In what sounds like something out of a Cold War spy novel, DreamWorks Animation has made a deal with Pixar animator Rodrigo Blaas to adapt his award-winning short film Alma into a full length feature.  Heat Vision reports that Blaas will write and direct the film, with Guillermo del Toro executive producing.  In a genius move, DreamWorks Animation recently signed del Toro to act as a consultant on several of their projects (the upcoming Megamind included), as well as direct his first animated feature Trollhunters (on which Blaas has just been added as a co-director).

The description for Alma states:

[The story] centers on a young girl who gets lured into an enchanted toy store, drawn in by its beautiful collection of dolls, including one that looks just like her. She discovers only too late that the shop is nefariously intent on adding her to its permanent collection.

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Hit the jump to watch the short, and for more info on del Toro and DreamWorks Animation projects.

It’s not yet known how soon we’ll get to see Alma and Trollhunters, given that del Toro is an increasingly busy man.  It’s assumed that his James Cameron-produced 3D epic At the Mountains of Madness will be his next project, even though it hasn’t officially been greenlit yet.  He’s also waiting on Disney’s decision to move forward on The Haunted Mansion, which he expects in January.  At that point, he says he will decide whether he’s going to direct it himself or not.  Personally, I can’t wait to see his adaptation of At the Mountains of Madness, especially if he and Cameron can get the large budget they’re looking for in order to tell a truly epic story.

DreamWorks Animation also has quite a few projects in the pipeline. Megamind hits theaters this November, followed by Kung Fu Panda 2: The Kaboom of Doom next May and the Shrek spin-off Puss in Boots: The Story of an Ogre Killer next November.  I’m most excited, though, for the recently announced sequel to the superb How to Train Your Dragon. 2013, get here faster please.

Check out the pretty fantastic short Alama below: