Peter Ramsey, Director of Hit TV Special, 'Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space' to Direct DreamWorks Animation's 'The Guardians' (Working Title)

11/3/2009 8:33:00 AM PULITZER PRIZE WINNING WRITER, DAVID LINDSAY-ABAIRE SET TO WRITE

GLENDALE, Calif., Nov. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (Nasdaq: DWA) today announced that Peter Ramsey, director of the Company's hit Halloween special, "Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space," is set to direct "The Guardians," (working title) the previously announced film based on "The Guardians of Childhood," a series of highly anticipated 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." His Pulitzer Prize winning play, "The Rabbit Hole" has been made into a feature film, for which he wrote the script.

The project 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. DreamWorks Animation's "The Guardians" (working title) is scheduled to be released on November 2, 2012.

"The Guardians of Childhood" is a multi-story saga detailing the adventures of the immortal Guardians, who are sworn to protect children from the forces of evil. The books will be published as a series that features Joyce's distinctive illustrations and chronicles the origins of several childhood mythic figures, including Santa Claus, Jack Frost, The Easter Bunny and The Man in the Moon. Each book will highlight one character and will serve as back stories for characters that will be the subject of the full length feature film version.

DreamWorks Animation Co-President of Production, Bill Damaschke, commented, "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.

About DreamWorks Animation SKG

DreamWorks Animation creates high-quality entertainment, including CG animated feature films, television specials and series, live entertainment properties and online virtual worlds, meant for audiences around the world. The Company has world-class creative talent, a strong and experienced management team and advanced filmmaking technology and techniques. All of DreamWorks Animation's feature films are now being produced in 3D. The Company has theatrically released a total of 18 animated feature films, including the franchise properties, Shrek, Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda.

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This document includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company's plans, prospects, strategies, proposals and our beliefs and expectations concerning performance of our current and future releases and anticipated talent, directors and storyline for our upcoming films and other projects, constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industry in which we operate and management's beliefs and assumptions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein due to changes in economic, business, competitive, technological and/or regulatory factors, and other risks and uncertainties affecting the operation of the business of DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. These risks and uncertainties include: audience acceptance of our films, our dependence on the success of a limited number of releases each year, the increasing cost of producing and marketing feature films, piracy of motion pictures, the effect of rapid technological change or alternative forms of entertainment and our need to protect our proprietary technology and enhance or develop new technology. In addition, due to the uncertainties and risks involved in the development and production of animated feature projects, the release dates for the projects described in this document may be delayed. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and our most recent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. DreamWorks Animation is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward- looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.

SOURCE DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.

Jeff Hare, DreamWorks Animation Publicity, +1-818-695-8055, jeff.hare@dreamworks.com; or Shannon Olivas, DreamWorks Animation Corporate Communications, +1-818-695-3658, shannon.olivas@dreamworks.com