Tim Burton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tim Burton
Burton in 2024
Born	Timothy Walter Burton (1958-08-25) August 25, 1958 (age 66) Burbank, California, U.S.
Alma mater	California Institute of the Arts
Occupation	Director producer screenwriter animator
Years active	1971–present
Works	Full list
Spouse(s)	Lena Gieseke ​ ​ (m. 1987; div. 1991)​
Partner(s)	Lisa Marie (1993–2001) Helena Bonham Carter (2001–2014) Monica Bellucci (2023–present)
Children	2
Signature

Timothy Walter Burton (born August 25, 1958) is an American filmmaker, artist, and producer. He is famous for his unique movies that often mix spooky, gothic styles with fantasy and dark humor. Many people know him for popularizing "Goth culture" in Hollywood films.

Tim Burton has won many awards, including an Emmy Award. He has also been nominated for two Academy Awards and a Golden Globe Award. In 2007, he received a special award called the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice International Film Festival. In 2010, France honored him with the Order of Arts and Letters.

Burton's first movie as a director was the comedy Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985). He became very well-known for films like Beetlejuice (1988) and Edward Scissorhands (1990). He also directed superhero movies like Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992). Some of his animated films include Corpse Bride (2005) and Frankenweenie (2012). He has also made fantasy films such as Big Fish (2003), Alice in Wonderland (2010), and Dumbo (2019).

Since 2022, Tim Burton has directed several episodes of the popular Netflix series Wednesday. He also directed Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024), which is a sequel to his 1988 film. He often works with composer Danny Elfman, who creates the music for most of his movies. Tim Burton has also written books, including The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories (1997).

Early Life and Creative Beginnings

Growing Up in Burbank

Timothy Walter Burton was born on August 25, 1958, in Burbank, California. His mother, Jean, owned a gift shop, and his father, William, worked for the Burbank Parks and Recreation Department.

As a child, Tim Burton loved making short films in his backyard. He used simple stop-motion animation or 8mm film without sound. One of his earliest films, The Island of Doctor Agor, was made when he was just 13 years old.

Inspirations and School Days

Burton went to Providencia Elementary School, Luther Burbank Middle School, and Burbank High School. He wasn't the best student, but he enjoyed art, painting, and drawing. He also loved watching movies.

His future films were greatly influenced by books from authors like Dr. Seuss and Roald Dahl. He also loved old gothic horror films, especially movies like Frankenstein and films starring Vincent Price. He even made a short film called Vincent as a tribute to Price. Burton has said that he grew up watching all kinds of monster movies.

Art School Training

After high school, Burton studied character animation at the California Institute of the Arts from 1976 to 1979. While there, he made short films like Stalk of the Celery Monster.

Tim Burton's Film Career

Starting at Disney and Early Short Films

Tim Burton's short film Stalk of the Celery Monster caught the eye of Walt Disney Productions. They offered him an animation apprenticeship. He worked on films like The Fox and the Hound (1981) and Tron (1982).

In 1982, while at Disney, Burton made his first short film, Vincent. This six-minute black-and-white stop-motion film was based on a poem he wrote. It was about a young boy who imagined he was his hero, Vincent Price, who also narrated the film.

Burton then made a live-action short film called Frankenweenie in 1984. It told the story of a boy who brings his dog back to life. Disney, however, thought the film was too dark for children and let Burton go.

First Feature Films and Big Successes

Actor Paul Reubens saw Frankenweenie and chose Burton to direct his character Pee-wee Herman's movie, Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985). This film was a big success. Burton also asked Danny Elfman to compose the music, starting a long partnership.

Burton's next major film was Beetlejuice (1988). This supernatural comedy was about ghosts trying to scare away a new family from their home. It starred Michael Keaton as the title character and was a hit, even winning an Academy Award for Best Makeup.

Directing Batman and Edward Scissorhands

After Beetlejuice, Burton got to direct the big-budget film Batman. He chose Michael Keaton to play Batman, which surprised many people. The film was a huge success, earning over $400 million worldwide. It also won an Academy Award for Best Art Direction. This movie helped make Burton a very successful director.

In 1990, Burton directed Edward Scissorhands. The idea came from a drawing he made in high school. The film starred Johnny Depp as Edward, a kind character with scissors for hands. Many critics consider this one of Burton's best movies. He has said it's his most personal film because it shows how he felt about not being able to communicate well as a teenager.

Burton then directed the sequel, Batman Returns (1992), with Michael Keaton returning as Batman. This film was darker than the first, introducing new villains like the Penguin (played by Danny DeVito) and Catwoman (played by Michelle Pfeiffer). It was also a financial success.

Producing and Other Projects

Due to other commitments, Burton produced, but did not direct, The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). This stop-motion film was based on his original story and characters. It was praised for its animation and music.

In 1994, Burton directed Ed Wood, a film about the life of a famous low-budget director. Johnny Depp starred in the title role. While not a big hit at first, it became a cult classic.

Warner Bros. decided not to have Burton direct the third Batman film, Batman Forever, because they felt Batman Returns was too dark. Burton remained a producer but had less creative control.

Continuing His Unique Vision

Tim Burton (right) at a film premiere in Madrid, 2007

In 1996, Burton produced James and the Giant Peach, another stop-motion film based on a Roald Dahl book. He then directed Mars Attacks! (1996), a sci-fi comedy with many famous actors.

Sleepy Hollow, released in 1999, was a supernatural horror film starring Johnny Depp. It was a tribute to classic horror movies and won an Academy Award for Best Art Direction.

Burton then directed Planet of the Apes (2001), which was a commercial success. In 2003, he directed Big Fish, a fantasy drama about a father telling exaggerated stories about his life. This film received several award nominations.

In 2005, Burton directed Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, another adaptation of a Roald Dahl book, starring Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka. The same year, he directed his first full-length stop-motion film, Corpse Bride, with voices by Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter.

Burton directed the musical film Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007), which was praised by critics and won an Academy Award for Best Art Direction.

He also produced the animated film 9 (2009), which was based on a short film.

Tim Burton speaking at Comic-Con, 2009

In 2010, Burton directed Alice in Wonderland, a new take on the classic story. It starred Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter and was a huge commercial success, earning over $1 billion worldwide. It won two Academy Awards for Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design.

Recent Works

Burton directed Dark Shadows (2012), a film based on a 1960s TV series, again starring Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. He also co-produced Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012).

In 2012, he remade his short film Frankenweenie into a full-length stop-motion animated movie. This film was well-received by critics.

He directed the biographical drama Big Eyes (2014), about artist Margaret Keane, whose husband falsely claimed credit for her paintings. The film received positive reviews.

Burton then directed Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016) and a live-action version of Disney's Dumbo (2019).

Wednesday and Future Projects

In 2021, it was announced that Tim Burton would direct and produce Wednesday, a Netflix series based on the character Wednesday Addams from The Addams Family. The show, starring Jenna Ortega, was released in November 2022 and received great reviews.

In 2022, Burton mentioned that he might not work with The Walt Disney Company again. He felt that Disney's focus on big franchises like Pixar and Marvel left less room for his unique style.

In 2023, filming began for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the sequel to his 1988 film. Tim Burton directed it, with Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder returning to their roles. The film was released in 2024.

Unreleased Projects

Tim Burton has been involved in many film projects that were planned but never made. For example, he was once set to direct a new Superman film in the late 1990s, with Nicolas Cage as Superman. However, due to various issues, the project was eventually canceled.

He also considered making a sequel to The Nightmare Before Christmas, but he decided against it to keep the original film special. He was also briefly attached to direct Maleficent for Disney in 2011 but chose other projects instead.

Frequent Collaborators

Tim Burton often works with the same talented people on his films. His most frequent collaborator is composer Danny Elfman, who has scored almost all of his movies. He has also often cast actors like Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Michael Keaton in his films.

Personal Life

Tim Burton was married to Lena Gieseke from 1987 to 1991. He then lived with actress Lisa Marie from 1992 to 2001; she appeared in several of his films.

Later, he began a relationship with English actress Helena Bonham Carter in 2001. They have two children together, a son born in 2003 and a daughter born in 2007. They separated amicably in 2014.

In 2010, France honored Tim Burton with the title of Chevalier of Arts and Letters. The same year, he was the head of the jury at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival in France.

In 2023, it was reported that Burton was in a relationship with Italian actress and model Monica Bellucci.

Exhibitions and Books

Tim Burton's artwork and film creations have been featured in many exhibitions around the world. From 2009 to 2010, the MoMA in New York held a large exhibition of his work, including drawings, paintings, puppets, and costumes. This exhibition then traveled to other places like Melbourne, Australia, and Paris, France.

"The Art of Tim Burton" was also shown at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 2011. In 2012, the Seoul Museum of Art in South Korea featured 862 of his works. These exhibitions often show his journey from his early life to his successful career.

Burton has also written and illustrated books. His poetry book, The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories, was published in 1997. A collection of his drawings and sketches, called The Art of Tim Burton, was released in 2009. A follow-up book, The Napkin Art of Tim Burton: Things You Think About in a Bar, came out in 2015.

Filmography

Awards and Nominations for Burton Films

See also

In Spanish: Tim Burton para niños