Bringing the Dead to Life

Whilst animation and horror are not unfamiliar bedfellows, this chapter examines how two recent films, Corpse Bride and Monster House, have breathed new life into the tradition. Although a tension exists between the nostalgic meditation upon the Gothic film, and the showcased new developments in the respective animation styles, these films generate a productive evocation of the uncanny through the clash. Within such an aesthetic of the familiar/unfamiliar, notions of the real and fantasy help guide a classification of terror, and a reflexive application of genre unites the form of the films with the central theme of remembrance. Through bringing to the surface the stresses of passionate relationships (both pursued and lost), a particular focus is placed upon gender and its fearful incarnations, especially in respect of overwhelming desires. With both films exploring the emotions of love and lost love, a key question is the function of nostalgia, and how it enables Corpse Bride and Monster House to tackle the harrowing topic of bereavement within a framework of hope. In effect, the fear of losing a loved one, and the possibility of overcoming that fear, structure a reflection on romance and rage, duty and decay, amidst the finite nature of everlasting love.

Aesthetics · Animation · Art · Evocation · Fantasy · Literature · Monster · Romance · Theme (computing) · Uncanny · Visual arts · Cinema and Media Studies · Gothic Literature and Media Analysis · Nostalgia and Consumer Behavior