Tim Burton Biography: His Short Films, TV Projects, and Non-directing Credits

Aside from more than two dozens of directing works made up of short, independent, and mainstream film projects, Tim Burton also has credits as producer, writer, and animator both in film and TV. He also has a few credits as storyboard artist, concept artist, and production designer, most of which are parts of his earlier works.

Tim Burton Biography: From His Early Career to His Rise to Hollywood Fame as an A-list Director

Tim Burton Biography: The Hollywood Icon Outside His Directing Set

Tim Burton Biography: His Up and Down Moments and His Shelved Major Projects

Short Films

In 1971, at the age of 13, Burton directed his first short film entitled The Island of Doctor Agor. Based on the classic H.G. Wells story The Island of Doctor Moreau, this adaptation was shot around Burbank, California, Burton's hometown. Shot in Super 8 film, Burton also acted in this amateur film that readily showcased a promising storytelling career for the young teen.

In 1979, while studying at the California Institute of Arts (CalArts), he made the animated short filmsStalk of the Celery and Doctor of Doom. He also served as writer and animator for these films.

In 1982, he shot his first live action short after his teenage film TheIsland of Doctor Agor. He made his own version of Hansel and Gretel based on the fairtytale by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, otherwise known as the Brothers Grimm. It showed his visionary background reminiscent of his early professional works such as Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands. In the same year, he also made the films Vincent and Luau. Vincent was an animated short about a poem Burton created and it revolved around the story of a young Vincent Malloy who dreams of being a Vincent Price, Burton's childhood idol. With its child-like, artistic, poetic, and sing-song nature, it showed what the budding young animator can do as a visionary filmmaker. The project was funded by Disney where he was then working as an animator. Like his other live action works, Luau features another story with an eccentric and emotional vibe to it.

In 1984, Burton created Frankenweenie, his version of the classic Frankenstein story. Instead of a man, his monster brought from the dead was a dog named Sparky. According to IMDB.com, Burton's new full-length Frankenweenie film is set for release in 2012.

In 2000, years after his many box office hits, he made another short entitled The World of Stainboy. This episodic film depicts the ironies of the life of a superhero named Stainboy. Burton keeps his distinct sensibility for this independent film work amidst his already growing filmography of mainstream projects.

Cinema16: American Short Films, an elite compilation of short films from acclaimed directors from America and Europe, was released in 2006. The 16 filmmakers who contributed to the project include: Tim Burton, George Lucas, Alexander Payne, Gus Van Sant, Andy Warhol, Adam Davidson, Maya Deren, Adam Parrish King, Standish Lawder, Mike Mills, Stefan Nadelman, Joe Nussbaum, D.A. Pennebaker, Peter Sollett, Todd Solondz, and Rawson Marshall Thurber.

Major TV Projects

In 1986, Burton worked in episodes of Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre (Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp episode) and Alfred Hitchcock Presents (The Jar episode). Some of his shorts also aired on TV like Hansel and Gretel and Vincent. After the success of his 1988 studio film Beetlejuice, the following year, it was adapted into an animation series loosely based on the film.

Major Writing and Producing Credits

Burton usually works as writer and producer of his films. Apart from the works he directed, he is also known as the creator and producer of The Nightmare Before Christmas directed by Henry Selick.

After a successful partnership with The Nightmare Before Christmas, Burton produced another Selick film in 1996: another animated film entitled James and the Giant Peach. He also produced the 1994 film Cabin Boy.

On TV, Burton is best known as the creator and producer of Beetlejuice. He worked as a producer on the TV series entitled Family Dog, a 1993 cartoon project created by his fellow CalArts alumnus Brad Bird and was co-produced by Steven Spielberg. He also worked as a writer and producer for the 2000 series entitled Lost in Oz.

In 2009, he and visionary Russian director Timur Bekmambetov (director Day Watch, Night Watch, and Wanted) produced Shane Acker's animated film 9, a story about a rag doll struggling in a post-apocalyptic world. This film was originally Acker's critically-acclaimed short film nominated for an Academy Award.

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Tim Burton Filmography:

Tim Burton Filmography: His Early Works as a Filmmaker (1971 to 1990)

Tim Burton Filmography: His Films from 1992 to 2000

Tim Burton Filmography: His Films from 2001 to 2010