"Frankenweenie" Awards and Nominations, Part One

Although it wasn't a box office smash, Frankenweenie has been a big hit with critics. It has been the best reviewed animated film of 2012, and has earned many nominations and wins already.

This morning, the film was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Animated Film. The awards ceremony will be broadcast on NBC at 8pm ET / 5pm PT.

Frankenweenie has already won acclaim among some major critics circles. The film was recognized as the best animated film of 2012 by both the New York Film Critics Circle and the Los Angeles Film Critics.

The animation world has also celebrated Frankenweenie. The film has received five Annie Awards nominations:

-Best Animated Feature
-Production Design in an Animated Feature Production: Rick Heinrichs
-Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production: Atticus Shaffer as "Edgar"
-Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production: Catherine O'Hara as "Weird Girl"
-Writing in an Animated Feature Production: John August


We will keep you posted on more developments soon!

Photos: "Frankenweenie" L.A. Premiere

Frankenweenie had its big screening at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles this past Tuesday, September 24th. Here are a gallery of images from that red carpet event:

Tim Burton

Robert Capron, Tim Burton and Charlie Tahan

Charlie Tahan, Winona Ryder and Robert Capron

Atticus Shafer and Robert Capron

Charlie Tahan, Winona Ryder and Robert Capron

Martin Landau, Catherine O'Hara, Winona Ryder, Charlie Tahan, Martin Short

Tim Burton and Martin Landau

Tim Burton and Winona Ryder

Don Hahn

Don Hahn, Robert Capron, Martin Landau, Catherine O'Hara, Winona Ryder, Atticus Shaffer, Charlie Tahan, Martin Short, Allison Abbate, John August

Winona Ryder

Martin Landau, Catherine O'Hara, Winona Ryder

Charlie Tahan and Robert Capron

Tim Burton

Winona Ryder

Atticus Shaffer

Allison Abbate

Elvira and Tim Burton

Martin Landau

John August

Martin Short

5 New "Frankenweenie" Character Portraits

Here are five new Frankenweenie character portraits and descriptions, courtesy of Empire Online. Click the images below to enlarge them:

Weird Girl (voiced by Catherine O'Hara) doesn’t fit in well with the other kids. She delivers ominous pronouncements in a monotone voice with an unnerving stare. Her constant companion is her fluffy white cat Mr. Whiskers, whose unblinking gaze matches her own. The other kids give them a wide berth—especially when Weird Girl rambles about Mr. Whiskers’ dreams.

Edgar “E” Gore (voiced by Atticus Shaffer) is a needy misfit who doesn’t have friends but is desperate to be Victor’s partner for the science fair. In his attempts to be accepted ‘E’ tends to mess things up and often fails to think before he speaks. Even though ‘E’ promises not to tell Victor’s secret, he accidentally spills the beans.

Mr. Burgemeister (voiced by Martin Short) is the Frankenstein’s next-door neighbor and Mayor of New Holland. A crotchety fuss-bucket, he is fanatical about his garden and can’t stand Sparky or anything else that threatens the perfection of his tulips. Mr. Burgemeister also asserts his authority over his niece Elsa Van Helsing by making her the reluctant star of his New Holland Dutch Day celebration.

Mr. Rzykruski (voiced by Martin Landau) is the new science teacher at New Holland Elementary School. He has a thick, Eastern European accent and a unique way of explaining things. He connects with his students, but parents misunderstand his passionate teaching style. Mr. Rzykruski serves as a mentor and inspiration to Victor, teaching him that science can do both good and bad things and that if a scientist does not put his heart into his experiment, there could be disastrous consequences.

Nassor (voiced by Martin Short) is highly intelligent, serious and intense. He takes a darker, more doomsday view on life than the other kids in New Holland. Nassor is instantly sceptical of the rumours surrounding Victor’s experiments with electricity, but once convinced, is zealous in his attempts to obtain Victor’s secrets.

Video: "Frankenweenie" Comic-Con Press Conference

Here's a video of the Frankenweenie press conference that took place yesterday at San Diego's Comic-Con 2012. Director Tim Burton, actor Atticus Shaffer (voice of "Edgar"), and producers Allison Abbate and Don Hahn were on the panel, discussing dogs, monsters, family, animation, and much more.

Official “Frankenweenie” Synopsis, Details

Walt Disney Studios has released an official synopsis and production notes of the forthcoming stop-motion film, Frankenweenie. Collider provides us with these details, which includes the majority of the voice-over cast, that the film will be shot in black and white and shown in 3D, and that the film has required the construction of over 200 puppets and sets.

Following is Disney's officially released information:

Genre: Comedy adventure
Rating: TBD
U.S. Release date: October 5, 2012
Voice Cast: Winona Ryder, Martin Short, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan, Atticus Shaffer
Director: Tim Burton
Producers: Tim Burton, Allison Abbate
Executive Producer: Don Hahn
Screenplay by: John August
Based on an original idea by: Tim Burton
From creative genius Tim Burton (“Alice in Wonderland,” The Nightmare Before Christmas”) comes “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 all learn that getting a new “leash on life” can be monstrous.
A stop-motion animated film, “Frankenweenie” will be filmed in black and white and rendered in 3D, which will elevate the classic style to a whole new experience.
In Tim Burton’s “Frankenweenie” young Victor conducts a science experiment to bring his beloved dog Sparky back to life, only to face unintended, sometimes monstrous, consequences.

NOTES:
• When Tim Burton originally conceived the idea for “Frankenweenie,” he envisioned it as a full-length, stop-motion animated film. Due to budget constraints, he instead directed it as a live-action short, released in 1984.
• “Frankenweenie” follows in the footsteps of Tim Burton’s other stop-motion animated films “Corpse Bride” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas”—both of which were nominated for Academy Awards.
• Over 200 puppets and sets were created for the film.
• The voice cast includes four actors who worked with Burton on previous films: Winona Ryder (“Beetlejuice,” “Edward Scissorhands”), Catherine O’Hara (“Beetlejuice,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas”), Martin Short (“Mars Attacks!”) and Martin Landau (“Ed Wood,” Sleepy Hollow”).
• Several of the character names—Victor, Elsa Van Helsing, Edgar “E” Gore and Mr. Burgermeister— were inspired by classic horror films.