Tim Burton's Frankenweenie To open London Film Festival

Tim Burton's Frankenweenie, the black-and-white, stop-motion animated tale of a boy who brings his beloved pet dog back to life with monstrous consequences, is to open this year's London film festival.

This is Burton's first animated film for studio Disney as a director and centres on the disastrous decision by little Victor Frankenstein to revive his dead dog Sparky using the power of science.

"Funny, dark and whimsical, this gloriously crafted stop-motion 3D animation from Tim Burton – the reigning prince of outsiders – playfully turns the Frankenstein story on its bolted-on head," said Clare Stewart, BFI head of exhibition. "Frankenweenie is a perfect choice of opener – it's a film that revels in the magic of movies from one of cinema's great visionaries. Tim Burton has chosen London as his home city and hundreds of talented British craftspeople have contributed to this production."

The voice cast of Frankenweenie includes Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, Martin Short, Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan, Atticus Shaffer and Robert Capron.

The London film festival is also presenting an accompanying exhibition titled The Art of Frankenweenie from 17–21 October. The festival runs from 10 October – 21 October.

Grant Morrison At Edinburgh Book Festival

I was lucky to catch ace comic book writer Grant Morrison  at the  Edinburgh Book Festival on Friday where he talked about the comics industry and the game changing developments of the 21st century that it faces. Following up the arguments in his brilliant book Supergods, Morrison contends that superheroes are powerful icons for a multimedia age.  Never dull, always interesting, Morrison remains one of the leading lights of the comic book industry - check out Morrison's website for the latest lowdown on the great man himself