Auteur study - Tim Burton A study looking at the consistency of Burton's films and at his signature style and where this originated from.

1. Kenza Mokhtari

2. Influence from German expressionism
Burton’s work resembles aspects from the German Expressionisms, a movement that
took place after the end of WWI and is said to reflect physicality and mentality of the
German’s after the war was lost. The characters in the media pieces produced often
reflect their surroundings, an aspect that Button incorporates into many of his films.
Below in an still from Robert Wien’s The Cabinet of Dr.Caligari and one of Burton’s sample
drawings that reflect the still. The high contrast, emphasis on the eyes, dystopian
surrealism and use ofpatterns are all
aspects of Buton’s signature style that
can be traced back to the influence
of 20’s-30’s horrors.
one of Burton’s sample images The Cabinet of Dr.Caligari, 1920

3. Distinctive features: Gothic appearance
Inspired by late twenties and thirties horror movies
• scientists
• social castings
• resurrections
All popular themes of
horrors in the 20’s-30’s
that are reflected in
Burton’s work

4. Distinctive features: Music
The music in Burton’s films remain noticeably similar, most likely due to his long -lasting
collaboration with Danny Elfman, an American composer who writes most of the music in
Burton’s films. There first collaboration was in 1985, where Elfman was invited to write
the score for Pee Wee’s big adventure, they have worked on multiple films together since.
Danny Elfman

5. Distinctive features: Patterns
Burton’s films often include very distinctive patterns, his most notorious being the swirl
upon the hill in The Nightmare before Christmas (1993). He also, often incorporates
stripes in his character’s outfits, such as in Beetlejuice (1988) and Jack from The
nightmare Before Christmas.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Beetlejuice

6. Re-occurring theme - Dark
Burton’s movies often explore dark themes, for example death in The corpse’s bride
(2005) and resurrection in Frankenweenie (2012).
Frankenweenie
The Corpse’s Bride

7. Characters – Features
Burton’s characters often resemble himself, they have deep sunken eyes, black unruly
hair and a pale complexion.
Edward scissor hands
Tim Burton
Sweeny Todd

8. Characters – Actors and Actresses
Burton’s films often have either Jhonny Depp or Helena Bonham Carter, and frequently
have both.

9. Characters – Society outcasts
Many of Burton’s characters experience isolation from society. Batman, Edward scissor
hands, Ed wood, Jack from Skellington and in the Planaet of the apes.
Ed wood
Batman Returns