Tim Burtons methods of film openings

Tim Burton- His early film career was fueled by almost unbelievable good luck, but it's his talent and originality that have kept him at the top of the Hollywood tree. Tim Burton began drawing at an early age, going on to attend the California Institute of the Arts with other famous media names such as John Lasseter the founder of Pixar and director to many of their films. Tim Burton was  awarded an apprentership from Disney, for whom he went on to work. He is known for his gothic, gory and original films. He has a unquie way of begining his films with openings that just feed the auidence parts of an enigma code but still leaving them clueless.



This is Tim Burton's 'Sweeney Todd' realised during 2007. As you can see it is very gothic a favoured styled choice of the director. He uses a very confusing enigma code to keep the audience engaged during the usually boring opening sequence. You know the over the top exaggeration of blood connotes that many deaths will appear throughout the film. Also you see a trapdoor open leading to a machine that moshes meat leading the viewer to presume the victims of  murder get grinded up. The next part of the clip shows some pies being cooked leading the viewer to conclude the victims get baked and eaten being the ingredient of the delicious looking pie. Notice the very dramatic non-diegetic use of music, another favoured choice from the director as it builds up a tense atmosphere. Tim Burton also always informs the audience of the location through every animated opening he's done, though not easily noticed this is set in the historical period of 18th century connoted by the old town at the start of the opening and the old sewage system.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62TEljaPzo0
(sorry this video could not be embeded)
This is Tim Burton's 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' realised during 2005. The music is creepy and gothic but with a childish feel that makes the factory seem scary; almost creating a children’s horror. Though the title itself tells the viewer about the narrative of the film Tim uses an enigma code that shows this chocolate factory is special, shown through visual elements. The dark gloomy background creates an atmosphere of mystery. Like Sweeney Todd with his over the top use of blood this film uses an over the top use of chocolate manufacturing. At first the chocolate seems to be manufactured in the normal manner. However, things start getting more crazy as it flips around, shoots in the air and even floats on a Para shoot from the sky. The music suddenly calms as you see five 'Golden Tickets' places on five separate bars. This enigma code feeds the audience more information about the narrative yet you still don’t know how these tickets are related to the film. However in smaller writing under the text 'Golden Ticket' you see 'FEB 1    10.AM (SHARP)   FRONT GATES' and above the text 'WONKA' written in signature font. This tells the audience that these are invites from the presumed owner of the chocolate factory; his name being Wonka. The gold also connotes these are obviously very important and high value invites. You then see the chocolate bars stashed in boxes and stickers of their locations are placed on the boxes outside. Do these stickers tell us the film is based in 'London', 'New York', 'Cairo' and 'Tokyo'? or are these stickers not location of the film but instead a well fed enigma code that shows Mr Wonkas bars are sold all over the world? The clip ends with Wonka's vans leaving the factory. This opening sets the story up that there are hidden tickets in the world for a very important price. Once again Tim Burton tells the audience a lot about the narrative of the film but in such a subtle way they don’t actual realise.

Tim Burton favours dark, gothic type visual elements of animation. And creepy dramatic music. Most of his films start in these animated ways giving him extra respect and uniqueness around the film industry world.