Tim Burton’s Lost 1983 Hansel and Gretel Film Was Too Strange for TV

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Tim Burton is now considered one of the most original and instantly recognizable directors and artists in film history. Beginning in the 1980s, he developed a distinct, playful style that he continues to use today, consistently attracting large audiences both in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Before Tim Burton became well-known, he worked with Disney in 1983 on a Halloween TV special hosted by Vincent Price. The short film, based on Grimms’ Fairy Tales, is full of Burton’s signature dark and unusual style. Notably, it features an incredibly diverse cast – entirely comprised of Asian American actors – reflecting Burton’s interest in Japanese culture at the time.

Hansel and Gretel Was the Biggest Stepping-Stone into the Greatest Era of Tim Burton’s Career

Let’s be honest, Tim Burton’s take on Hansel and Gretel is really unusual, actually making the familiar story even more bizarre and playful. But despite—or maybe because of—this strangeness, the film offered early hints of Burton’s unique, darkly gothic filmmaking style, which would later become his trademark.

The short film uses a striking black-and-white striped visual style, with buildings and trees featuring harsh angles. Its characters are pale and oddly shaped, creating a look that feels perfectly suited to Tim Burton’s signature aesthetic.

If you look closely, you can spot early ideas for Tim Burton’s future films hidden throughout this movie. For instance, the handle on the lever that sends children towards the witch’s furnace is shaped like the sandworm from Beetlejuice. And some of the children’s toys are clearly the same designs as the duck and vampire toys from The Nightmare Before Christmas. It’s almost like seeing Burton’s initial sketches come to life, even years before he used them in his more famous films. You can also see hints of his signature style, including unusual camera angles and brief moments of stop-motion animation.

The film’s playful, yet dark, approach to family entertainment strongly reflects Tim Burton’s early style. It was one of his final projects before becoming a major feature film director, preceding his 1985 take on Hansel and Gretel. This film launched the most successful period of Burton’s career, as he went on to direct a string of hits, including Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, Beetlejuice, Batman, Edward Scissorhands, Batman Returns, and Ed Wood.

Disney Has Had No Interest in Releasing Burton’s Film to the Public, but it Can Still Be Seen

Disney was surprised by the unusual look and feel of Tim Burton’s version of Hansel and Gretel, and the way audiences reacted. They decided not to release it again, and it was largely forgotten – many believed the film was lost. However, a copy was eventually uploaded to YouTube, and now several versions are available to watch for free, sometimes with or without subtitles.

The film has been shown at exhibitions internationally, including at the Museum of Modern Art in the US, as well as in France, China, and Mexico. In 2021, William Gazecki, who worked on the sound for Burton’s Hansel and Gretel, made a better, more complete version available to everyone on Vimeo.

Spending just 30 to 40 minutes exploring Tim Burton’s early artwork reveals a lot about the origins of his unique filmmaking style. It’s inspiring to see that even incredibly elaborate films often begin with simple beginnings. His short film, Hansel and Gretel, perfectly demonstrates the value of starting fresh and cultivating a personal artistic voice, while also offering a fresh perspective on a classic fairytale.

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2025-12-03 16:40