Just in time for its World Premiere at Fantastic Fest Wednesday night, Disney unleashed a nearly four-minute featurette complete with footage galore from Tim Burton's Frankenweenie. "It's based on my relationship I had when I was a child with my dog," Burton notes in the EPK, available below. "It's probably your first big relationship in your life." Burton first conceived of the idea of Frankenweenie as a full-length, stop-motion animated feature, but due to that ever-present challenge of budget, he instead made a live-action short which was released back in 1984. But now Burton's full-length vision is finally set to hit the big screen.
Frankenweenie's voice cast include four actors who worked on Burton's previous films, Wynona Ryder (Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands), Catherine O'Hara (Beetlejuice, The Nightmare Before Christmas), Martin Short Mars Attacks!) and Martin Landau (Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow).
The story revolves around a boy and his beloved dog. After unexpectedly losing his four-legged best pal Sparky, Victor uses his science skills to bring his dog back to life - "with just a few minor adjustments." He tries to conceal his sewn-up reincarnation, but Sparky escapes and Victor's schoolmates, teachers and the entire town learn that getting a "new leash on life can be monstrous."
"Victor is a mad very internal boy and he's a mad scientist as well, which is always good," quips Burton.
Over 200 puppets and sets were used to create the the feature. It is filmed in black and white and rendered in 3D.
Official Boilerplate:
From creative genius Tim Burton (“Alice in Wonderland,” The Nightmare Before Christmas”) comes “Frankenweenie,” a heartwarming tale about a boy and his dog. After unexpectedly losing his beloved dog Sparky, young Victor harnesses the power of science to bring his best friend back to life—with just a few minor adjustments. He tries to hide his home-sewn creation, but when Sparky gets out, Victor’s fellow students, teachers and the entire town all learn that getting a new “leash on life” can be monstrous.
A stop-motion animated film, “Frankenweenie” was filmed in black and white and rendered in 3D. The talented voice cast includes: Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan, Atticus Shaffer, Robert Capron, Conchata Ferrell and Winona Ryder.
Presented by Disney, “Frankenweenie” is directed by Tim Burton, produced by Tim Burton and Allison Abbate, from a screenplay by John August, based on a screenplay by Lenny Ripps, based on an original idea by Tim Burton. “Frankenweenie” releases in U.S. theaters on October 5, 2012.
The featurette includes interview snippets with Burton and others.
[Movieline will have additional coverage of Frankenweenie and other films from the upcoming Fantastic Fest later this week.]