Making it as a director in Hollywood is difficult, but the ones that break the mold and make it big typically have a distinct style that stands out. Directors like Steven Spielberg and James Cameron have their own way of doing things, and they took their style all the way to the top.
Back in the 80s, Tim Burton made his directorial debut, and in a flash, the world saw a new style that they desperately wanted more of. Burton has maintained his unique style during his career, and fans noticed that there is one specific quirk that the director uses in all his films.
Let's take a look at Burton's style and see what he uses most often.
Tim Burton Is An Iconic Filmmaker
Tim Burton is certainly a director who needs no introduction, as he has been at the top of Hollywood since breaking out in the 1980s. Burton is as unique as it gets in Hollywood, and he has never shied away from paying homage to his roots and his inspirations. During his time in the business, the acclaimed director has been responsible for a number of successful projects.
The success of 1985's Pee-wee's Big Adventure let folks know that a fresh director was in town, but 1988's Beetlejuice really helped Burton establish himself as a legitimate filmmaker who was ready to make some serious noise in the industry. The final film that Burton directed in the 80s was Batman, which was a major success that changed the game for comic book movies.
During the 90s, the director continued to deliver exceptional films, with projects like Edward Scissorhands, Batman Returns, Ed Wood, and Sleepy Hollow adding to his unique legacy. Even during the 2000s and beyond, Burton continued to do things his way while giving his legions of fans movies to enjoy.
As we stated earlier, Burton is as unique as it gets when it comes to his filmmaking, and fans have noticed a number of similarities that he brings with him when he works on a project.
He Has A Certain Way Of Doing Things
Gizmodo did an exceptional job in taking a look at Burton's films and finding the similarities between them. Most of the list does not apply to every single one of Burton's projects, but one can't help but notice how many times he uses the same themes and visual supports. Even certain characters can feel familiar in his movies.
The pudgy weasel, the flashback scene, and the impossibly kind parent figure are all similarities that Gizmodo pointed out in their write-up, and they were even gracious enough to share the Burton flicks that include those elements. Again, this does not happen in every single movie, but there is definitely a pattern here.
Another quirky thing that Burton is noted for is using similar actors in many of his projects. We have seen plenty of other people do this, as Adam Sandler basically works with his friends all the time, but Burton's recurring performers tend to carry a little more name value in the world of entertainment. Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Christopher Lee, and Jeffrey Jones were all used as examples on the site.
Now, Burton's unique visual style certainly lends to a number of things being used frequently, but there is one thing he tends to include in virtually all of his movies.
A Character Wearing Black And White Stripes Is In Virtually Every Film
As fans on The Easter Egg Archive have pointed out, virtually all of Burton's movies feature a character wearing black and white at some point, most notably wearing black and white stripes. Now that it has been pointed out, go ahead and take a moment to think about his movies and the use of black and white clothing. It's in basically all of them, and has become a hallmark of his visual style.
The site's users also pointed out some other quirky things that the filmmaker uses in his movies. Burton frequently uses spirals, jack-o-lanterns, and he has had several movies end as snow is falling. Other similarities were also discussed, including his use of the iconic Danny Elfman for the film's score.
Despite being in the game for nearly 40 years, Tim Burton still maintains a rabid following who will always show out to support his projects. The iconic filmmaker is making the switch to the small screen when he debuts Wednesday on Netflix, and fans are excited for the next chapter of his career. It'll be interesting to see if black and white stripes are used on the show.
