Just in time for Halloween, Tim Burton has once again gifted the world with his ultra creepy magic.  Based on his 1984 short film classic, Frankenweenie has been revamped into a full-length stop-motion animated feature film that is sure to delight audiences everywhere this fall.

The 2012 version of the Frankenweenie story is essentially the same as it was in 1984 with a few surprises built into the tale that truly make this new morphing a full-blown monster-studded mash.  At the core of the tale is Victor Frankenstein, a misunderstood outsider who feels little connection with anyone in the world aside from his beloved pooch, Sparky who he spends most of his time with.  Victor and Sparky absolutely embody the Tim Burton-ized version of the love that exists between a boy and his dog.

One tragic day, Sparky is hit by a car and killed.  Victor has lost his best friend, perhaps his only friend, and is totally devastated by the loss.  His mother, in her efforts to console Victor, reminds him that Sparky will always live on in his heart.  Victor, however, finds little consolation in this notion and wants his dog to live with him in the here and now!  Inspired by his Science teacher, Mr. Rzykruski, Victor hatches a plan based on science to attempt to revive his beloved pet.  Victor digs up Sparky, sneaks his body up to the attic and sets up an elaborate scientific protocol that he hopes will add some spark to his ol’ pooch Sparky.  A few well-timed bolts of lightening later, the Tim Burton magic begins as this film comes to hilarious life with all sorts of monstrous shenanigans to soon follow.

As nearby children in the town hear of Victor’s success in bringing Sparky back to life, other kids start using the same procedure with some pretty creepy and hilarious results as they attempt to bring their own deceased pets back to life as well.  The quiet town will never be the same as the reincarnated pets are now unleashed all over the place with some pretty doggone funny results occurring in the process! 

Representing the collaborative efforts of Disney and Tim Burton, Frankenweenie is an absolutely not to be missed film for your entire family, and is the perfect way to kick off your Halloween celebrating.  Frankenweenie will be in theaters October 5, 2012.  Looking for more Tim Burton Halloween inspiration?  Check out our how-to video featuring another one of Mr. Burton’s all time greatest film characters, Edward Scissorhands.  He’s dark, gothic and even a little bit weird–but oh so much fun!! 

Who’s Norman?  Norman is your average everyday “normal” kid, with average everyday “normal” kid problems.  Well, sorta.  Norman is a bit of an outsider at school, is definitely not at all popular, he get’s beat up regularly, and definitely is most comfortable being a loner.  These qualities in Norman however, are the most regular and ordinary parts about him.  What really sets Norman apart from all the other kids is his apparent ability to see and communicate with dead people…aka ghosts.  Talking with and seeing ghosts is all part of everyday “Norman” life, but it doesn’t do much to help him fit in with others and only deepens the ever-growing chasm between him and the other kids at Blithe Hollow Middle School.

Toss in a Weird Uncle:  As if things weren’t bad enough for Norman and his very abysmal social life; he also has a very weird and bizarre outcast uncle.  Although some efforts have been made to keep Norman from the truly strange and somewhat crazy Mr. Prenderghast (likely because of the eerie similarities they have personality-wise), Norman does eventually connect with him, only to get some startling information from him.

Norman is your average everyday “normal” kid, with average everyday “normal” kid problems. 

Zombie Invasion!  An ancient curse cast by a witch is going to create imminent disaster in Norman’s town, as a centuries old spell will cause all the town’s dead to return to life at sundown!  This event suddenly thrusts quiet Norman into the limelight, his special skills and abilities being exactly what’s needed to deal with the approaching zombie invasion!  Suddenly Norman has the opportunity to be the town’s biggest hero of all, but he only has until sunset to do it!  Can the most abnormal freak in town stop this zombie invasion?

Animation Masterpiece.  ParaNorman is a stop-motion animated film.  Each character is created in puppet form and then in order to animate the character; a small movement is made after which a picture is taken.  Another small movement is made, and then another picture is taken.  The process is extremely time-consuming, but this is the way each character is brought to life.  The average animator working on the film was able to create only about 5-8 seconds of film per week!  The zombie-awakening scene alone took well over one year to animate.

ParaNorman hits theatres August 17, just as summer begins to wind down and your Halloween season starts to wind up!  Don’t miss this thrilling animated Paranorman adventure!