Tim Burton Outraged by AI-Styled Disney Characters
When Tim Burton laid eyes on AI-generated versions of Disney characters in his unmistakable style, he couldn’t contain his outrage. The Emmy and Golden Globe winner compared the experience to a cultural belief that photographs steal one’s soul.
Burton, the 65-year-old director renowned for his unique storytelling, described the unsettling feeling as if something vital was being extracted from a person’s soul or psyche. He likened it to a robot stealing one’s humanity and soul.
Currently, Burton is in the midst of shooting “Beetlejuice 2,” the highly-anticipated sequel to his 1988 cult classic. However, production has been halted due to strikes by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). The movie features original stars Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder, alongside Willem Dafoe and Monica Bellucci, with co-production credits going to a team that includes Brad Pitt.
Despite being just two days away from completing the film when the strikes were announced, Burton remains eager to wrap it up once the actor’s strike is resolved. He expressed gratitude for what they’ve achieved so far, emphasizing that they’re close to a 99 percent completion.
However, Burton admits that he relishes the creative process of filmmaking but finds the promotional aspect challenging. He confessed, “I am really not that good at talking or speaking or trying to sell something, so to speak.” He views his filmmaking journey as a peculiar and unexplainable adventure.
While big-budget projects like “Beetlejuice 2” leave him physically and mentally drained, Burton’s passion for the creative process keeps pulling him back in. He acknowledges that he doesn’t experience emotional release after completing a film, but cherishes the collaborative work with talented people, actors, and even puppets. “Beetlejuice 2” allowed him to revisit the fundamentals of filmmaking, which he thoroughly enjoyed.
“Beetlejuice 2” is set to hit theaters on September 6, 2024. In the meantime, as Burton waits for the strikes to end, he is promoting an upcoming art exhibition featuring his work. The exhibition, titled “The World of Tim Burton,” will debut at the Museo Nazionale del Cinema in Turin, Italy, in October 2023, and will be open to the public until April 2024.
Among the featured artworks are depictions of Disney’s Elsa from “Frozen” and Princess Aurora from “Sleeping Beauty,” reimagined in the style of Burton’s 2005 stop-motion film “Corpse Bride,” featuring the voice of Johnny Depp.
Stay tuned for more updates on Tim Burton’s creative journey and his eagerly awaited sequel, “Beetlejuice 2.”