Sure, DreamWorks' reputation has taken some licks because of their unfettered love of spinning their beloved animated films into sprawling franchises with diminishing returns, but their upcoming Rise of the Guardians suggests the company that brought us such exhilarating adaptations as Shrek and How to Train Your Dragon is back on track.
The movie's first trailer introduced us to an enchanting world inspired by William Joyce's The Guardians of Childhood book series, where Santa Clause and a handful of mythical figures band together to defeat the malevolent schemes of the frightful Pitch. Now the film's second trailer reveals our entry point into the narrative: the puckish winter sprite Jack Frost. Check it out below:
With a cast of characters that includes such childhood staples as Santa, The Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny and the Sandman, Rise of the Guardians is sure to spark the interest of kids worldwide. But for those looking for something more, this animated adventure also boasts an impressive pedigree. Beyond a voice cast that includes Chris Pine, Alec Baldwin, Hugh Jackman, Jude Law and Isla Fisher, the feature's screenplay was developed by acclaimed playwright David Lindsay-Abaire and The Guardians of Childhood author William Joyce, who wrote the Oscar-winning animated short The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore.
But if looking good on paper's not enough, it seems impossible not to be wooed by the film's kinetic and gorgeously animated trailers. In this one, Pine's playful prankster shows the same kind of warm wild streak that won our hearts in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek, where he gave a spirited new spin to Captain Kirk. Plus, amid inescapable nationwide heat waves, a little Jack Frost is all the more appealing.
Rise of the Guardians hit theaters November 21st.
