Tim Burton’s Upcoming Movie Is More Exciting After Ending a 41-Year Drought

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In more straightforward terms: Tim Burton’s recent movie marks a comeback for him after a challenging decade in the 2010s, which saw films like “Dark Shadows” and “Dumbo” not fare well critically or commercially. However, this new decade seems to be promising as he returns to his signature style that has always been successful. Notable successes include the long-anticipated “Beetlejuice sequel,” which received positive reviews and box office success, and “Wednesday,” a Netflix show that has become one of their most popular series ever.

In the second season of Wednesday, Burton directed the short film titled “The Tale of the Skull Tree.” This animation is integral to the series’ storyline, debuting in the initial episode of its second season, but was also independently released online. This marks his first animated short since the original “Frankenweenie” in 1984. The return to animation is certainly delightful and may signal more to come. In fact, Burton himself mentioned in an interview with MILENIO that he is currently working on a new animated movie, expressing eagerness about the project, stating, “I am working on something as an animated project. So, hopefully I’ll have the script soon and take it from there. It’s something I’m very excited about.

Apart from a few details that remain undisclosed, there’s a lot to be thrilled about – and this excitement intensifies following the viewing of “The Tale of the Skull Tree“. Tim Burton’s latest short, “Wednesday“, exhibits classic elements: an ominous, gothic atmosphere, eerie undertones, and stunning stop-motion animation. This work echoes his 80’s shorts like “Vincent” and the previously mentioned “Frankenweenie“, while also drawing comparisons to full-length projects such as “Corpse Bride“. Notably, Burton has been incorporating stop-motion sequences in his more recent works, with “Beetlejuice 2” featuring a remarkable one depicting Charles Deetz’s fate.

Tim Burton is undoubtedly one of the most influential directors in animation, sharing this creative significance with Henry Selick in the realm of stop-motion animation. Over the years, he’s been instrumental in keeping this unique art form thriving. Regrettably, it’s been a decade and a half since his last feature-length animated movie – an extended version of “Frankenweenie.” This lengthy hiatus is unfortunate, considering Burton graced us with iconic animations such as “The Nightmare Before Christmas” in the 90s, “Corpse Bride” in the 2000s, and “Frankenweenie” once more in the 2010s. With the new decade upon us, it would only be fitting for Burton to return to animation, making it a delightful sight to behold.

This aligns with the sensation that Burton is once again approaching his peak performance level. Although we may not witness another string of movies like the late ’80s to early ’90s (which included “Beetlejuice,” “Batman,” “Edward Scissorhands,” “Batman Returns,” and “Ed Wood” – a five-movie run that many directors would covet), his current work evokes the classic Burton style authentically. Notably, unlike some of his big studio projects from the 2010s, it avoids appearing as a mere imitation of his signature style, failing to capture the depth and substance that truly define him.

As a die-hard film enthusiast, I can’t help but feel that an upcoming animated film would serve as the perfect finale, a natural progression following his remake of “Attack of the 50ft Woman.” This, too, seems like the ideal path for him, venturing back to the vintage B-movies akin to those crafted by the legendary Ed Wood. However, considering the considerable time since his last animation project and the undeniable talent he continues to display in this medium, a full return to animation would be nothing short of electrifying.

On Netflix right now, you can stream the first part of “Wednesday” Season 2. Part 2 will become available starting September 3rd.

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2025-08-19 15:21