Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride is a beautifully crafted stop-motion animated film with gothic visuals and a whimsical, romantic storyline. Set in a fantastical 19th-century village, it’s a dark, quirky, and endearing tale about love, life, and the afterlife, wrapped up in Burton’s signature style.
Detailed Summary
Introduction: The Victorian World of Victor and Victoria
The film starts in a dreary Victorian-era village, where Victor Van Dort (voiced by Johnny Depp), the son of wealthy fish merchants, is engaged to marry Victoria Everglot (voiced by Emily Watson), a woman from a formerly noble but now financially destitute family. Though both families are eager for the match, Victor and Victoria haven’t met before the arranged marriage. However, when they do, they instantly form a sweet, innocent bond.
Victor’s Wedding Blunder
Victor, who is shy and clumsy, struggles to remember his wedding vows during the rehearsal. After fumbling through it, he accidentally sets fire to the dress of the overbearing and snobbish pastor (voiced by Christopher Lee), who scolds him, forcing him to leave the practice in embarrassment. Victor wanders into the woods to practice his vows in solitude.
The Unintentional Marriage
While practicing his vows in the forest, Victor places a ring on what he thinks is a tree root. To his horror, the root turns out to be the decayed finger of Emily, the Corpse Bride (voiced by Helena Bonham Carter), a woman who was murdered on her wedding night and has been waiting for her groom to return. Victor, unaware of what he was doing, has now unintentionally married Emily, who takes him to the underworld.
Life in the Land of the Dead
Victor finds himself in the vibrant, colorful world of the dead, a stark contrast to the gray, somber world of the living. He learns about Emily’s tragic past—she was once a hopeful bride who was murdered by a mysterious suitor, leaving her in a state of eternal limbo. While Emily adores Victor and believes she’s finally found the love she was denied in life, Victor is desperate to return to Victoria.
A Love Triangle Unfolds
Back in the land of the living, Victoria is left confused and worried when Victor doesn’t return. She is pressured by her parents to marry Lord Barkis Bittern (voiced by Richard E. Grant), a mysterious, wealthy man who suddenly appears and seems too good to be true.
Victor tries to explain his situation to Emily, and although he begins to develop sympathy for her, he still yearns to return to Victoria. He tricks Emily into bringing him back to the land of the living, but Emily catches him attempting to reunite with Victoria and is heartbroken.
The Dark Revelation
In the climax, it’s revealed that Lord Barkis, who has been courting Victoria, is none other than Emily’s murderer. Barkis married Emily for her fortune, and now he plans to do the same with Victoria. A final confrontation takes place in the land of the dead, where the dead rise to confront Barkis for his crimes.
Movie Ending
The film ends with a dramatic twist: Lord Barkis meets his end at the hands of the undead after attempting to poison Victor. Emily, realizing that Victor genuinely loves Victoria and that she must let go of her past, sacrifices her own desires and gives Victor her blessing. She is finally able to find peace, transforming into a flutter of butterflies as her spirit is released.
Victor and Victoria are reunited and free to be married, symbolizing the film’s resolution of love, forgiveness, and letting go.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, Corpse Bride does not have a post-credits scene. The film concludes with Emily’s poignant transformation into butterflies, and the credits roll without any extra scenes afterward. The movie’s final moments provide closure, making additional scenes unnecessary.
Type of Movie
Corpse Bride is a stop-motion animated dark fantasy musical with strong elements of gothic romance and comedy. It blends Burton’s trademark eerie, whimsical style with a heartwarming love story, making it suitable for both children and adults who appreciate a quirky, macabre sense of humor.
Cast
- Johnny Depp as Victor Van Dort
- Helena Bonham Carter as Emily, the Corpse Bride
- Emily Watson as Victoria Everglot
- Christopher Lee as Pastor Galswells
- Richard E. Grant as Lord Barkis Bittern
- Albert Finney and Joanna Lumley as Lord and Lady Everglot
- Michael Gough as Elder Gutknecht
Film Music and Composer
The score for Corpse Bride was composed by Danny Elfman, Tim Burton’s long-time collaborator. The film features several musical numbers, including Elfman himself singing the standout song, “Remains of the Day”, which is an upbeat, jazzy number explaining Emily’s tragic backstory. The music perfectly captures the film’s dark yet playful atmosphere.
Filming Locations
As a stop-motion film, Corpse Bride was created in a studio environment, with meticulously crafted puppets and sets. The animation took place in Three Mills Studios in East London. Every frame was painstakingly shot with physical models, showcasing the incredible craftsmanship and creativity that went into building the world of the living and the dead.
Awards and Nominations
- Nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 78th Academy Awards (2006).
- Nominated for a BAFTA for Best Animated Film.
- Won the Annie Award for Character Design in an Animated Feature Production.
While Corpse Bride didn’t win major accolades, it was praised for its unique animation style and captivating storytelling.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Tim Burton and Mike Johnson co-directed the film, with Burton’s vision heavily influencing the movie’s gothic aesthetic.
- The puppets used in Corpse Bride were revolutionary at the time, with over 300 interchangeable heads for different expressions.
- The animation team used high-resolution digital cameras instead of traditional film, a first for stop-motion features at the time.
- Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, both regular collaborators of Burton, recorded their voice parts separately, only meeting after most of the production was complete.
Inspirations and References
The story of Corpse Bride is loosely based on a 19th-century Russian-Jewish folktale, where a young man accidentally marries a corpse while reciting wedding vows. Tim Burton blended this folklore with his own unique sensibilities to create a whimsical and darkly romantic narrative.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
There are no widely known alternate endings for Corpse Bride, nor are there significant deleted scenes. The story’s conclusion—Emily’s transformation into butterflies and her emotional goodbye—was the planned ending from the start.
Book Adaptations and Differences
Corpse Bride is an original creation by Tim Burton, but it shares thematic elements with The Nightmare Before Christmas, another stop-motion film of his. There isn’t a direct book adaptation, but the movie’s dark fantasy aesthetic draws from various Victorian-era gothic tales.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- The reveal of Emily’s tragic backstory in the musical number “Remains of the Day.”
- Victor accidentally marrying Emily in the woods by placing the ring on her bony finger.
- Emily’s heartbreaking realization that Victor still loves Victoria and her selfless decision to let him go.
- The wedding in the underworld, with skeletons dancing joyously.
Iconic Quotes
- Emily: “I’ve spent so long in the darkness, I’d almost forgotten how beautiful the moonlight is.”
- Victor: “With this hand, I will lift your sorrows. Your cup will never empty, for I will be your wine.”
- Bonejangles: “Die, die, we all pass away, but don’t wear a frown ’cause it’s really okay!”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The maggot inside Emily’s head is a nod to Peter Lorre, a famous actor from old horror films, with the maggot mimicking Lorre’s voice and mannerisms.
- The design of the underworld contrasts sharply with the living world: while the land of the living is dull and muted, the land of the dead is vibrant and colorful, symbolizing that life (or death) is more fun when you let loose.
- Look closely, and you’ll notice references to Tim Burton’s other works, including Beetlejuice in some of the set designs.
Trivia
- The stop-motion puppets’ eyes were animated by controlling tiny screws in the heads, allowing for more nuanced expressions.
- The film took 55 weeks to shoot, with each animator producing only 1-2 seconds of animation per day.
- Corpse Bride marked the first time a feature-length stop-motion film was shot digitally instead of on film.
- Victor’s dog in the underworld, Scraps, is a nod to Frankenweenie, another Burton film about a dog brought back to life.
Why Watch?
Watch Corpse Bride if you’re a fan of dark fantasy, gothic romance, and the unique visual style of Tim Burton. It’s a tale of love, loss, and letting go, all wrapped in a darkly humorous package with stunning stop-motion animation.
Director’s Other Movies
- The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
- Edward Scissorhands (1990)
- Beetlejuice (1988)
- Frankenweenie (2012)
- Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
Recommended Films for Fans
- The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
- Frankenweenie (2012)
- Coraline (2009)
- Paranorman (2012)
- The Book of Life (2014)
