Burbank, CA (Top40 Charts / Walt Disney Records) Walt Disney Records released the original motion picture soundtrack for Frankenweenie on Sept. 25, 2012.
Danny Elfman composed the original score - his 15th collaboration with writer/director Tim Burton.
Frankenweenie follows in the footsteps of Tim Burton's other stop-motion animated films Corpse Bride and The
Nightmare Before Christmas—both of which featured music by
Danny Elfman. "It's something that takes me back to The
Nightmare Before Christmas, which also had a very simple story," said Elfman. "It's very pure Tim and very uniquely Tim in that regard—the look and the feel of it and it's great to be able to frolic in that realm."
From the opening scene and the first cue on the soundtrack, Elfman's "Frankenweenie Disney Logo," it's clear that Frankenweenie is not your usual story about a boy and his dog. Several of the characters we are introduced to in the film, for example Victor, Elsa Van Helsing and Edgar "E" Gore were inspired by classic horror films. "Frankenweenie is very sweet but then there's this monster movie side of it that I really got to tap into my own roots as a life-long fan of that genre," said Elfman.
Elfman's score, like the story, starts out light and carefree, but then reflects the dark turn taken when Victor loses his beloved dog, and friend, Sparky. The depth and expressiveness of the track "Re-Animation" initially recalls both the ego and excitement of past movie attempts to animate those who have gone before, but then ends with the tender reunion of boy and dog. Elfman's score alternates between the dark elements of Burton's re-imagination of the Frankenstein mythos and the quirky adventures of a boy and his Frankenweenie.
"There's a theme for Victor and his relationship with his dog and then there's actually a theme for Sparky himself," Elfman described. "Sparky's theme is more playful, as dogs are. Victor's theme is a little sadder because it's more about how much he loves and misses Sparky. It is ultimately a story about a boy and his dog and there's almost nothing purer than that."
For more than 25 years, Burton and Elfman have collaborated on some of the cinema's most beloved and recognizable films and soundtracks, including Big Fish, for which Elfman received an Oscar® nomination; Beetlejuice; Batman; Edward Scissorhands; Sleepy Hollow; Corpse Bride; and, more recently, Alice in
Wonderland and Dark Shadows.
Elfman has also received Oscar® nominations for his scores for Barry Sonnenfeld's Men in Black, and Gus Van Sant's Good Will Hunting and Milk. Movie audiences worldwide have also heard
Danny Elfman's unique sound and style in 80 film scores, including Sam Raimi's Spider-Man; Brian De Palma's Mission: Impossible;
Martin Brest's Midnight Run; Jon Amiel's Sommersby; the Hughes Brothers' Dead Presidents; Rob Marshall's Academy Award-winning Chicago; and Shawn Levy's Real Steel.
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. Hetries 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" was filmed in black and white and rendered in 3D. The talented voice cast includes: Catherine O'Hara,
Martin Short,
Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan, Atticus Shaffer, Robert Capron, Conchata Ferrell and Winona Ryder.
Presented by Disney, "Frankenweenie" is directed by Tim Burton, produced by Tim Burton and
Allison Abbate, from a screenplay by John August, based on a screenplay by Lenny Ripps, based on an original idea by Tim Burton. "Frankenweenie" releases in U.S. theaters on October 5, 2012.
The Frankenweenie original motion picture soundtrack is now available nationwide. For more information on Walt Disney Records' releases, please visit Disney.com/music, become a fan at Facebook.com/disneymusic or follow us at Twitter.com/disneymusic.
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