Frankenweenie Character Gallery

By Carey Bryson, About.com Guide

Mr. Rzykruski (voice of Martin Landau) is the eccentric new science teacher at New Holland Elementary School in the Tim Burton movie Frankenweenie. His thick Eastern European accent accentuates his creepy and sober yet enthusiastic and uninhibited scientific explanations. Mr. Rzykruski inspires young Victor, whose scientific mind is advanced enough to understand and appreciate the possibilities. He also reminds Victor that science can be used for good or bad.

The character of Mr. Rzykruski is a nod to the iconic horror film actor Vincent Price (House of Wax, The Fly). In 1982, Tim Burton produced a short about a young boy who fantasizes about being Vincent Price, for which Vincent provided the narration. The late actor's last role in a feature film was that of The Inventor in Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands.