Corpse Bride **** (2005, voice of Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson, Tracey Ullman) – Classic Movie Review 2930

This deliciously entertaining 2005 animated fantasy musical feature comes from quirky genius Tim Burton. It’s amusing, enchanting and original. A labour of love, Corpse Bride is a work of true artistry. It is the first original stop motion animated film Burton directed or produced since The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993).

In a late-1800s village, Victor Van Dort (voice of Johnny Depp) and Victoria Everglot (Emily Watson) are betrothed. Shy groom Victor goes into the woods to practise his wedding vows in the accidental presence of a young woman who rises from the grave. Victor finds himself married to Emily, the corpse bride (Helena Bonham Carter).

It was not an award winner, alas, but it is notable for Best Directing by Tim Burton and  Mike Johnson, Danny Elfman’s Outstanding Original Score and Carlos Grangel’s Best Character Design in an Animated Feature Production. Elfman wrote the part of BoneJangles for another singer but took on the role himself.

It was Oscar nominated as Best Animated Feature Film of the Year.

The puppets have precision crafted clockwork heads, adjusted by hidden keys. They are made from stainless steel armatures covered with silicone skin, and are between 25cm and 28 cm tall so some of the stages were so large that animators could fit through the set doors with minimal crouching. The shoot took 55 weeks, in which 109,440 individually animated frames were set up and filmed.

Corpse Bride (2005) and Cars (2006) are dedicated to the memory of executive producer Joe Ranft, who died in a car crash, aged 45. He is co-director and vocal artist on Cars.

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© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2930

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