"Science is not good or bad, Victor, but it can be used both ways. That is why you must always be careful."
-Mr. Rzykruski
No one does creepy like Tim Burton, and Frankenweenie—a feature-length animation based on a 29-minute short Burton created in 1984—is all that in a sweet, animated kind of way. Filmed in black and white, it offers clever puns in homage to a vast array of horror films, particularly Frankenstein.
Victor is mourning the loss of his dog, Sparky, when in science class he sees how electrical charges stimulate the muscles of a dead frog. He excavates Sparky, and applies the same principles with great success. Although Victor tries to keep Sparky's reinvigoration a secret, he's soon having to deal with classmates unkindly insistent on using the secret for their science projects and neighbors upset by this abomination in their midst.
Noticeably absent from this flick are Burton's usual sidekicks—life partner Helena Bonham Carter and their children's godfather, Johnny Depp. However, Catherine O'Hara, Martin Short, Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan, and Winona Ryder present an ensemble vocal cast that is almost... ummm... electrifying.
This may not be appropriate for younger children—early in the film, Sparky is hit by a car; but it does occur off screen.
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