TIM BURTONS CORPSE BRIDE, Warner Bros. Pictures stop motion animated feature directed by Mike Johnson and Tim Burton, utilizes the visual-effects services of London-based Moving Picture Co. (MPC) on 460 shots, supervised by MPCs Jessica Norman. The picture was color graded by Max Horton in the MPC DI lab.
MPCs work entailed traditional stop motion enhancements, including rig and rod removals (taking out the puppet rods and motion-control rigs that managed the complex camera moves around the miniature sets) and multi-element composites using fog and smoke. The team created some complex 3D elements, such as the brides fluttering veil, where it was critical that the motion exactly matched that of the stop motion puppets.
MPC set up a satellite office onset at 3 Mills Studios to facilitate instant feedback and hands-on supervision from the directors and DP Pete Kozachik. This facility enabled the team to deliver final shots while the first unit was still shooting.
Set in a 19th century European village, CORPSE BRIDE follows the story of Victor (Johnny Depp), a young man who accidentally pledges wedding vows to a mysterious Corpse Bride (Helena Bonham Carter) while his betrothed, Victoria (Emily Watson), waits bereft in the Land of the Living. Though life in the Land of the Dead proves to be a lot more colorful than his strict Victorian surroundings above ground, Victor learns that there is nothing in this world, or the next, that can keep him away from his one true love. Its a tale of optimism, romance and a very lively afterlife.
Said Horton: It is rare that you are given the chance, when grading a movie, to create contrasting 'looks' working against one another, so this made the project particularly interesting.
CORPSE BRIDE will be released by Warner Bros. Pictures on Sept. 16 in select theaters in the U.S. and goes wide throughout North America on Sept. 23. It begins playing internationally beginning Oct. 19.
London-based MPC (www.moving-picture.com) is currently working on the following visual effects projects; Warner Bros Pictures HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE directed by Mike Newell, Danny Boyles SUNSHINE, Wolfgang Petersens POSEIDON and Ron Howards THE DA VINCI CODE. The team recently completed vfx for Tim Burtons CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
