Tim Burton and the Creepy Coolness of Disney

Tim Burton may not be the first person that comes to mind when we think about Disney (or, maybe he is!) but his unique animation style and borderline creepy story-lines allow us to view Disney in a whole new lens. While The Nightmare Before Christmas is the obvious Burton Disney association, films like Frankenweenie, the most recent installments of Alice in Wonderland starring Johnny Depp and even the stunning short, Vincent, are all Disney/Burton works of genius. 

When it comes to animating, what is every bit as important as the animation and storyline itself is the development of distinctive and memorable characters that will live on in the hearts of viewers everywhere. So in honor of this fantastic filmmaker, Disney Studios and the magic they have and hopefully will continue to make together, let’s take a gander at some of the most unforgettable Tim Burton characters brought to life by the enchantment of Disney!

There’s one in every system – the voice of reason amongst the chaos. In the film Frankenweenie, Mr. Rzykruski was the brilliant yet odd  teacher who ignited the young Victor Frankenstein’s curiosity for all things science. Not being the most popular teacher at the middle school as his approach to teaching science  is, well, scientific, it doesn’t take long for Mr. Rzykruski to plead his case in a town meeting with logic and reason, and promptly losing his job as a result. To quote Mr. Rzykruski, “They like what science can give them, but not the questions science asks.” Even though he is no longer able to pique Victor’s curiosity further, his influence has already taken hold as is evidenced by the later events that bring Victor’s sweet pup back from the dead. 

I’d be remiss not to mention one of the most iconic Tim Burton characters of all time! I like my heroes flawed, and boy does the Pumpkin King fit that bill! He just wants to bring a little joy and non spooky fun to Halloweentown, but his efforts are futile as he screws the whole thing up, colloquially. I love so much about the way Jack is portrayed – his lanky physique (simple yet artistic, he is literally bones wearing a tux!) and the fact that he is the perfect example of a good person doing a bad thing by kidnapping and stealing from children. He is the epitome of human nature – we are good when we’re doing good, and bad when we’re doing bad. 

Narrated by the legendary Vincent Price himself, this melodramatic tale of a sweet natured boy named Vincent who wants to be just like Vincent Price is not only a story but a poem. Having an affinity for the eerie and creepy myself, I can relate to young Vincent who ‘enjoys time with his sister and cat, but would rather be surrounded by spiders and bats’. While it’s unclear (or simply left up to your own imagination) if young Vincent actually becomes a Vincent Price-Edgar Allan Poe hybrid or if he simply has a dark and thrilling imagination, most of us can relate to, at one time or another being misunderstood. 

We’re all mad here! The quote is everywhere – from social media, to T-shirts and coffee mugs. And when it comes to playing a quirky, bizarre character, nobody does it quite like Johnny Depp. While the Mad Hatter isn’t the traditional March Hare as he is in the animated feature, I think we can all agree that Burton’s casting choice was spot on for this nontraditional member of the ragtag psychedelic Alice in Wonderland gang. The eyes, that hair… The Mad Hatter was more flushed out in the most recent live action film, Through the Looking Glass, which gave Tim Burton the chance to not only elaborate on the character but expand on the world in both style and character. 

Over the years, Tim Burton’s collaboration with Disney has touched, inspired, and created memories that are personal to us and ones we share with our loved ones. What makes this partnership so darkly magical is that the standard for developing characters is so similar between Disney and Burton. An animation and story with such heart and oftentimes heartbreak, that you’re sure you have experienced it before. While The Nightmare Before Christmas and Jack Skellington will always be my favorite Burton/Disney love child, we can’t dismiss the other quirky magical creations Mr. Burton has breathed life into, and I simply can’t wait to see what the future holds for the whimsical, slightly darker side of Disney.

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