Line #11 Creator/TimBurton


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8	->''"Tim Burton. Right... Lots of eyeliner... Vertical stripes... Music/DannyElfman... Daddy issues... Blonde ingenue..."''
9	-->--'''WebVideo/TheNostalgiaChick'''
10
11	Timothy Walter Burton (born August 25, 1958) is an American animator, film director and producer, and the king of the {{Perky Goth}}s.
12
13	He studied at [=CalArts=] before being hired as a Creator/{{Disney}} animator, working together with Creator/AndreasDeja. Before rising to fame, he made a live-action short adaptation of "Hansel and Gretel", the animated short ''WesternAnimation/{{Vincent}}'' (narrated by a personal idol of his, Creator/VincentPrice), the original short version of "Frankenweenie" and "Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp" for Creator/ShelleyDuvall's ''Series/FaerieTaleTheatre''.
14
15	Burton's signature style usually combines creepy situations with childlike wonder and a morbid sense of humor. His work tends to combine goth aesthetics (black and white sets and protagonists that harken back to GermanExpressionism, GothicHorror, CreepyShadowedUndereyes, spooky monsters and the like) with high-kitsch suburban settings.
16	----
17	!!Feature films & other works directed by Burton
18	[[index]]
19	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Vincent}}'' (1982)
20	* ''Literature/HanselAndGretel'' (1983) - TV special created for [[Creator/DisneyChannel The Disney Channel]] and starring [[RaceLift an all-Asian cast]]. [[OldShame He doesn't like to talk about it]].
21	* ''Frankenweenie'' (1984) - Live action short. Later remade into an animated feature (see below).
22	* ''Film/PeeWeesBigAdventure'' (1985)
23	* ''Franchise/{{Beetlejuice}}''
24	** ''Film/{{Beetlejuice}}'' (1988)
25	** ''Film/BeetlejuiceBeetlejuice'' (2024)
26	* ''Film/BatmanFilmSeries'':
27	** ''Film/{{Batman\|1989}}'' (1989)
28	** ''Film/BatmanReturns'' (1992)
29	* ''Film/EdwardScissorhands'' (1990)
30	* ''Film/EdWood'' (1994)
31	* ''Film/MarsAttacks'' (1996)
32	* ''Film/{{Sleepy Hollow\|1999}}'' (1999)
33	* ''Film/{{Planet of the Apes\|2001}}'' (2001)
34	* ''Film/BigFish'' (2003)
35	* ''Film/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory'' (2005)
36	* ''WesternAnimation/CorpseBride'' (2005; co-director)
37	* ''Film/SweeneyToddTheDemonBarberOfFleetStreet'' (2007)
38	* ''Film/{{Alice in Wonderland\|2010}}'' (2010)
39	* ''Film/DarkShadows'' (2012)
40	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Frankenweenie}}'' (2012; a remake of Burton's 1984 short)
41	* ''Film/BigEyes'' (2014)
42	* ''Film/MissPeregrinesHomeForPeculiarChildren'' (2016)
43	* ''Film/{{Dumbo\|2019}}'' (2019)
44	* ''Series/{{Wednesday}}'' (2022)
45	[[/index]]
46
47	!!Other Works Burton was involved in:
48
49	* ''Series/AmazingStories'' (1986) - Character designs for the episode ''WesternAnimation/FamilyDog''.
50	* ''WesternAnimation/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas'' (1993) - Character designs and story. Contrary to popular belief, he [[invoked]]''[[DirectorDisplacement did not direct it]]'', Creator/HenrySelick did. Burton did intend to direct that film, but production on ''Film/BatmanReturns'' and pre-production on ''Film/EdWood'' got in the way. Burton would also co-produce Selick's next film, 1996's ''Film/JamesAndTheGiantPeach'' and the feature-length version of Shane Acker's ''WesternAnimation/{{Nine}}''.
51	* ''Film/BatmanForever'' (1995) - Credited as a producer, though his only real involvement was appearing in a few meetings and approving the screenwriters before leaving the project altogether. Notably, he had no involvement whatsoever with ''Film/BatmanAndRobin'', the next ([[FranchiseKiller and final]]) film in the series.
52	* ''The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories'' (1997) - Collection of poems which he wrote and illustrated.
53	* ''The World Of Stainboy'' (2000) - Six-episode animated web series based on one of the characters from ''Oyster Boy.''
54	* A series of Timex Watch commercials.
55
56	!!Tropes applying to Tim Burton and his work.
57
58	* AdamWesting: Plays up his eccentricity in a commercial for [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuqpWwDm6Tg Samsung Galaxy S II]] as the director of a movie adaptation of a dark, quirky mobile app game.
59	-->"Did you know that [[ItMakesSenseInContext the unicorn is technically a goat]]?"
60	* AssociatedComposer: Creator/DannyElfman. Who else? The two had a falling out over ''Film/BatmanReturns'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas'', leading to Music/HowardShore scoring ''Film/EdWood'' before Elfman returned for ''Film/MarsAttacks''. Elfman was also unavailable for ''Film/MissPeregrinesHomeForPeculiarChildren'' due to being too busy with ''Film/AliceThroughTheLookingGlass'', and the preexisting Music/StephenSondheim material sufficed on ''Film/{{Sweeney Todd\|TheDemon Barber Of Fleet Street}}''.
61	* AuteurLicense: He got his after ''Film/Batman1989'' hit it big.
62	* AuthorAvatar: One gets the sense that he is the main character in many of his own movies. Maybe the most obvious was ''Film/EdwardScissorhands,'' whose main character was a messy haired EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette with a macabre look about him who had trouble fitting in. This goes double if played by Creator/JohnnyDepp -- one Hollywood producer explained that "Basically, Johnny Depp is playing Tim Burton in all his movies." Depp actually agreed.
63	* {{Bizarrchitecture}}: This trope often crosses over with Scenery Porn.
64	* BlackComedy: Some of his movies in varying degrees, especially ''Film/MarsAttacks.''
65	* TheCameo: He doesn't cameo in his [[CreatorCameo own films]], but he has a classic one in ''Film/{{Singles}}''.
66	** He does cameo in Pee-Wee's Big Adventure as the leader of the gang of thugs who accost Pee-Wee in the alley early in the movie.
67	* CentralTheme: His films are usually about isolation, individuality, loneliness and finding your inner self.
68	* ChekhovsArmoury: On a regular basis.
69	* CircusOfFear: While not outright coulrophobic, he's terrified of circuses, and loves to play off of this. It crops up in ''Pee-Wee's Big Adventure,'' ''Beetlejuice,'' both of the ''Batman'' films he directed, ''The Nightmare Before Christmas,'' and ''Mars Attacks!'', among others. Subverted in ''Big Fish,'' whose circus people are genuinely friendly folks (although the ringmaster is [[spoiler: a werewolf]]).
70	* CreatorBreakdown: He hated drawing Dixey, the love interest in ''WesternAnimation/TheFoxAndTheHound'', because he found it dull.
71	* CreatorThumbprint: As listed at the trope entry, there's unusual hands, GermanExpressionism, dogs, GothSpirals, and stripes. To a lesser extent, snowy settings, especially if Christmas is involved. Above all these, he ''loves'' protagonists who are outcasts in some way.
72	** He also seems to like casting his attractive girlfriends alongside much hotter male leads. [[spoiler: He also seems to like killing off (''Mars Attacks!'' (shot), Sleepy Hollow'' (iron maiden), Sweeney Todd'' (roasted alive), or at least giving a less than happy ending to said girlfriends (''Big Fish'' (spinster cat lady), ''Alice in Wonderland'' (exiled), ''Film/DarkShadows'' (seemingly killed and dumped in the ocean, but survived), and ''Planet of the Apes'' (then girlfriend Lisa Marie and future girlfriend Helena Bonham-Carter were implied to be erased from history). On the positive side, in ''Ed Wood'' Lisa Marie played a woman completely annoyed by the main character and [[SelfDeprecation so embarassed to be in his schlock, she wanted no lines.]]]]
73	** His biggest AuthorAppeal might be Creator/JohnnyDepp.
74	** He has a deep appreciation for kitsch. Remember that he grew up in Burbank in the 1960s, which resembled the exact kind of pastel cookie-cutter neighborhood seen in ''Film/EdwardScissorhands'' and where the only way to know about the changing of the seasons was to look at the holiday decorations at the local convenience store.
75	** As character design goes, he frequently includes MessyHair (much like his own), UndeathlyPallor, CreepyShadowedUndereyes, and unusual menswear (including exaggerated hats).
76	* CreepyChildrenSinging: Very common in his films, especially the ones scored by Creator/DannyElfman.
77	* DarkerAndEdgier: ''Film/PeeWeesBigAdventure'' was [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness actually quite colorful and kid friendly,]] at least compared to Burton's later work. This makes sense, as most studios wouldn’t allow a first-time director to go all-out in terms of their own vision. ''Film/{{Beetlejuice}}'' began to introduce darker and more adult elements, and Burton's output only increased in edginess from that point until we got the almost nihilistic ''Film/BatmanReturns'' in 1992. Following that he [[DenserAndWackier returned to his comedic roots]] with ''Film/EdWood'' and ''Film/MarsAttacks.''
78	* DarkIsNotEvil: It can be benign, world weary, friendly, helpful -- even lovable. That said, when dark ''is'' evil, or at least angry, watch out.
79	* DeliberatelyMonochrome: ''Ed Wood'' and ''Frankenweenie'' are in outright black and white, Halloween Town in ''WesternAnimation/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas'' only has touches of color, ''Sweeney Todd'' is shot in mostly desaturated colors, and the living world in ''Corpse Bride'' is much grayer than the world of the dead.
80	* DutchAngle: Crops up in a majority of his films, ranging from blatantly obvious to the blink and you'll miss it variety. For particular examples, please examine ''Film/Batman1989'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas.''
81	* {{Flashback}}: These figure in ''Batman,'' ''Edward Scissorhands,'' ''Sleepy Hollow,'' ''Big Fish'' (as an alternate explanation of some of [[UnreliableNarrator the father's stories]]), ''Film/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory,'' ''Sweeney Todd,'' ''Film/AliceInWonderland2010,'' and ''Film/DarkShadows'' (whew!).
82	* GermanExpressionism: His aesthetic style is completely derived from this film movement.
83	* GothSpirals: One of his signature motifs, which he subverts when it even pops up in his less spooky films. Look closely at the page picture; he even has one in his hair.
84	* TheGrotesque: Edward Scissorhands is an excellent modern example. The Penguin in ''Batman Returns'' is a cruel subversion -- he masquerades as this to gain sympathy and make a grab for power.
85	* HeterosexualLifePartner: His house is apparently divided down the middle, one half for his (now former) wife (Creator/HelenaBonhamCarter) and his two children, and the other for BFF Creator/JohnnyDepp.
86	* LonersAreFreaks: It seems like he dedicated almost all of his movies to invert the trope.
87	* LooksLikeCesare: Not only does Burton himself look like this, so do Edward Scissorhands and Sweeney Todd.
88	* LooksLikeOrlok: The Penguin.
89	* MisunderstoodLonerWithAHeartOfGold: With Film/EdwardScissorhands as the {{trope codifier}}.
90	* NightmareFace: Burton usually manages to sneak at least one into his movies somewhere. For example, Large Marge in ''Film/PeeWeesBigAdventure,'' the newscaster who takes Smilex in ''Film/Batman1989,'' the witch in the forest in ''Film/{{Sleepy Hollow\|1999}},'' Jack scaring Lock, Shock, and Barrel in ''WesternAnimation/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas,'' ''Film/{{Beetlejuice}},'' (many examples), the twins in ''Film/MissPeregrinesHomeForPeculiarChildren'' and so on and so forth. Even in ''Film/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory'' the young Wonka sports [[BracesOfOrthodonticOverkill a rather nightmarish set of braces.]]
91	* OurMonstersAreDifferent: Many of Burton's protagonists consist of characters who are viewed as terrifying to other characters, but they're actually the heroes of the piece, even if what they do is not in tune with everyone else.
92	* PersonAsVerb: "Burtonesque" is often used to describe something with a gothic, quirky style.
93	* PerkyGoth: While he may not be the TropeNamer, he is a stand out. He loves building his films around something in the gothic and the macabre, but Burton himself is a very peace-loving NiceGuy.
94	* ProductionPosse: A lot of his filmography from the 90s (''Film/EdwardScissorhands'') to the early [=2010s=] (''Film/DarkShadows'') featured Creator/JohnnyDepp as a leading man. Often also starring Creator/HelenaBonhamCarter
95	* RecycledTrailerMusic: The scores for ''Pee-Wee's Big Adventure,'' ''Edward Scissorhands,'' and ''The Nightmare Before Christmas'' turn up as the music to trailers for other films quite often.
96	* {{Retraux}}: Many of his films are made to look as if they're set during the forties, fifties, or sixties (the years of Burton's childhood and his parents' adolescence), with contemporary elements seeded throughout.
97	* SceneryPorn: It's not for nothing that ''Batman,'' ''Sleepy Hollow,'' ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''Alice in Wonderland'' won Art Direction Oscars.
98	* ShowDontTell: A master at this. It's been said if you leave the dialogue out, his films work splendidly as silent films. The fans of his ''Batman'' films say this gives them an advantage over the [[Creator/ChristopherNolan Nolan]] [[Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy films]], which have been criticized over their excessive exposition.
99	* SitcomArchNemesis: A somewhat tongue-in-cheek one to Kevin Smith, who spent several years publicly picking on Burton for indirectly getting him kicked off of the failed ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'' reboot, ''Superman Lives'' (often autographing copies of the script which fans would bring to him with "PS, [[TakeThat fuck Tim Burton]]"). When Smith half-jokingly accused Burton of ripping off one of his comic books for ''Film/{{Planet of the Apes\|2001}}'', Burton, when asked for comments, gave the uncharacteristically nasty response of "Anyone who knows me knows I would never read anything written by Kevin Smith." Smith [[InsultBackfire put this quote on the back of his autobiography]]. They eventually put it behind them, according to Smith.
100	* SignatureStyle: Creator/JohnnyDepp and/or Creator/HelenaBonhamCarter, and LooksLikeCesare. Even ''Alice'''s characters all looked like they needed more sleep.
101	** Creator/ChristopherLee also appeared in many of his TurnOfTheMillennium-era films before Lee's death.
102	** GothSpirals
103	** His especially distinct drawing style. His puppet and drawing designs are instantly recognizable: characters with big white onion or almond shaped heads and big eyes, [[http://wethefreebrooklyn.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/timburtonmoma2.jpg monsters with long and thin jaws]]...
104	** The color red stands out in his films.
105	** The man ''loves'' stripes, especially black and white ones.
106	* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVsCynicism: While ''Film/BatmanReturns'' and ''Film/SweeneyTodd'' can be more on the cynical end, most of his films are on the idealistic end of the scale despite his dark and weird movies and characters.
107	* TechnicianVersusPerformer: The performer. His films are more known for their style than their stories; they are there, but they tend to be simpler tales, and the more complex ones, like ''Alice'', tend to be weaker.
108	* TroubledBackstoryFlashback: Bruce Wayne in ''Film/Batman1989'', the Mad Hatter in ''Film/AliceInWonderland2010'', Ichabod Crane in ''Film/{{Sleepy Hollow\|1999}}'', Edward in ''Film/EdwardScissorhands'', Emily (via song) in ''WesternAnimation/CorpseBride'', Willy Wonka in ''Film/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory'' (who kind of [[LampshadeHanging lampshades it]]) Film/{{Sweeney Todd\|TheDemonBarberOfFleetStreet}}, and Maggie (Victoria) in ''Film/DarkShadows.''

Context Creator / TimBurton