Frankenweenie, the entertaining collaboration of Disney and creative genius Tim Burton (creator of “The Nightmare Before Christmas”) has finally debuted! The 3D animated movie arrived January 8th as a 4-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack and is additionally available on Digital plus On Demand!
A must-add to any Tim Burton collection, the hilarious 3D stop-motion animated masterpiece is filled with quirky characters and unexpected twists. Boasting an electrifying variety of bonus materials, the 4-Disc Combo Pack (Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) includes an all-new original short “Captain Sparky vs The Flying Saucers”; an exciting behind-the-scenes featurette with Tim Burton “Miniatures in Motion: Bringing ‘Frankenweenie’ to Life”; a showcase of the film’s touring exhibit, “‘Frankenweenie’ Touring Exhibit”; Tim Burton’s original live-action short of the same name, and more.
The Blu-ray Combo Pack’s spectacular picture and sound enhances the tale of a boy who uses the power of science to bring his beloved dog back to life … and a whole town faces the unexpected and electrifying truth of what happens when monstrous experiments run wild!
“Frankenweenie” features an all-star cast including the voices of Emmy Award-winner Catherine O’Hara, Tony Award-winner Martin Short, Academy Award-winner Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan, Atticus Shaffer, Robert Capron, Conchata Ferrell and Golden Globe-winner Winona Ryder.
Synopsis:
From Disney and creative genius Tim Burton (“Alice in Wonderland,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas”) comes the hilarious and offbeat “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 learn that getting a new ‘leash on life’ can be monstrous.
Complete with electrifying bonus features, “Frankenweenie” is alive with enchanting excitement in eye-popping Blu-ray 3D.
4-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy)—Includes:
• All New Original Short: “Captain Sparky vs The Flying Saucers”—An exciting all-new short featuring Victor and Sparky’s home movie.
• “Miniatures In Motion: Bringing ‘Frankenweenie’ To Life”—Viewers get an in-depth tour of the London set that includes never-before-seen footage showcasing the hundreds of artists who worked on the film.
• “Frankenweenie” Touring Exhibit—Allows audiences to explore the artistry of the film’s puppets, sets and props in a showcase that’s traveling the world.
• “Frankenweenie” Original Live Action Short—Burton’s original live-action short film.
• Music Video—“Pet Sematary” performed by Plain White T’s
2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD) — Includes: All 4-Disc bonus features
• “Captain Sparky vs The Flying Saucers”
• “Miniatures In Motion: Bringing ‘Frankenweenie’ To Life”
• “Frankenweenie” Touring Exhibit
• “Frankenweenie” (original Live-Action Short)
• “Pet Sematary” Music Video performed by Plain White T’s
1-Disc DVD
Includes:
• “Frankenweenie” Touring Exhibit
• “Pet Sematary” Music Video performed by Plain White T’
Frankenweenie Trailer
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Ask Mr. Whiskers
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My Thoughts About Frankenweenie
Like 95% of all movies that come out we usually have to wait until they make it to DVD before seeing them. I don’t usually mind, but sometimes the anticipation is grueling! Frankenweenie was no exception and being an enormous Tim Burton fan it was difficult missing this movie at the theaters. However, watching the film in the comfort of our own home in glorious 3D definitely has its perks!
If you haven’t seen Frankenweenie yet, it is based on a short live action film that director Tim Burton made more than 25 years ago. You know the type I’m talking about, the freaky horror films that inspired Tim when he was growing up! Wanting the movie to be homage to the monster movies of the 60s, Tim decided to feature the film in complete black and white. There is even a moment during the film when the parents are watching the Peter Cushing/Christopher Lee feature Horror Of Dracula on TV, which gives the flick an extra nostalgic kick. At first I thought the lack of color would be rather annoying, especially in 3D, but on the contrary it really helps create a wondrous creepy feeling and emotion. Plus, the depth of the stop-motion animation movie is spectacular!
Frankenweenie takes place in a town called New Holland in the 1970s, where nothing truly exciting happens except maybe a few lightning strikes. It follows the main character Victor Frankenstein (Charlie Tahan), a rather odd and lonely 10 year old boy who is obsessed with moviemaking and his best friend Sparky (voiced by Frank Welker), a playful and devoted bull terrier. When Sparky meets his untimely death, Victor uses the power of science to resurrect his beloved pet and creates a wave of copycat mayhem throughout the neighborhood!
There were instances in the film you had to have an extreme dry or morbid sense of humor to find funny, such as the sewn together tail of Sparky flying off when he wagged it. My five year old boy’s reaction was “That’s nasty!” Or the fact the main antagonist in the film, Mr. Whiskers, the Weird Girl’s pet cat poops out psychic premonitions. Nothing less you would imagine coming from the mind of Tim Burton! Imagine Mary Shelley’s 1931 Frankenstein with a weird comical twist and you have Frankenweenie!
Frankenweenie included several memorable 3D moments making the film even more spooky fun! I think one of the best scenes displaying 3D action, giving you a bit of a jump, was when Victor was digging up Sparky at the pet cemetery and this mangy looking cat springs up on a tombstone hissing at him. Frightening and cool at the same time! The entire movie is packed with eye-popping entertainment!
Additionally, the Frankenweenie Blu-ray copy features two shorts – “Captain Sparky vs The Flying Saucers” and Burton’s Original Live-Action “Frankenweenie”! The first short shows Victor and Sparky in a touching, adorable scene of them watching one of the films they made together. The second special bonus feature short could have been a full length film. Even though it is much shorter than the animated Frankenweenie, the story matches many of the main points of the movie and is a real treat. A bit more scary for real young viewers though.
Frankenweenie is a lighthearted horror flick for the whole family that would make an excellent addition to your Disney movie collection. If you are a Tim Burton fan it is a must see! We loved it!
Fun Facts!
THE NAMES IN THE ANIMAL CEMETERY CAME FROM THE CREW’S OLD PETS!
“When we were designing the pet cemetery, we asked everyone in the crew for the names of their pets that had passed away,” reveals Allison Abbate. “We incorporated the names into the tombstones, and then we would try to figure out who each pet belonged to. You’d hear people walk around saying, ‘Wait a minute… Were you Bob Fishy’s owner?’ The ‘Goodbye Kitty’ joke was Tim’s idea, but it’s also interesting that Sparky’s tombstone was added to the pet cemetery outside the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland during Halloween. That was really sweet to see.”
THE FILM WAS ACTUALLY SHOT IN COLOR!
“Tim Burton wanted Frankenweenie to be an homage to the monster movies of the 60s, so black and white was the perfect choice,” explains executive producer, Don Hahn. “However, the movie was all shot in in color. We catch each frame in color and then we change it to black and white immediately on our computer screens. In this digital age, it’s an extra step to get it in black and white, which is funny. The chips in the cameras naturally capture everything in color – but it’s very easy to change them once we’ve got the shot.”
THERE WAS A PUPPET HOSPITAL FOR ON-SET EMERGENCIES!
“The puppets are very delicate,” admits Allison Abbate. “The hands are very fragile and the fingers can only bend so many times before they need to be replaced. That’s why we set up a puppet hospital on set. The puppets get touched hundreds of thousands of times over the course of a few weeks, so parts have to be replaced every now and then. The puppet hospital was like a normal hospital in many ways because you’d see people rushing in screaming, ‘Broken neck!’ The hospital saved the day on more than a few occasions.”
Stay Connected
For more information about “Frankenweenie,” visit the following:
• “Like” us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/Frankenweenie
• Visit the website at www.Disney.com/Frankenweenie
Buy It!
The “Frankenweenie” suggested retail prices are: 4-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack = $49.99 US/$56.99 Canada. 2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack = $39.99 US/$46.99 Canada. 1-Disc DVD = $29.99 US/$35.99 Canada. Buy Frankenweenie 4 Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack now at Amazon.com for just $27.99 and save 44% off the price!
Thanks for your review – I appreciate your opinion! I’m thinking that this may be a little more fun than I had initially thought (judging by looking at the movie cover). And thanks for the “Fun Facts” section – it was fun to read them – I think it makes a person touch base with the characters easier when they know that the animals in the movie were named after an real life pet 🙂