A new piece of concept art from DreamWorks Animation's Rise of the Guardians has arrived, which offers a look at Santa, the Easter Bunny, The Sandman, and the Tooth Fairy in their secret layer, on the eve of saving the world from an evil demon named Pitch. Check it out below, along with insight from author William Joyce, who penned the children's book upon which this is based.

Rise of the Guardians follows the Earth's greatest protectors, including Santa (Alec Baldwin), The Easter Bunny (Hugh Jackman), The Tooth Fairy (Isla Fisher), and the Sandman (a silent, monk-like character), who must protect the children of the world from an evil demon named Pitch (Jude Law).

William Joyce recently spoke about the origins of is book series, the first of which will be in stores this October and is titled "Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King".

"It seemed odd and slightly criminal that we know what Superman's origins are, but these guys that we believe in, we don't know. I remember as a kid asking my parents, 'Where does Santa come from? How does he do what he does?' The answers were very unsatisfying."

The author also spoke about updating these mythical icons.

"I was trying to reinvigorate the guardians' mythologies a little bit. They had become so commercialized they had lost some of their potency. When I was growing up, Santa Claus seemed a figure of majesty. He's not just a puffball. I wanted to give Santa back some of that conviction."

To read more about the inception of Rise of the Guardians: CLICK HERE