Portland, Ore.-based Vinton Studios will produce its first full-length feature, Tim Burton's stop-motion animated film THE CORPSE BRIDE for Warner Bros. Pictures, it was reported by THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER and confirmed by a WB spokesperson.
BRIDE is an offbeat fable about a young man who inadvertently becomes betrothed to a corpse. Based on a 19th century Eastern European folk tale, which is being adapted for the screen by Caroline Thompson (EDWARD SCISSORHANDS), Burton is producing the film with Mike Johnson making his directorial debut.
Johnson directed the foam-animated Primus music video "The Devil Went Down to Georgia." He worked in the model animation department at San Francisco-based Skellington Prods. on THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS and JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH. According to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, Skellington Prods. founder Henry Selick was involved for a time with BRIDE until Burton decided to produce the project in England.
Vinton Studios has aggressively sought feature film production since former Walt Disney Feature Animation executive Jeff Farnath became president/ceo and Disney's Jeff Auerbach joined as president of Vinton's entertainment division. Company founder Will Vinton resigned as a board member in late April 2003, and was laid off a few days later.Warner Bros. production vp Bob Brassel is overseeing development and production. Auerbach will executive produce for Vinton Studios.
