Rise of the Guardians is a 2012 American 3D computer-animated fantasy-adventure film based on William Joyce's The Guardians of Childhood book series and The Man in the Moon short film by Joyce and Reel FX. Peter Ramsey directed the film, while Joyce and Guillermo del Toro were executive producers. Produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures, it was released on November 21, 2012 and received mixed to positive critical reception.
Set about 200 years after the book series, the film tells a story about the Guardians (North or Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, Bunnymund or the Easter Bunny, and the Sandman), who enlist Jack Frost to stop Pitch from engulfing the world in darkness. It features the voices of Chris Pine (Jack Frost), Alec Baldwin (Santa Claus), Hugh Jackman (The Easter Bunny), Isla Fisher (The Tooth Fairy) and Jude Law (Pitch).
The spirit of winter, Jack Frost (Chris Pine), describes how he came to be hundreds of years ago, lifted from the ice by the Man in the Moon, and has been invisible ever since because people don't believe in him. At the North Pole, North, better known as Santa Claus (Alec Baldwin), is alerted that Pitch, the Bogeyman (Jude Law), has returned and is threatening childhood with fear. After summoning fellow Guardians the Tooth Fairy (Tooth) (Isla Fisher), the Easter Bunny (E. Aster Bunnymund) (Hugh Jackman) and the Sandman
(Sandy), North learns from the Man in the Moon that they are to induct
Jack as their new member. Jack is brought to North's headquarters and
they attempt to swear him in. Jack, frustrated by centuries of isolation
caused by children's disbelief in him, declines to join. Regardless,
North persuades him to cooperate for now by explaining their mission and
the looming threat of Pitch.
At Tooth's castle, the team discovers that Pitch has attacked, taken all
the children's teeth, the childhood memories stored in them, and all
but one of Tooth's baby fairies, Baby Tooth, whom Jack saves. Pitch
declares his intention to destroy children's faith in the Guardians in
revenge for his own disbelieved-in state, beginning with Tooth, who
immediately begins weakening as children stop believing in her. To avert
this, the Guardians perform her teeth-collection themselves for the
interim, with a promise to find Jack's teeth to recover his previous
life's memories. A young boy named Jamie is delighted to discover them
in his room, as he believes in all of them except Jack, which renders
Jack still invisible. Pitch learns of the Guardians' resistance and
attacks Jack and Sandy; despite Jack's great efforts to save him, Sandy
is overwhelmed by Pitch and seemingly destroyed.
The dejected Guardians next rally by helping Bunnymund prepare his eggs for Easter
to keep children's belief strong. Although slightly complicated by the
intrusion of Jamie's toddler sister, Sophie, the operation goes smoothly
through to the distribution stage. Jack takes Sophie home, and
discovers the entrance to Pitch's headquarters, where Tooth's baby
fairies and the teeth are being held. Pitch urges him to step aside as a
neutral party with the promise of his teeth's memories. Jack refuses,
and Pitch attacks Bunnymund's domain, ruining the Easter-egg
distribution and shattering children's faith in the Easter Bunny.
The Guardians' spirit broken, a despondent Jack departs in disgrace to Antarctica.
There, Pitch tempts him to join forces, but Jack again refuses, as he
wants to be loved, not feared. In response, Pitch reveals he has
Baby-Tooth, and threatens to kill her unless Jack relinquishes the
source of his power, his staff. Jack submits, but Pitch reneges and the
resulting fight leaves Jack trapped in a crevasse with Baby-Tooth while
Pitch breaks his staff. To counter Jack's despair, Baby-Tooth convinces
Jack to unlocks his memories, which reveal he was a mortal boy who died
saving his sister from falling through ice, and because of that heroism
was changed into a winter spirit and chosen as a Guardian by the Man in
the Moon.
Inspired at this revelation, Jack is able to restore his staff and
his power. The Guardians and Pitch learn there is only one believing
child left: Jamie. Jack races to the boy and not only confirms Jamie's
faith in the Guardians, but also instills a belief in Jack Frost,
enabling Jamie to finally see him. The diminished and weakened Guardians
arrive to join him as they confront Pitch, while Jamie gathers his
friends to support them. Pitch's seemingly overwhelming power of
nightmare proves no match against the children's faith, which restores
the Guardians' full power to battle the villain. Sandman is resurrected
by this belief, and joins the fight, leaving Pitch defeated and
children's faith restored, as well as in Jack Frost. Pitch is taken down
by his own fear and is forced back into his lair.
At this victory, Jack is finally sworn in as a Guardian and resolves to protect the world's children with his new friends.