TimBurton.com

For many years, TimBurton.com was simply a black page waiting for something to happen.  Finally, when MoMA created Tim Burton: The Exhibition and The Art of Tim Burton was published, the website got some content!

The site now features flash animation of Tim Burton's art.  Visitors can control an animated version of Stainboy as he walks through a virtual gallery of some of the art that appears in the exhibition.  I love that when he stands still for more than a moment a stain begins to grow on the floor below him.

Who knows when the site may change again but I thought I would grab a few screenshots for the archives in case!

TimBurton.com is an excellent place to see some of the key pieces from the exhibition from your own home.  If you're able to, I highly recommend ordering The Art of Tim Burton as well.  It's a beautiful book and a must for fans of Mr. Burton and his work.

RIP Michael Gough

Michael Gough was an actor best-known for his appearances in the Tim Burton Batman films, Sleepy Hollow, Corpse Bride and Alice in Wonderland but he had a long and distinguished career beginning in the 1940s.  Gough was born in Malaysia in  1917 and passed away today.

We are fortunate that so many of Gough's memorable performances have been captured on film and television.  He's appeared in a wide range of films from horror to Shakespeare and he was truly wonderful as Alfred Pennyworth in the Batman films.  He will be sorely missed.

25th Anniversary Music Box

Beginning this month, the incredible Tim Burton & Danny Elfman 25th Anniversary Music Box is available!  The first printing was a numbered run of just 1000 copies and that sold out months ago with pre-orders.  The official website has some great videos and articles as well as many, many images of the collection.

The collection includes over 18 hours of music from Pee-Wee's Big Adventure through Alice in Wonderland on 16 CDs.  It includes many never before available tracks.  It also comes with a 250 page hardcover book with a forward by Johnny Depp and a DVD of a conversation with Tim Burton and Danny Elfman.  The whole thing is packaged in an amazing music box with a moving zoetrope.

If only I had a spare $500 lying around!

POTA Chimp Greaves

I won these fiberglass chimp greaves in an eBay auction from Studio Props. They were designed by Oscar-winner Colleen Atwood for Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes.

These have clearly seen some action! Greaves are a piece of armour designed to protect the lower leg. These ones have some fantastic ape and bamboo designs on them. The inside is labeled "Keiffer." Dennis Keiffer was a stunt person on the film playing an ape. It's great to be able to match these to a performer!

These have some strange black rivets and remnants of black felt attached to them. I can only guess but maybe these were part of some stunt or FX rigging. There are several sequences with apes running or on horses that might have required special rigs.

These will make great companions to the chimp chest armour that I already have. I hope to build a full chimp warrior costume. 

Happy Holidays!

I hope everyone has a very scary holiday season!

POTA Chimp Armour

I purchased this from Studio Props on eBay.  These are pieces of fiberglass Chimp armour from Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes.  These were created by Oscar-winning costume designer, Colleen Atwood.

Tim Burton: The Exhibition

MOMA's Tim Burton: The Exhibition is now in Toronto at the TIFF Lightbox.  I finally got the chance to go yesterday and it was amazing!

I don't think the gallery really had enough space to do the exhibit as much justice as MOMA but it was still wonderful to see so much of Tim's work in one place.  I loved that there were some very early samples of his work from childhood; some of which were accompanied by publisher's rejection letters!  I also really enjoyed seeing some props and costumes from his films.  I loved the Penguin's carriage from Batman Returns and the Edward Scissorhands costume was incredible!

Understandably, no photography was allowed inside the exhibit.  I wish I could have gotten some photos of the costumes at least.  Here are some photos I took outside.

Here are some screencaps from the TIFF website for archival purposes.