Tim Burton is, beyond any doubt, one of the best directors in the industry, with a perspective that is as beautiful as it is unique running through each and every one of his films. In fact, his style is so particular, with its dark and gothic overtones, that a new word was invented to describe it: “Burtonesque” (via Studio Binder). His interest in film and movies developed from an early age: as a child he used to make short films in his backyard, and these experiences eventually inspired the construction of many of his stories and characters. While studying at the California Institute of the Arts, he created the short film Stalk of the Celery Monster, which caught the attention of Walt Disney Productions, and earned him his first opportunity as an animation apprentice.

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Throughout his film career, Burton has directed 19 movies, and took part as producer or writer in several others. Some of his best-known projects include Beetlejuice, Sleepy Hollow, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, to name just a few. His latest venture so far is the talk of the town: the Netflix series Wednesday, centered on the popular character from The Addams Family. This production, in which he is involved as executive producer and director, stars Jenna Ortega, alongside Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzman, Isaac Ordonez, Gwendoline Christie, and Christina Ricci, among other actors. Wednesday marked Burton’s comeback to directing TV productions, something he had not done since 1986. Let’s have a look at some of the director’s most personal projects.

Vincent

     Buena Vista Distribution

The 1982 short Vincent may be the most significant of all those Burton has worked on, as it was dedicated to one of his idols and sources of inspiration, whose career he had been following since childhood: horror movie star Vincent Price. Not only that, but Price was involved in the short film as narrator, and from then on, they developed a friendship that continued up to the actor’s passing. Vincent, written and directed by Burton, follows a boy who admires and pretends to be Price, but the obsession he has with him becomes so strong that there comes a point when he really believes he is actually the actor. Following his work in the short film, Price said it was “the most gratifying thing that ever happened.”

Beetlejuice

     Warner Bros.

This 1988 film starring Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder was the one that launched Burton’s reputation and positioned him as a director capable of making wonderful productions with low budgets. Beetlejuice follows Adam and Barbara, a recently deceased couple who are just getting used to their new reality, when a very peculiar family acquires their house. In order to scare them away, this couple contacts Betelgeuse, a bio-exorcist with dubious methods, who seizes the opportunity to do his own deeds. Keaton and Ryder are joined in the cast by Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Jeffrey Jones, and Catherine O’Hara. Beetlejuice was a box-office and critical success, and last February, a sequel was announced, although it is not yet known whether it will be directed by Burton.

Batman

Following Beetlejuice’s popularity, Warner Bros. offered Burton the chance to direct the studio’s initial Batman film series, his first big budget project. In it, he recast Michael Keaton in the lead role, a decision that was highly controversial, because up until then, Keaton was closely associated with the comedy genre, with many doubting his acting abilities for a more serious role. Still, it’s safe to say that Keaton utterly amazed audiences and fans alike. Naturally, the production is based on the well-known DC Comics character, and features performances by Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl, and Pat Hingle, among other actors.

Edward Scissorhands

     20th Century Fox

Edward Scissorhands is considered by many to be Burton’s movie masterpiece, and it also marked his first of several collaborations with one of his favorite actors: Johnny Depp. This 1990 production starring Depp, Winona Ryder, and Dianne Wiest follows Edward, an artificial humanoid whose inventor died before attaching his hands. Now, he lives in solitude, completely isolated from society, until a door-to-door saleswoman discovers him and resolves to integrate him into her family, where he finds true love. However, after their initial inquisitiveness, their neighbors start to consider him a threat, undermining his brand-new life. Vincent Price stars as The Inventor, his last major role before passing away.

The Nightmare Before Christmas

     Touchstone Pictures

The story of The Nightmare Before Christmas is very peculiar, as it is the only film on this list that was not directed by Burton. However, it is among the highlights of his portfolio, because it was inspired by a poem of the same name written by him in 1982. For several years, he was interested in making a short film or a TV special adapting the poem, and when the possibility arose, he was already committed to Batman Returns. Therefore, he became involved as a producer, and the movie was helmed by Henry Selick in his directorial debut. The Nightmare Before Christmas is a stop-motion animated film that follows Jack, the King of Halloween Town, who serendipitously finds out about Christmas and seeks to integrate it into his town.

Ed Wood

     Buena Vista Pictures

This 1994 film is another of Burton’s most meaningful productions, as it pays tribute to another one of his idols: cult filmmaker and actor Ed Wood. This production, starring Depp, follows Wood’s journey as he pursues his dreams of making it in the industry. Joining Depp in the cast are Martin Landau, Sarah Jessica Parker, Patricia Arquette, and Jeffrey Jones, among others. Ed Wood was the brainchild of Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, and although it was not a box-office hit, it proved very popular with critics and eventually became a cult film.

Frankenweenie

     Walt Disney Studios

Wrapping up this list is the 2012 film Frankenweenie, which follows Victor, a very clever boy who uses electricity to bring his dog Sparky back to life, resulting in some trouble with his neighbors and relatives. This production is a remake of his 1984 short film of the same name, which is inspired by his personal experiences with his childhood pets. It also pays homage and parodies the classic movie Frankenstein. Voicing the characters of this unique film are Charlie Tahan, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, Martin Landau, Atticus Shaffer, and Winona Ryder.