A Shocking Revelation: Tim Burton's Jaw-Dropping Experience at Disney Revealed

Summary

Tim Burton reflects on his time at Disney, admitting that he should have known early on that his relationship with the company was troubled.

Leaving Disney marked a pivotal moment in Burton's career, affording him the freedom to innovate and forge his own unique cinematic style. Despite his initial dismissal from Disney, Burton ultimately joined forces with the studio on future endeavors, including Alice in Wonderland and a reimagining of his own short film Frankenweenie.

Tim Burton, the renowned director, opens up about his experience working at Disney. Before achieving his current status as a visionary director and producer, Burton began his career as an animator at Disney after completing his studies at the California Institute of the Arts. From 1981 to 1984, Burton was employed by the company until his termination following the creation of his short film "Frankenweenie," which Disney deemed too frightening for young audiences.

During a conversation with the Independent, Burton reflects on his tenure at Disney. He admits that he should have anticipated the challenges he would face with the company, and now describes his time there as a mixture of positive and negative experiences. Burton's exact quote regarding his Disney experience can be found below.

I should have realized from the beginning that I had a problematic connection with Disney. It should have been an early indication.

It's similar to Burbank, but even more challenging... it's like a tight-knit family. When reflecting, I can clearly see the numerous advantages of working there and the countless opportunities I've been given. I wholeheartedly acknowledge each and every one of them with a positive mindset. At the same time, I can also recognize the negative aspect that drains my soul. Just like in life, it's a combination of both positive and negative experiences.

Why Leaving Disney Was Good for Tim Burton

Burton's departure from Disney came after the release of Frankenweenie in 1984, a film that would later prove to be a pivotal moment in his career. Years later, in 2012, Burton transformed his dog-centric Frankenstein adaptation into a full-length feature film with the same title. The resulting supernatural movie, Frankenweenie, was a distinctively crafted and well-received adaptation, characterized by its eerie black-and-white aesthetics and captivating stop-motion characters.

Frankenweenie serves as a revelation in Burton's career, highlighting his unalignment with the Disney style. Departing from the studio allowed the director to delve into new artistic endeavors within his creative repertoire. While his initial foray into feature films involved the absurdist comedy Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, Burton went on to explore the haunted house genre with Beetlejuice, a movie produced by Warner Bros. and currently in the process of a sequel. Subsequently, Burton continued to direct and produce a multitude of gothic and supernatural films, including Ed Wood, Corpse Bride, and Edward Scissorhands.

Fortunately for Burton, his previous experience with Disney did not harm his relationship with the studio. Almost forty years after being dismissed, Burton collaborated with Walt Disney Studios on a new version of Alice in Wonderland. Surprisingly, two years later, Disney also endorsed the feature adaptation of the short film that led to his dismissal, Frankenweenie. It is possible that Disney has changed their approach since 1984, but regardless, leaving the studio ultimately benefitted Burton's iconic career.