With the release of Tim Burton's Wednesday coming around the corner, fans are refreshing themselves on some of Burton's best films. The creative mastermind is most notably known for his directing work in films like Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, and Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.
The Oscar-nominated artist worked his way up from a Disney animator to even directing some of the most popular films in the world, and his recognition is 100% deserved. While Burton is no doubt an amazing director of some pretty spectacular films, there are some even better films in Burton's filmography that he has produced over the years.
Family Dog (1993)
Though Burton just worked as an executive producer on this project, his efforts are even apparent in the art style. Despite Tim not working directly as a part of the animation team, he worked as a design consultant, which is proven even in the dog's appearance.
The dog in the series can be seen with a long, pointed nose with giant eyes, much like Burton's famous dogs including Zero from The Nightmare Before Christmas as well as the dog in Frankenweenie. This underrated animated series is a must-watch for anyone that's a fan of Burton's animation style as well as cute dogs.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
This spooky classic is one of the most well-known Tim Burton films, but a common mistake many fans make is assuming he directed this movie when the director was Henry Selick. Though the movie is advertised as Tim Burton's, this is because it is his conceptual story that he just produced.
Rumor even has it that Burton was rarely on set, according to ScreenRant, as he was busy working on Batman Returns at the time and trusted Selick's vision in retelling his story. While in a sense Burton had a heavy hand in the development of the story, many fans believe Selick deserves more credit for the film's success since some still believe that Burton was the director.
Cabin Boy (1994)
This humorous and whimsical tale has Burton written indirectly all over it. It's clear after all these years the types of films Burton loves to work on most, and Adam Resnick's Cabin Boy exudes subtle Tim Burton energy.
The adventure film takes viewers on a journey as a graduate stumbled upon an irresponsible boating crew that he has no choice but to leave his fate in the hands of. Between the silly humor and creative storytelling, there's no doubt that Burton brought even the tiniest bit of magic to this project.
Ed Wood (1994)
Many fans believe this underrated Tim Burton film isn't as universally recognized as it should be. Though the story is unique and captivating, many viewers forget that Burton was involved in this project, largely because his signature style isn't as prevalent within the film.
Ed Wood is yet another Burton film that showcases Johnny Depp's versatility as an actor, and this film put his comedic timing to the test, with fans agreeing that he nailed it. Still, this film offers some slight spooky elements that assure fans that Burton had a hand in this project if they pay close enough attention.
Batman Forever (1995)
Although many Tim Burton fans are aware that he directed Batman Returns, not many know that he returned to the Batman universe. He was a producer for Batman Forever along with five other producers, co-producers, and executive producers.
Even though the Batman cinematic world has become quite wide and versatile, it's Burton's versions of Batman still hold up today by offering a unique perspective of the hero's story. Between the film's sense of humor and comic-like style, his creative mind made it possible for Batman to exist in a different kind of universe as opposed to the more dark and serious Batman films.
James And The Giant Peach (1996)
It comes as no surprise that Tim Burton worked on this film just by looking at the art style alone, but some viewers don't know that the director for this film was Henry Selick. Henry and Tim were frequent collaborators and both of their works can occasionally be mistaken for the other's, like Selick's Coraline because they work so well together on the more creepy projects.
The light-hearted children's film is perfectly accompanied by subtly creepy claymation, which is what both Selick and Burton do best. Though Henry took the reigns on this project, it's quite clear that Burton added his golden touch to the story, as well.
9 (2009)
This animated film is another movie that exudes a slightly eerie vibe, which many fans can easily find in most Burton films. The post-apocalyptic world that is showcased in the movie puts a creative spin on how the end of the world could look in a dream world.
If it isn't already apparent, Burton is often drawn to stories that require much imagination, which 9 perfectly encapsulates. Due to the decently scary imagery and moderate depictions of gore, this seemingly innocent film was boosted up to a PG-13 rating, allowing the tale to be told from a more realistic perspective without sacrificing the story's full potential.
"Powerless" Music Video By Linkin Park (2012)
Surprisingly enough, this wasn't Burton's first rodeo working on a music video, as the famous movie director did music videos for The Killers, including "Bones" and "Here With Me." Though many don't associate Tim Burton with music videos, his signature style is apparent in the Linkin Park video's subtly dark and grim stylistic choices.
Linkin Park is known for its honest and dark portrayals of life circumstances, so the fact that the two worked together isn't too off base, and fans loved the outcome. This collaboration made further sense upon knowing that the song was a promotional single used to promote the film Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter which Burton also helped produce.
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012)
This action horror film is right up Burton's alley, so it's no wonder he wanted to be a part of it. The novel-to-movie adaptation exuberates a healthy mix between historical and fantasy, which allows so many creative possibilities when adapting the film onscreen.
While the film was directed by Timur Bekmambetov, it became quite clear after fans watched this movie that Burton put his creative touch on certain aspects. From the spooky vibes to the film's darker aesthetic, viewers are glad he took part in the dynamic film by putting a spin on the movie's overall vibe.