4. Beetlejuice (Beetlejuice)
Disgusting and absurd, Beetlejuice is the epitome of everything we hate about humanity. He is dirty, slimy, sneaky, and greedy. He represents what we could become should we give into all of our primal wants and instincts. His character has launched a cartoon series that managed to shed him in a brighter light, but the original Burton character is meant to shock and dismay. Though he is a cheat and a jerk, he gets what is coming to him in the final moments of the film, which is always welcome and instills in us the everlasting phrase what goes around, comes around."
3. Edward Scissorhands (Edward Scissorhands)
Another exaggerated exploration of how society reacts to differences, Edward Scissorhands is a pinnacle character in any Tim Burton list. His scarred face represents the struggles he has faced in his life before Avon representative, Peg, drags him into the light of modern day suburbia. The panic, shyness, inability to understand, and his unavoidable love for Pegs daughter all represent the struggles he faces now that he is out of his comfort zone. Edward is the personification of every feeling we have ever had regarding confidence. When we have none, we become introverted. When we have an abundance, we come out of our shell to be dropped into the limelight. When we inevitably let our confidence get out of control, we become monsters, whether or not we have purposely acted like ones. The conclusion for Edward is that he doesnt belong in society and must retreat back to his sanctuary, even if that means letting the love of his life slip away. He could not give her what she needed and, in an heroic act of selflessness, lets her go to live her life in the world she belonged to. We all wish that we could have the strength to let the things we love go for their own benefit. We sympathize with Edwards sacrifice and love him for his ability to stay true to himself, even if he does remain a misfit.
2. Jack Skellington (The Nightmare Before Christmas)
Probably one of the most recognizably Burtonesque characters, Jack Skellington is the hometown hero who reaches for the furthest star. His very human act of over inflating his abilities and realizing that he cannot do all that he puts his mind to is humbling, not only to himself, but to us as well. We love to believe that if we persevere and motivate ourselves enough, we can achieve our wildest of dreams. It is just not always possible. He is a star among his fellow Halloweentown residents, but is also a very real friend to each of them. What makes him a real hero, though, is admitting when he was wrong - thinking that he could take over another mans job. These lessons are very simple, but when you consider the fact that this is a childrens movie, it does a very creative job of instilling perfectly the morals and values that everyone wishes they could abide by. The idea of wanting more out of life, trying to be someone else, failing, and going home realizing that what you had wasnt really that bad to begin with is an age old tale. Jack Skellington is one of my childhood heroes and will remain one of the greatest and (perhaps surprisingly) most human Tim Burton creations.