Since he is inspired by his childhood, his films his work has an element of whimsy, wonder and naivete. His heroines are usually kind hearted and naive in a childlike manner, just like Victor in Frankenweenie or Edward in Edward Scissorhands. Along with the childlike innocence, he also explores dark themes, such as death in Beetlejuice or resurrection in Frankenweenie. He appreciates the fact that everyone has two sides to his or her personality and so, all of his films explore this delicate, contrasting balance of innocence/darkness and good/bad.
In accordance with the genre and his personal experiences, his heroines are usually different from other people in some way. They are misunderstood by those around them and as a result, they are alienated from others. This is exactly the case in Edward Scissorhands (Burton, 1990). When forced out of his house and into the centre of town, he is met by hostility because he is different from everyone else. People assume he is mean, violent and dangerous because of his hands, when he actually the complete opposite.
His films also explore social issues such as peer pressure and conformity. Once again Edward Scissorhands is a good example of this. Society tries to force Edward to conform to their rules, by making him look like them, getting him to go to school and get a job and forcing him to behave the way they do. When he is unable to conform to their rules, he is rejected by nearly everyone in the town and forced back to the outskirts of town (and society).
Even when he is remaking a classic film, the original story is weaved around these themes in such a way that even though he didn’t originally create the story, his version is very true to who he is and recognisable as his own. For example, both of his Batman films are darker than the rest and they explore social breakdown.
However, it is important to understand that a ‘Tim Burton’ film isn’t merely a fantasy film, or a film that includes the themes mentioned. His films add an extra element. It is his treatment of these things that makes his work distinct, and establishes him as an auteur.