I can understand an interest in this recently unearthed copy of Tim Burton‘s early version of “Hansel & Gretel” the director made for Disney back in 1982 and was released a year later, a year before he would go on to release his animated short film Frankenweenie. But let’s be realistic, while certain Burton stylings are evident, the piece itself is a mess, regardless of how inspired you find the candy cane nunchucks or the overall elementary school simplicity.
The special was shot on 16mm for a reported $116,000 ($285,973 in today’s dollars) and aired only once as a Halloween special on the Disney Channel. Burton was said to have been given free reign over the project and beyond the use of Japanese-American actors (almost astonishing in itself seeing how it’s a Disney program from the early ’80s), there is a distinct Japanese flavor to the entire production, even a sense of Kabuki theater.
Burton would have been around the age of 24 when he made this and while I can understand the curiosity people may have in seeking this out and exploring the mind of a director that has seemed to become a bit stagnant as of late. However, I’ve seen people calling this his best film and as far as I can tell, it’s the equivalent of Burton directing an episode of “Sesame Street”.
I found it fascinating, but good? No.
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