MUMBAI: Peter Ramsey, director of Monsters vs. Aliens: "Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space" is set to direct The Guardians, (working title) for DreamWorks Animation SKG.

The Guardians is based on The Guardians of Childhood, a series of children’s books by William Joyce. Pulitzer Prize winning writer David Lindsay-Abaire has signed on to write the script.

In addition to directing Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space, Ramsey served as Head of Story on DreamWorks Animation’s Monsters vs. Aliens and has served as a storyboard artist on a number of live action feature films. Lindsay-Abaire was most recently nominated for a Tony Award for his book and lyrics for Shrek The Musical.

The Guardians will be produced by Christina Steinberg and Nancy Bernstein and executive produced by Michael Siegel, Joyce’s manager. DreamWorks Animation acquired the property from Reel FX where the characters and the world of The Guardians of Childhood were developed in a partnership with William Joyce. Joyce will also serve as co-director.

The movie is scheduled to be released on 2 November, 2012.

DreamWorks Animation co-president of production Bill Damaschke said, "We are thrilled that David Lindsay-Abaire is joining director Peter Ramsey and the rest of the all-star creative team at DreamWorks Animation to bring William Joyce’s spectacular stories to cinematic life when the film arrives in theaters on November 2, 2012."

Publication of the book series is set to begin in 2011 and subsequent books will be published in yearly installments thereafter.