Gothic animated films like 9 and Coraline are guaranteed to please those who enjoy Tim Burton‘s filmography. While Burton has directed and produced several properties from different genres, it is difficult not to associate the director with a distinct, unique cinematic style. There are many animated films inspired by Burton’s work, although there are also other great movies that borrow inspiration from the same works of art that once inspired Burton as well.
Known for his surreal worlds and quirky protagonists even when it comes to hit horror movies, Tim Burton has been wowing audiences with his eccentric art style since the 90s. Burton’s films have significantly impacted pop culture, challenging traditional notions of heroes and blurring the line between reality and fantasy, as seen in Corpse Bride‘s ending. Since Burton’s introduction to the silver screen, gothic surrealism in animation has become more common and is usually compared to his distinctive catalog.
10 9
Focus Feature’s 2009 animated feature 9 whisks audiences away to a desolate world plagued by war. It follows the journey of 9: a handstitched puppet brought to life by the soul of his creator. With the help of his crew of renegade puppets, who also bear numbered marks, 9 takes a stand against the machines in hopes of being humankind’s last saving grace.
9’s twisted post-apocalyptic story of bravery, resilience, and kinship blends in with the gothic films from Tim Burton’s catalog. Its bizarre character designs, evocative score, and dark, steampunk world are on par with films like Edward Scissorhands. Research suggests that 9′s Tim Burton influence doesn’t just stop at its haunting aesthetic: not only is Burton credited as a producer of the film, but 9 also includes a vocal performance by the late, great Martin Landau, a frequent collaborator of Burton’s.
9 Kubo and the Two Strings
From the makers of Coraline comes a stunning stop-motion gem about a young boy’s magical quest to unlock his true potential. Studio LAIKA’s Kubo and the Two Strings follows Kubo, a lonely boy with hidden magical powers. When Kubo accidentally awakens a vengeful spirit, he sets off on a quest to solve the mysteries of his family’s past, mastering mystical weaponry and unlocking hidden abilities along the way. Critics praise Kubo and the Two Strings for its masterful storytelling, and mesmerizing execution of the stop-motion art style.
One viewing of Kubo’s mystical story of self-discovery, and it’s not hard to see why it would be compared to Tim Burton’s signature gothic filmography. At the heart of its magical story lies underlying concepts of death and spirituality, two prominent themes throughout Tim Burton’s body of work. In addition to its gloomy stop-motion atmosphere, the story’s hero is outcasted by his village because of his unusual traits and behaviors, like most of the protagonists in Tim Burton’s stories.
8 Wendell & Wild
The masterminds behind critically acclaimed films like The Nightmare Before Christmas and Get Out worked together to produce this underrated stop-motion film. Wendell & Wild is a cleverly written story about a young girl named Kat who must confront her personal demons to begin a new life in her old hometown. The film is praised for its underlying political themes of social justice and prison reform, as well as its unique POV and vivid art style.
A close examination of Wendell & Wild shows just how similar it is to Tim Burton-produced stories like The Nightmare Before Christmas, especially with Henry Selick as the film’s director. Wendell & Wild’s art direction screams Beetlejuice thanks to its emphasis on rich hues of purples, blues, and greens, giving the film its haunting, otherworldly aesthetic. In addition to the exploration of the afterlife and the presence of supernatural forces, Wendell & Wild’s Black alt protagonist fits right in with unsung heroes like Edward Scissorhands and Lydia Deetz, two edgy misfits who are famously misunderstood.
7 Coraline
Henry Selick’s stop-motion classic Coraline is commonly mistaken for a Tim Burton film, thanks to its dark themes and cultural impact. It follows the twisted journey of Coraline, a young girl who takes her mundane home life for granted. Coraline’s boredom sparks a curiosity that leads her to a new world that seems too good to be true. She soon discovers that her alternate life comes with dark secrets that threaten the livelihoods of those around her.
Coraline’s creepy childhood story could easily be a Tim Burton movie. Its twisted, dark themes of death and torture give the film an eerie undertone, similar to Burton films like Corpse Bride. The unsettling story behind Coraline combined with its distinctive art style and quirky ensemble make it a must-watch for Tim Burton fans.
6 ParaNorman
Studio LASIK’s 2021 breakout hit ParaNorman left its mark on viewers thanks to its unique story of bravery, acceptance, and overcoming fear. It follows the story of Norman, a young loner with the ability to talk to the dead. When an evil witch raises the souls of the dead in his hometown, Norman must use his unique abilities to save it.
The story’s hero, Norman, has character traits that are familiar to Tim Burton fans. His supernatural abilities and bizarre hobbies leave him ostracized with families and peers alike. Norman’s dark sense of humor, fascination with the dead, and preference for solitude resemble Burton’s heroes like Wednesday and Lydia Deetz. Additionally, ParaNorman’s distinct stop-motion style takes a page out of Tim Burton’s handbook: a pioneer of the meticulous animation technique.
5 Batman: Gotham by Gaslight
This 2018 gem pits DC’s Dark Avenger against the heinous serial killer Jack The Ripper. Set in the Victorian era, Batman: Gotham by Gaslight puts Batman’s superhuman detective skills to the ultimate test as Jack The Ripper runs loose in the streets of Gotham, committing gruesome murders and leaving a trail of blood in his wake. In a sea of Batman animated features, Gotham by Gaslight manages to stand out thanks to its unique POV and stylish steampunk makeover. The gory imagery combined with the Victorian landscape is reminiscent of Burton classics like Sweeney Todd and Sleepy Hollow.
Gotham by Gaslight is similar to Sweeney Todd and Sleepy Hallow in a lot of ways. Firstly, each of these films has similarities in visuals and tone with fashion, architecture, and characteristics that reflect the Victorian time period. Each of these stories blends gothic horror and mystery and is set in a major city. The dark and moody Batman fits right in with the rest of Burton’s band of misfits, so much so that he already has a space in the Burton vault thanks to Batman (1989) and Batman Returns.
4 James and the Giant Peach
The curious mind of Henry Selick birthed this underrated 90s classic, which isn’t talked about nearly enough. After the success of The Nightmare Before Christmas, Selick and Burton teamed up to make James and the Giant Peach. It is a coming-of-age story that follows the bizarre journey of a young boy’s voyage across the world.
James and The Giant Peach’s odd art style and surreal universe are synonymous with Burton’s unique aesthetic. Its quirky brigade of heroes gives the film a unique perspective, a major driving force of its underdog story. At the core of its eccentricity, James and The Giant Peach has a lot of heart and is an adventure every Tim Burton fan should experience.
3 The Box Trolls
From the makers of Coraline, comes an underdog story that questions the concepts of monsters and morality. In The Box Trolls, a race of garbage-dwelling creatures resort to living underground to avoid the harsh judgment and ridicule of humans. Rather than accept the Box Troll’s unusual way of life, the humans label the trolls as monsters and devise a scheme to exterminate them.
The Box Trolls are comparable to Tim Burton heroes like Edward Scissorhands, who are famously alienated because of their unusual appearances and lifestyles. Like most Tim Burton films, The Box Trolls inspires audiences to sympathize with the “strange and unusual”, opting for flawed heroes and monsters instead of standardized character tropes.
2 The Wolf House
The Wolf House is an animated horror film known for giving viewers the creeps thanks to its dark story and unsettling visuals. The handcrafted “surrealist docu-horror-fairy tale” depicts a dark Chilean tale of a young girl who hides in a mysterious house after escaping a group of German religious fanatics. The unnatural art direction and distorted art style leave viewers uneasy, kin to popular titles from the Tim Burton vault. The Wolf House’s bizarre nightmarish aesthetic, combined with its ominous tone would appease those who enjoyed Alice in Wonderland and Beetlejuice, two Tim Burton films made famous for their twisted, distorted visuals.
1 Mad God
Mad God’s industrial horror style was reportedly 30 years in the making. The film combines the darkest fears of the subconscious mind with the masterful visual effects of films like Star Wars and Jurassic Park. Mad God follows a man’s descent to hell as he journeys through a dark world filled with tortured souls and wretched monstrosities inspired by nightmares.
Mad God takes the dark, gothic elements that make Tim Burton films famous while turning up the dial on the horror. Behind its decrepit landscape and horrific creatures, lies a highly imaginative story with extraordinary attention to detail akin to Tim Burton’s fantastical universes. Additionally, Mad God was brought to life using a hand-crafted, stop-motion technique: a style where Tim Burton reigns supreme.
