Frankenweenie parents guide

Frankenweenie Parent Guide

There are some interesting themes. But before packing up the kids, parents will have to decide if there are enough positive points in this script to spark a visit to Burton's bizarre adventure.

Overall C+

Tim Burton presents his macabre style of animation again in this Frankenstein takeoff. When Victor's (voice of Charlie Tahan) pet dog dies the enterprising, budding scientist stitches the pup back to life. Unfortunately his uncertain methods create very different results than he had hoped for.

Release date October 5, 2012

Violence C+
Sexual Content A-
Profanity A
Substance Use B+

Why is Frankenweenie rated PG? The MPAA rated Frankenweenie PG for thematic elements, scary images and action

Run Time: 87 minutes

Official Movie Site

Parent Movie Review

Walt Disney Studio and Tim Burton have overlooked past differences and teamed up to bring another of the director’s quirky creations to the big screen. Based on a 1984 short film Burton made (which got him fired from his then job at the Mouse House), Frankenweenie tells the story of a young boy (voiced by Charlie Tahan) who loses his beloved dog after it runs into the street and is hit by a car.

This certainly isn’t the first time Disney has dealt with the death theme. The studio has been exploring grief and the end of life for decades in movies like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Bambi and Old Yeller. But this time, Victor’s loss doesn’t have to be forever.

Inspired by a new science teacher (voiced by Martin Landau and bearing a strong resemblance to horror film actor Vincent Price), Victor attempts to jumpstart Sparky’s heart using an elaborate electrical system he’s built in his attic laboratory. While Sparky may look a little worse for wear from his days interred in the pet cemetery, Victor is thrilled to have him back.

But Victor’s Igor-like classmate Edgar (voiced by Atticus Shaffer) sees even bigger opportunities for this life-restoring experimentation. With the school science fair only days away, Edgar can already envision himself holding the winning trophy. Unfortunately the competition to bring dead pets back to life escalates when the rest of the kids on the block also discover Vincent’s laboratory.

While this entirely black and white production contains some clever jokes, an endorsement of the value of science and some seemingly autobiographical elements (Burton’s father was a former minor league baseball player and as a child, Burton made films in his backyard using stop motion animation techniques), the script soon plummets into the typical monster movie. It pays homage to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and other frightening characters like The Mummy, Godzilla and Gremlins. Though less dark than some of Burton’s other stop motion animations (such as The Nightmare Before Christmas), Frankenweenie still contains plenty of ghoulish looking characters. It is also aimed at an older audience—hopefully ones mature enough to understand the danger of plugging a deceased pet into a wall outlet.

Like all scientific experimentation, this script incorporates numerous variables such as themes of love vs. greed and the inconsistent application of science. As well it includes some gross fecal jokes along with a few gruesome depictions. But before packing up the kids, parents will have to decide if there are enough positive points in this script to spark a visit to Burton’s bizarre adventure.

Directed by Tim Burton. Starring Winona Ryder, Martin Short, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan, Atticus Shaffer, Robert Capron, Conchata Ferrell. Running time: 87 minutes. Theatrical release October 5, 2012. Updated

Frankenweenie
Rating & Content Info

Why is Frankenweenie rated PG? Frankenweenie is rated PG by the MPAA for thematic elements, scary images and action

Violence: Characters are bullied at school. The death of an animal is depicted off screen. A boy falls off the roof of a house and breaks his arm. Angry adults yell during a meeting at the school. Characters are caught inside a burning building. A girl falls from atop a building. An animal is impaled with a stick. Monster-like characters destroy the fairgrounds. Dead animals are shocked with electricity.

Sexual Content: Brief mild sexual innuendo is heard.

Language: None noted.

Alcohol / Drug Use: Minor, secondary characters drink beer in one scene.

Page last updated

Frankenweenie Parents' Guide

This film is full of stereotypical characters including a smart Asian student, a dumb fat kid, a brilliant European scientist, a romance-reading suburban housewife and a loud-mouthed female gym teacher. What is the purpose of these depictions? How do they impact the need for character development? Do they contribute to or distract from the story?

Since restoring life isn’t an option for children, how can parents help their child deal with the loss of a pet? What other losses might a child have to deal with?

How are adults (such as parents, teachers and community members) portrayed in this story?

To learn more about Mary Shelly’s classic novel, on which this movie is based, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankenstein

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Frankenweenie movie is January 7, 2013. Here are some details…

Home Video Notes: Frankenweenie

Release Date: 8 January 2013

Frankenweenie i releases to home video (Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack or Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy) with the following extras:

-  Captain Sparky vs The Flying Saucers

- Miniatures In Motion: Bringing ‘Frankenweenie’ To Life

- “Frankenweenie” Touring Exhibit

- “Frankenweenie” Original Live Action Short—Burton’s original live-action short film.

- Music Video—“Pet Sematary” performed by Plain White T’s

Related home video titles:

Tim Burtons other dark animations include, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Corpse Bride and James and the Giant Peach. An older incarnation of this same story (produced by Tim Burton in 1984) is included in the bonus extras of the DVD releases of The Nightmare Before Christmas.