Tim Burton: Is the legendary filmmaker done with Disney (2022)?

By: Karlie Harris

Beetlejuice. Edward Scissorhands. The Nightmare Before Christmas. Corpse Bride. 

For more than 30 years, filmmaker, artist, and director Tim Burton has been a staple of American cinema and a face synonymous with the Disney franchise. 

But on Oct. 23, Burton announced he is most likely not going to make another Disney movie in the future.
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Burton has previously compared working for Disney to the character Dumbo being imprisoned in “this horrible big circus.” He has noted that Disney nowadays focuses their ideas on the Star Wars, Marvel cinematic universes. Although he has spoken on his potential involvement in these universes, he believes it is improbable. 

If the news is true, it won’t be Disney that will feel his absence; it will be all of us who have come to love his unique style and theatrical perspective. 

Disney has always had a special place in my heart and I do not believe that I would enjoy it as much if Burton didn’t collaborate with the company. I will never truly understand what it is like to produce iconic movies for the whole world to see and judge, which clearly is stressful and overwhelming, so having an opinion on this topic as someone who hasn’t experienced life as a filmmaker is not ideal. 

However, it doesn’t take an expert to realize that Burton’s departure from Disney Production is bittersweet. Filmmaking is a rocky road to take. Just like every career out there, work is perplexing, and pressure can either make or break people. At first when I found out about his decision to leave Disney, I was shocked, yet interested why he decided to quit. “There’s less room for different types of things,” Burton said, according to Deadline. 

As viewers, we will always have a different perspective, as we are on the other side of the screen while he and other filmmakers express their passion through their work that we are constantly criticizing. 

But if Burton is, in fact, leaving on his own terms and for reasons that we may or may not understand, then good for him. We should be grateful for his artistry and hope that his body of work continues to inspire others to express themselves in unique ways. 
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If you are unfamiliar with Burton and his works, here are some interesting or lesser known facts:

*Burton had two kids with Helena Bonham Carter, also known as Bellatrix Lestrange from the Harry Potter film series. 

*Burton’s film style is a subgenre called gothic suburbia. He refused to alter his original art style to Disney’s preferences and therefore kept working with his own. Burton doesn’t necessarily like using color in his work. Because of this he instead used shades of gray and blacks to show how dull and boring he claimed life was. 

*Burton’s battle with depression and bipolar disorder has had an extreme impact on his lifestyle. He once said “Movies are like an expensive form of therapy for me”, negatively aimed towards his career and its effect on his mental health. People have reported that he slept for fourteen hours a day; ten at home and four at work. This excessive sleeping is called hypersomnia, a symptom of depression. Because he wanted to avoid as many people as possible while stirring up new projects, Burton stayed in closets and hid under desks. 

*Although many assume the film Coraline was directed or produced by Burton, it was not. Henry Selick was the director of the very eerie movie. Selick actually directed the films The Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach, and Wendell & Wild. Burton was one of the many producers of The Nightmare Before Christmas and considered the main producer of James and the Giant Peach. It is safe to say that the name Henry Selick doesn’t ring a bell to the majority of people asked, and because of this he has never really gotten the credit he truly deserves. Selick, overall, remains in Tim Burton’s shadow.