Disney unleashes synopsis and details for Tim Burton’s stop-motion FRANKENWEENIE

Tonight Disney publicity sent us their one-sheet production release for Tim Burton‘s stop-motion comedy adventure FRANKENWEENIE, the feature-length film inspired by his 1984 live-action short about a boy who brings his dog Sparky back to life.  Unable to afford filming his first attempt in stop-motion animation, Burton now revisits this imaginative tale which flashes into theaters October 5, 2012. Official production notes for this early release:

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.

FRANKENWEENIE’s voice cast includes Burton-film veterans Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short and Martin Landau along with Charlie Tahan and Atticus Shaffer. Over 200 puppets and sets were created for the stop-motion incarnation of the film, which follows his Academy Award-nominated animated films THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS and CORPSE BRIDE. Here’s the official story synopsis:

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.

Stay tuned for more production news on Tim Burton’s FRANKENWEENIE, which follows the director’s adaptation of the gothic TV series DARK SHADOWS starring Johnny Depp as the vampire Barnabas Collins, scheduled to start filming this April for a 2012 theatrical release.