Victor Frankenstein (Tahan) has only one friend, his beloved dog Sparky. He loves science and adores his science teacher Mr. Rzykruski (Landau) who encourages the students to ask questions and learn. Victor's parents (Short and O'Hara) are concerned and make a bargain with Victor: he can enter the science fair, but he has to join the baseball team. During their first game, Sparky chases the ball into the street and is struck and killed.
Victor is devastated, but is inspired to try to bring Sparky back to life. After his experiment is successful, can he keep it a secret from his parents and classmates?
In 1984, director Tim Burton made a live action short film Frankenweenie. The film was seen as a failure and resulted in Disney firing Tim Burton. But after years of success, he decided to return to the film and make a full length film in stop-motion capture (like The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Corpse Bride).
The story is an homage to Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein." The character looks and names evoke her story and the way the legend has grown and changed over time. The character of Nassor looks like the modern version of the Frankenstein creature. Edgar or E Gore gets his name and mannerisms from the Victor's assistant in the films, Igor. They also borrow the Van Helsing name from Dracula. There are a few other horror movie references, but I won't spoil them here.
A nice little black and white film.
Frankenweenie (2012) 87 minutes
Director: Tim Burton
Starring: Catherine O'Hara as Mrs. Frankenstein / Weird Girl / Gym Teacher
Martin Short as Mr. Frankenstein / Mr. Burgemeister / Nassor
Martin Landau as Mr. Rzykruski
Charlie Tahan as Victor Frankenstein
Atticus Shaffer as Edgar "E" Gore
Winonna Ryder as Elsa Van Helsing
Robert Capron as Bob
James Hiroyuki Liao as Toshiaki
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