Timothy Walter Burton (“Biography”) was born on August 25, 1958. Burton had a painful childhood in which his relationship with his parents and brother was non-existent (Morgenstern). Through his intense sense of isolation, his visual talent began to develop. The comfort he found in hobbies such as writing and drawing led him to attend the California Institute of the Arts which led to his first job in any artistic field at Disney Animation Studios (“Biography”). Burton has since been called one of the most visually gifted writers, artists and directors America has ever seen (Hanke). His short stories, poems and film scripts focus on an inner darkness that he has slowly acquired since his childhood. He throws himself into everything he writes and makes even the simplest characters have a deep and complex meaning. His famous darkness and symbolism are shown in his book The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy and Other Stories. The book contains a collection of his short stories, poems, and illustrations about a variety of fictional characters that can be compared to Burton and his life. Tim Burton's family life and previous difficulties had a significant impact on his work. In my article I will draw parallels with his life and work and demonstrate that there is reasoning and beauty in his way of being. Tim Burton was born in Burbank, California to Jean and Bill Burton. His mother owns a small cat-themed gift shop in Burbank called Cats Plus and his father works for the Burbank Park and Recreation Department. He has a younger brother, Daniel, but they rarely speak. Not much is known about the relationship between Burton and his family. When asked about his family, “he speaks with great reluctance. . ...... middle of paper ....... She uses her work as a form of therapy and puts her heart and soul into everything she touches. The pain of not being accepted by his peers and family is put into his work. His nightmares from the past are put on paper. Without the judgment and pain that was thrown at him, he could never have been as great as he is today. Every aspect of his work has been influenced by his life, whether it be relationships, feeling depressed, or feeling lonely. He rose from the ashes of his past, took all the pain and turned it into something truly beautiful. Works Cited "Biography". The Tim Burton collective. Network. March 15, 2011.Burton, Tim. The melancholy death of Oyster Boy and other stories. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publisher Inc., 1997. Print. Hanke, Ken. "Tim Burton." Film in review 1992. Vol 43, 11-12. Print.Wilner, Norman. "Tim Burton." The Toronto Star 1991. Print.