Way back in 1984, a young Tim Burton was working as an artist for Walt Disney Studios and was given the chance to make his own animated short film. The film was called ‘Frankenweenie’ a spooky atmospheric tale made in black and white about a strange young boy who revives his dead dog after he was hit by a car.

Unfortunately Disney weren’t quite ready for scary horror films aimed at children, they were used to cute animals with big eyes, big musical numbers and the potential to sell shed loads of merchandise. Consequently, after completing the film Burton was swiftly fired from the studio for not conforming to the company ethos.

As we all know Tim Burton’s film career eventually went from strength to strength and all this built on a reputation for weirdness!

Now 28-years later he has the chance to re-make ‘Frankenweenie’ as a full length stop-motion animated feature film. But then again who was going to say no to the great Tim Burton?

The film is still based on the simple story of boy loves dog, dog dies, boy digs up dog, boy brings dog back to life (although somewhat crudely stitch back together) complete with neck bolts.

The film has a great cast including newcomer Charlie Tahan as young Victor Frankenstein, the voice talents of Martin Short (Inner Space) and Catherine O’Hara (Beetlejuice / Home Alone) as Mr and Mrs Frankenstein, and the wonderful Martin Landau (The Majestic / Sleepy Hollow) as Mr Rzykruski the school science teacher who bears an uncanny resemblance to the late Vincent Price.

There is also another Burton favourite with Winona Ryder as Victor’s friend Elsa van Helsing but not a Johnny Depp or Bonham-Carter anywhere to be seen...or heard.

Tim Burton has created a gem of a movie here produced with the old fashioned stop-motion animation process which is a refreshing change from the somewhat more popular but slightly overused CGI method.

It has a charming quality to it with even the character models and the Edward Scissorhands style set actually made in black and white materials. Burton has used all the old Universal Horror clichés such as lightening storms, electrodes, an old windmill and the angry mob carrying flaming torches.
This is a creepy, dark, heart warming and funny film which I thoroughly recommend.

A monster 4 out of 5 stars.