Distinctive Characters

Another element used in Burton’s films is the element of distinctive characters. Characters who don’t fit in to society and are frowned open in a way. Characters outside the norm. We see the use of this element in most of Burton’s films, for example in Edward Scissorhands. Edward lives in a mansion on top of a hill away from the rest of society, he dresses all in black and has a pale face making him stand out in an odd way to the people around him who are dressed in bright colours. In Ed Wood, Ed Jr is outside the norm and seen as a freak because he likes wearing woman’s clothing even though he is straight, and his girlfriend dumps him because of this. Sweeney Todd again he doesn’t fit into society because of his hatred and the only person he relates to and likes enough to not kill is Mrs. Lovett. In Big Fish Ed Bloom is seen as a liar because of the stories he tells and is hated by his own son because of this. Corpse Bride Victor is seen as a disappointment to his parents and everyone around him in the land of the living but Victoria. In Sleepy Hollow Ichabod Crane is an outsider to the village he is sent to because he doesn’t believe in superstition like everyone else does. It is a pattern that we see used time and time again in his films. Mostly these characters are pale faced dressed in gothic colours and look as if they are dead almost. Burton also uses distinguished actors in his films like Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. When we go and see a Tim Burton film we expect it to be dull with un-saturated colours and selective colours used. We expect it to Dark with dark lighting and shadowing used often. We expect the main character to be outside the norm that is shunned and rejected from society and we also expect to see Johnny Depp and/or Helena Bonham Carter to play a role in the film. Burton is known for his dark gothic style to films and outside the norm characters. It is a pattern that he has continued throughout his films and is now expected by viewers to be that style and have that dull colouring with gothic undertones and outside the norm characters. Throughout Burtons career as a prominent director, Burtons use of un-saturated colouring and selective colouring, gothic undertones, distinctive outside the norm characters, and dark lighting, which tend to reoccur in his films and have become a motif of his unique directing style.