Tim Burton: The Twisted Story Of The Eccentric Filmmaker

Welcome to New York City. The year? 2009. And we venture into the Museum of Modern art to view their newest installation. Wide-eyed quirky drawings. Statues with long limbs, jaws, full of teeth, and a stare scary enough to give you nightmares. Glow in the dark carousels better fit for a haunted house than a carnival. [see sources for all the MOMA footage links] No -- it’s not Halloween -- we are entering the mind of Tim Burton and witnessing a display of his drawings, creations, and works of art from over the years. You’ll recognize iconic characters like Edward Scissorhands, movie props like the Penguin’s bassinet from Batman Returns, and plenty of sketches and arts from the holiday favorite The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Visually, Burton is one of the most recognizable directors in the world. Set designs, Gothic elements, and the way he plays with light and shadow can be seen in everything from Batman to the upcoming live-action adaptation of Disney’s Dumbo. But how did Tim Burton rise in the world of Hollywood? What journey has the director gone on to create such a unique style and visual sense of mind?! Get ready to dive into the filmography of the strange, weird, and often twisted world of Tim Burton. Relive his career, learn about his creation process, and see what sets him out from the rest in Hollywood.

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[theimperviousfirecracker]

" a look inside the mind of Tim Burton"
Jesus, that's a dangerous game.

[newname]

If I had to sum up my childhood, it would be: Tim burton

[tieflingcorpse]

i feel like when you watch his movies its very clear that he’s not actually trying to scare anyone. its more like he’s trying to set up a slightly creepy and quirky atmosphere

[fbi]

He is one of the best directors of all time

[Primus]

Don’t forget there’s a literal Bar named after him in LA. It’s filled with employees dressing as his characters even drinks named after his films.

[naomithumper]

I wish he'd make more claymation movies

[thomasmurrell]

Burton's style is what I like to call "Whimsical Horror"

It's a sharp balance between dark, horrific, magical, and mystical elements. It makes something that is rather scary and unsettling in one way, but yet calm, magical, and cute in another.

More often than not, that's the way I describe the way he makes films. He blends whimsical elements in kids film with horrific elements and somehow make something understandable and creepy.

Granted, his "remake" films like Dumbo and Alice in Wonderland, he cannot blend his more favored horror elements, and thus, this product is not his most well crafted.

But still, I absolutely love his style.

[char-meany]

Johnny depp and Tim burton, a brilliant match

[EyreAffair]

He also likely has Asperger's Syndrome / autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to ex-wife Helena Bonham Carter. That's why he felt like an "outcast" growing up, and why he seems so "odd" and "kooky". A lot of Tim Burton's drawings also seem inspired by those of author Roald Dahl, who wrote "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", which Burton directed a film adaptation of.

[ClaireTurtle]

Tim burton has such an amazing eye for detail. Having Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter as key actors amazes me every time because they fit into his movies so well with their personalities and their appearances change with every character. Tim Burton is a filmmaking mastermind, I mean The Nightmare Before Christmas was a full stop motion picture with many additional heads and even silhouettes. He’s a gothic film icon and it’s amazing.

[giancarlozarich]

I find it funny how early on in his career he was fired from Disney for being too dark and gritty and years later to today, he’s working on a love action Dumbo movies with Disney

[MS-rsod]

I feel like Tim Burton and Johnny Depp were made for each other in a sense. They compliment each other very well

[contentdeleted]

One Person’s Craziness Is Another Person’s Reality ~ Tim Burton (The Absolute BEST Director of All Time)

[axeldude]

We don’t deserve a man like Tim.
He’s amazingly insane.

[thesecretrectangle]

imagine The Black Cauldron in Tim Burtons style.

[Whimsy]

I'm starting to understand what people mean when they say Tim Burton only works with those who "understand" his vision.


It's not the fact that most of his work is dark and Gothic and eccentric. I think it's the mere fact that there's a particular look or emotion he wants to audience to feel in a particular instant, while using the Gothic elements around him.

[MRH-hfst]

It's the reason why I love Tim Burton. He's such a UNIQUE Director. I look up to him so much.

[RVGmetallicasaw]

I just wish he'd stop making kinda bad disney movies, and would go back to making things that are entirely his own.
I don't want to see Tim Burtons take on Dumbo or Alice in Wonderland, I want to see him go wild and make what he truly wants to make. I want that glorious, fun, and zany celebration of the macabre that only Burton can truly make.
I want a movie that can make my children fall in love with his films and characters like what Betelgeuse, Corpse Bride, Nightmare before Christmas, (and later) Frankenweenie did with me... but without being those movies. I want another one of those "Truly Burton" movies...


Though... Burton and Adams Family does sound like a perfect match...

[Hyraethian]

Helena Bonham Carter, Danny Elfman, Johny Depp, and Tim Burton are one of the best combinations i've ever seen.

[baobui]

Tim burton has a beautiful sense of filmmaking