50 Years of Tim Burton
Tim Burton has been my favourite film director for as long as I can remember, so having the opportunity to express my adoration of his famously unique style through a self-initiated project was a beneficial learning process. Since I had previously designed a cookbook, I decided to celebrate 50 years of his work through a special edition magazine, whose editorial design echoes his ‘Burtonesque’ style.
Filming stories that focus on freaks and loners which should, in theory, make studio executives run a mile, Burton’s brand of quirkiness connects with millions all around the world. In 1972, he wrote and directed his first ever short film named ‘Tim’s Dreams’, which means this year marks his 50th anniversary in the industry. I focused this magazine solely on his collaborations with actors Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, however I would love to develop this project by designing a separate magazine that explores his stop motion films.
Tim Burton and Johnny Depp are one of the most famous pairings in Hollywood. Beginning at a time when Depp was just seen as a one-trick teen idol made for mainstream, predictable romances, he has now become one of the best-loved character actors in the world and his collaboration with Burton has resulted in some of the biggest films of all time. Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter also make a strong pairing, in the way that his style compliments her acting abilities; but it may also be because she was his significant other for a very long time! Being people who find acting erratic and almost inhuman very easy, they are the perfect pair to match onscreen and portray Burton’s wacky storylines.
Burton has formed his own unique style, known as ‘Burtonesque’, that inspires artists all over the world - it even has an official definition: “to be reminiscent of the works of Tim Burton, known for his darkly whimsical art and films” and is identifiable for the use of abstract patterns to create psychedelic appearances. A lack of colour also plays a prominent part in his films, unless there is a blood-filled scene where audiences will see nothing but red! The Burtonesque style strongly reflects German Expressionism, where scenic design produces a feeling of dreamlike unreality and psychological tension for audiences, and Burton has an ability to reach out to his audience by touching upon darker subjects that other directors feel uncomfortable approaching. Even his initial character sketches appear quite deranged, with their oversized eyes and thin bodies, but that is partly why I love them so much!