The first thing that struck me about the exhibition was just how much it had in it. I wasn’t expecting it to be as big as it was, but I was in there for over an hour looking at a multitude of early sketches and short comics by Burton, as well as models, costumes, poster art and more. There were TV screens playing his first short film Vincent, which I hadn’t seen before, and it was fascinating to see such an early example of his work that already had his distinct style.
It was also a really well-organised exhibition too. This might sound like a strange compliment, but what I mean by this is I really liked how the exhibition started by showing his roots as a designer and the various films and artists that influenced him, and how those early inspirations can be seen throughout his entire filmography, which is also shown in mostly chronological order.
As a massive fan of stop-motion, my favourite part of the exhibition was seeing first-hand the several models and sets from his animated works. I was really excited to see models of Jack, Sally and the Mayor from The Nightmare Before Christmas, one of my favourite films, but for those who are more inclined towards Corpse Bride or Frankenweenie, there were still plenty of character models from those films that were amazing to see up close.
Overall, I was really satisfied with my visit to The World of Tim Burton. The amount of material they had from Burton’s archives, and the way the exhibition came together as a full celebration of his work, really impressed me and I think you’ll get something out of it even if you’re not fully acquainted with his work. If you find yourself down in London before May 26th, get yourself down to the Design Museum and check it out!