ventured into film, including the recent titles The Invention of Lying and Ghost Town.

The comedian's bestselling children's book series Flanimals is also being adapted into a 3-D animated feature film.