Cinematic Techniques In Tim Burton Films

Tim Burton Films Before climbing to fame in the film industry, Tim Burton was a filming reject who was dropped by Walt Disney for his unique style which included dark elements. As a young boy, Tim found inspiration in Dr. Seuss’s playful and innocent imagination. However, later on in life Tim became inspired by Roald Dahl, Edgar Allan Poe, and Grimm’s Fairy Tales. In result, his films became characterized by their dark twists on children’s stories and their grotesque sensibility. These characterizations are clearly shown in some of his more popular works: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Edward Scissorhands, and Big Fish. In all three films, Tim Burton’s use of Flashback, Music, and Lighting help viewers form connections and establish a

For example, in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory when Willy and the golden ticket winners travel down chocolate river in a boat and the oompa loompas play a dark tune. By including this dark tune in the scene, Tim Burton creates an ominous and suspenseful mood which really gets viewers on the edge of their seats. In Edward Scissorhands, another nice example of music is used at the end of the film when a melancholy tune plays and Edward is cutting blocks of ice into snow. The bittersweet melody adds a sad and lonely mood, as well as displaying how Edward must face loneliness in result of the actions he performed. This tune causes nothing but heartache and tears to swell up in the viewer’s eyes. A more light-hearted example of music is found in Big Fish when Edward joins a circus and carnival music is playing in the background. The carnival music adds a light-hearted and goofy mood which describes Edward’s early life perfectly. Music is an essential cinematic technique for adding mood in a film, while also enhancing the viewer’s overall

The low key lighting used helps the viewer perceive that Willy’s childhood was rather gloomy and unpleasant. In addition, the lighting also adds an ominous or suspenseful mood to the scene. Another example of the effects of lighting is found in Edward Scissorhands when Peg takes Edward back into town and the scene is flooded with high key lighting and colorful houses. By flooding the scene with brightness and color Burton creates a light-hearted and cheerful environment which creates a cheerful mood and is a pleasure to the eyes. The bright lighting used also displays the difference in color from the town to Edward’s castle which was dark and dreary. Another well used example of lighting is used in Big Fish when Will’s father is dying in a hospital bed and the scene is flooded with low key lighting. This dark and gloomy lighting creates a depressing and darkening mood while also adding to the fact that Will’s father has little time to live. Lighting is a key element used by Burton to help viewers establish the mood and feeling associated with the setting or