The mesmerizing world of witches and familiars are coming to a theater near you next year!  DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. just announced that it will bring ‘Rumblewick’ to the big screen. Director Tim Johnson (‘Over The Hedge,’ ‘Antz’) and writer Jim Herzfeld (‘Meet the Fockers,’ ‘Meet the Parents’) are collaborating on the feature project, which is inspired by the children’s book, ‘My Unwilling Witch (The Rumblewick Letters)’ by Hiawyn Oram and Sarah Warburton. DreamWorks Animation development executives Chris Kuser and Gregg Taylor are overseeing the project at the studio.

“The fascinating world of witches and witches’ familiars is perfectly suited for the medium of animation, where anything goes,” said DreamWorks Animation’s Chief Creative Officer, Bill Damaschke. “Combined with the magically creative and comedic sensibilities of Tim Johnson and Jim Herzfeld, we look forward to bringing the world of ‘Rumblewick’ to life.”

“The odds are stacked against our main character, a hard-working rabbit. Telling the story of his struggle and triumph is a fantastic journey. I know audiences are going to fall in love with ‘Rumblewick,’” added Tim Johnson.

‘Rumblewick’ will follow the adventures of a magician’s rabbit for whom the invitation to learn real magic and train as a witch’s familiar seems like a dream come true! But the dream becomes a nightmare when he discovers he’s really a pawn in a game between rival witches. Having learned the hard way that when something seems too good to be true it probably is, he must outsmart them both to save his fuzzy little hide.

The book that it’s based on is a very popular picture book series.  ‘My Unwilling Witch (The Rumblewick Letters),’ written by Hiawyn Oram and Sarah Warburton, tells the tale of a witch’s cat name Rumblewick with one BIG problem – his witch, Haggy Aggy, doesn’t want to be a witch any more. She wants to be a regular girl and do regular girl things, like marry a prince! How can he persuade her that witchy ways are best?

Hiawyn has had over 50 children’s books published and also writes for television.  She won the Japanese Picture Book Award and the Prix du Livre Culturel as well as being shortlisted for the Smarties Prize. She has published numerous successful books for Orchard, including the ‘Mona the Vampire’ series, and has created the exciting picture book and fiction series: ‘Rumblewick,’ which is translated into over ten languages.

The movie is scheduled for release sometime in 2012.