The man himself might not have been there (he’s a little busy working on Dark Shadows right now), but Tim Burton was very much a presence at this weekend’s Disney D23 Expo, which showcased the first look at his latest stop-motion project, Frankenweenie.
Adapted from Burton's own 1984 live-action short, the new movie expands on the plot to chart the life of outcast lad Victor Frankenstein and Sparky, the dog he adores. After unexpectedly losing his beloved pooch, 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.
Though Burton couldn’t be present to launch the film at the event, he was represented by producers Don Hahn and Allison Abbate, who brought a behind-the-scenes video package that showed the likes of Winona Ryder, Martin Short and Martin Landau voicing their roles (Hahn described the cast as “everyone from the Tim Burton ensemble except for Johnny Depp”) and the painstaking process of the shoot, which involved more than 200 puppets.
There wasn’t much in the way of finished footage – which is being filmed in black & white and 3D – but it definitely carried Burton’s trademark style (think Corpse Bride meets Vincent). It’ll also have his usual musical feel too, as Danny Elfman was announced as the composer.
Frankenweenie will be out on October 5 next year.