Tim Burton is an American film director known for his dark style and themes. He became interested in filmmaking as a child and drew macabre images. After studying animation, he worked for Disney but found success with Pee-Wee's Big Adventure. Burton frequently collaborates with actor Johnny Depp and explores themes of outsiders and death through films like Edward Scissorhands, Nightmare Before Christmas, and Corpse Bride. He has received several awards for his work and introduced darker genres to mainstream audiences.

1. Director Research Project
On Tim Burton ~ By Sarah McGibbon

2. Youth Years
•Born on the 25th of August, 1958 in Burbank,
California. Burton in his late teens
•Spent most of his time as an outcast, drawing
•In ninth grade his artwork was recognized by
his local garbage company and was asked to
make an anti-litter poster
•After high school he attended the California
Institute of Arts
http://www.xtimeline.com/evt/view.aspx?id=51456

3. Apprentice
•After graduating college, Burton went on to be an
Animator at Disney.
• Some of his first movies he worked on were Fox
and the Hound and Brack Cauldron.
•Disney recognized his artistic difference and gave
him permission to work on his own project, On the set of one of his first movies, Ed Wood
Conversations with Vincent.
•Franken-weenie didn’t get released due to it being
deemed to inappropriate for young kids.
•Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure was the movie that sky-
rocketed his career
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm576493824/nm0000318

4. Awards
•Nominated for-
•Oscar’s Best Animated Film maker (Corpse Bride)
• Five different Saturn Award for Best Director
•One Amanda Award
Burton, Helena Bonham Carter and Christoper Lee at the
•Won-
British Academy Award Show
•Career Achievement Award
•Winsor McCoy Award
•BAA- Best Feature (Corpse Bride)
•Daytime Emmy
•NBIZ Award (Sweeny Todd)
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2190457344/nm0000318
•Avdience Award

5. Techniques
•Known for doing dark claymations that
involve death
•Often has quiet, snowy nights in his films
•Most of his movies have Halloween or
Christmas themes/in them
•Opening scenes typically have a camera
angle going through or following a person or
object.
•Plot usually focuses on a misunderstood
outcast
•Majority of his films have townspeople who
misunderstand or distrust lead character
http://www.fanpop.com/spots/tim-burton/images/376601/title/tim-burton-phot

7. Legacy
•Tim Burton introduced the darker genre of
movies to Disney.
•He made people more comfortable with http://timburton.com/
death in kids movies
•Turned typical fairy tales into something
deeper and more psychological
•Brought stranger and less realistic characters
to the big screen

8. Quotes
•“You always have to feel like it’s going to be the greatest things ever, even if it’s you know... a
piece of crap” -Burton on his approach on Movies
•“There’s on moment, and it happened in school. I had a big final exam-we were supposed to
write a 20-page report on this book about Houdini. I probably would have loved reading it,
but I didn't, so I just decided to make a little super-8 movie based on it. I tied myself to the
railroad tracks and all that. I mean, this is kid stuff, but it impressed the teacher, and I got an A.
And that was maybe my first turning point, when I said, 'Yeah, I wouldn't mind being a
filmmaker.' " -Burton on becoming a director
• “I remember, I was at Cal Arts and I wasn't a good life-drawer; I struggled with that realistic
style of drawing. And one day I was sitting in Farmer's Market sketching, and it was this
weird, mind-blowing experience. I said, 'Goddamit, I don't care if I can't draw, I'm just gonna
draw how I feel about it.' All of a sudden I had my own personal breakthrough, and then I
could draw, and satisfied myself. I've had very few experiences like that, and I'll never forget
it.” -Burton on Style
•"The thing with Tim that truly is separate and different and unique from other directors is
that Tim represents his own genre. He's a very unique filmmaker. His aesthetics, his stylistic
storytelling, the choices that he makes, he goes beyond just making a film, and he builds this
entire world. To get to go and help populate that world was a neat experience." -Johnny Depp http://www.manolith.com/2012/05/11/manolith-quiz-can-you-
name-the-tim-burton-johnny-depp-collaboration/
• “ Working with Tim is really like going home for me. It's this place that's very comfortable
even with the knowledge that there's a lot of risks that have to be taken and you have to really
be prepared to explore. But there is great comfort there and there is great safety there.” -
Johnny Depp

9. Sources
•"Johnny Depp Plays Groom to the "Corpse Bride"" About.com
Hollywood Movies. Web. 24 May 2012. <http://
movies.about.com/od/thecorpsebride/a/corpse091405.htm>.
•"Johnny Depp on 'Dark Shadows,' Working with Tim Burton."
Washington Examiner. Web. 24 May 2012. <http://
washingtonexaminer.com/entertainment/movies/2012/05/
johnny-depp-dark-shadows-working-tim-burton/601136>.
•"Tim Burton." IMDb. IMDb.com. Web. 24 May 2012. <http://
www.imdb.com/name/nm0000318/>.
•"Tim Burton." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 24 May 2012.
Web. 24 May 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Tim_Burton>.