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.