My opinion of the work of maverick Tim Burton is rather ambivalent, since its remarkable visual sense tends to be ostentatious in order to make up for thematic shallowness; his best work is undeniably gratifying (ED WOOD {1994}, SLEEPY HOLLOW {1999} and SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET {2007}) but, when he puts a foot wrong, the result is often excruciating (MARS ATTACKS! {1996}, PLANET OF THE APES {2001} and CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY {2005}).
This early 6-minute animated short is a tribute to horror icon Vincent Price, who was even roped in to provide the witty rhyming narration and would, of course, bow out gracefully in Burton's EDWARD SCISSORHANDS (1990). Incidentally, the plot of this one, simple as it is, proves quite intriguing: a small boy named Vincent aspires to be Price himself, so that rather than play with toys like children of his age, he sees everything through a macabre perspective and imagines himself to be performing scientific experiments with his own pets for subjects! Even if his mother tries to bring him to his senses, Vincent is simply 'in too deep' and, finally, his fantasy world 'claims' the gruesome youngster for good!
Needless to say, this is not a kiddie film: the fairy-tale qualities Burton would become renowned for later on are already in evidence, and the result is a most delightful modern classic of creative animation. Like the subsequent viewing of Burton's FRANKENWEENIE (1984), this came via "You Tube" but I really ought to officially acquire them now as part of the SE DVD of THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE Christmas (1993)...
This early 6-minute animated short is a tribute to horror icon Vincent Price, who was even roped in to provide the witty rhyming narration and would, of course, bow out gracefully in Burton's EDWARD SCISSORHANDS (1990). Incidentally, the plot of this one, simple as it is, proves quite intriguing: a small boy named Vincent aspires to be Price himself, so that rather than play with toys like children of his age, he sees everything through a macabre perspective and imagines himself to be performing scientific experiments with his own pets for subjects! Even if his mother tries to bring him to his senses, Vincent is simply 'in too deep' and, finally, his fantasy world 'claims' the gruesome youngster for good!
Needless to say, this is not a kiddie film: the fairy-tale qualities Burton would become renowned for later on are already in evidence, and the result is a most delightful modern classic of creative animation. Like the subsequent viewing of Burton's FRANKENWEENIE (1984), this came via "You Tube" but I really ought to officially acquire them now as part of the SE DVD of THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE Christmas (1993)...