It's a fairly safe bet that you're going to have a successful career when Vincent Price agrees to narrate your first short film. So it was for Tim Burton with his twisted, Gothic tale of young Vincent Malloy, a 7 year old wishing to be Vincent Price (and who could blame him?!). Sadly, this short is overlooked when it comes to studying Burton's oeuvre, mainly because it was only to be found on special edition discs of Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas up until a few years ago. Now, widely available on YouTube the short has enjoyed a revival and small cult following amongst Price and Burton fans.
Focusing on the macabre humour that would become one of Burton's trademarks, the character of Vincent appears for all intents and purposes, to be an incarnation of a younger Burton. From his enforced isolation inside his own home to his love of Edgar Allen Poe and The House of Wax, the short packs every allusion to Burton's childhood in Californian suburbia that it can in a six minute and twenty-five second run. Entertaining and witty, this is a great example of Burton's early attempts at stop-motion animation. It's also a great accompaniment to Nightmare Before Christmas as the growth in Burton's talent is obvious. Watch it one and all and let's hope Burton reverts to what he's good at!
All Rights Reserved © Copyright 2011 Michelle Lacey (Michelle Ní Láitheása).
Focusing on the macabre humour that would become one of Burton's trademarks, the character of Vincent appears for all intents and purposes, to be an incarnation of a younger Burton. From his enforced isolation inside his own home to his love of Edgar Allen Poe and The House of Wax, the short packs every allusion to Burton's childhood in Californian suburbia that it can in a six minute and twenty-five second run. Entertaining and witty, this is a great example of Burton's early attempts at stop-motion animation. It's also a great accompaniment to Nightmare Before Christmas as the growth in Burton's talent is obvious. Watch it one and all and let's hope Burton reverts to what he's good at!
All Rights Reserved © Copyright 2011 Michelle Lacey (Michelle Ní Láitheása).