A theory about two of Tim Burton's animated movies suggests one is the prequel of the other, supporting a theory about a connected universe.

Summary

• Tim Burton's unique visual style has led to theories about connections between his movies, including a possible prequel featuring Johnny Depp's character.
• Burton has a successful career in fantasy and gothic horror genres, bringing his trademark touch to original stories and adaptations.
• The theory that Burton's animated movies are all connected suggests Victor Frankenstein, Victor Van Dort, and Jack Skellington are the same character, though this theory is not supported by evidence in the films.

Tim Burton’s movies have a unique visual style that has made way for theories about possible connections between them, and among them is one that suggests Burton secretly made a prequel about one character voiced by Johnny Depp. After making his directorial debut in 1985 with Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, Tim Burton was able to show his trademark visual and narrative styles in Beetlejuice, which marked the beginning of a successful career in the genres of fantasy and gothic horror. Since then, Burton has brought to life original stories like Edward Scissorhands and adaptations like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, all of them with his unique touch.

Tim Burton has also earned a place in the world of animation, particularly stop-motion animation, a style he began exploring in the 1980s with the short film Vincent. One of Burton’s most beloved works of animation is Corpse Bride, which tells the story of Victor Van Dort (voiced by Johnny Depp), a young man who accidentally brings the deceased Emily (Helena Bonham Carter) back while practicing his wedding vows near her grave. Victor has the physical characteristics of a Burton character, which has led to theories that say his backstory was told in the stop-motion movie Frankenweenie.

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Frankenweenie's Victor Isn't The Younger Version Of Corpse Bride's Victor

Frankenweenie was released in 2012 and it’s the remake of Burton’s 1984 live-action short film of the same name, which in turn is a parody and homage to the 1931 classic film, Frankenstein. Frankenweenie follows Victor Frankenstein (Charlie Tahan), a young boy and scientist who uses the power of electricity to bring his deceased dog, Sparky, back to life – but when other kids discover what he has done, they ask him to bring their death pets back, too. Corpse Bride’s Victor and Frankenweenie’s have pretty much the same character design, with pointy chins, really big eyes, thin noses, dark shadows around the eyes, and small mouths, but they aren’t the same character.

First off, Corpse Bride is set in the Victorian era, in an unnamed town in England, while Frankenweenie is set in the 1960s, so it’s not possible for Victor Frankenstein to be the younger version of Victor Van Dort. Corpse Bride’s Victor is English, while Frankenweenie’s Victor Frankenstein is American, and they have completely different parents. Both Victors have similar traits, such as being kind and shy, but they can’t be the same character. In addition to their physical similarities, both Victors have death dogs – Scraps in Corpse Bride and Sparky in Frankenweenie –, which led to the belief of a possible connection between them.

Tim Burton Theory Claims His Animated Movies Are All Connected

When a filmmaker’s style is very specific and consistent throughout most of their work, theories emerge about connections between their movies, creating connected universes. This has happened to directors like Quentin Tarantino (who has confirmed his Tarantino movie universe) and Christopher Nolan, and Tim Burton is also part of the list. Various theories claim Burton’s animated movies – The Nightmare Before Christmas (which was made from a story by Burton), Corpse Bride, and Frankenweenie – are all connected, with some going as far as to claim that Victor Frankenstein, Victor Van Dort, and Jack Skellington are the same character, with their movies following them through different parts of their lives.

The theory says that first is Frankenweenie, following Victor’s childhood years and his relationship with his dog, and then comes Corpse Bride, with an older Victor whose dog has died (for good this time), though he reunites with him now as a skeleton. The Nightmare Before Christmas would be following Victor (whose name is now Jack, for some reason) in the afterlife, accompanied by Zero, the ghost of Sparky/Scraps. The theory doesn’t work for the same reasons Frankenweenie can’t be a prequel to Corpse Bride, and in addition to that, Zero’s gravestone is seen in Frankenweenie, so Sparky, Scraps, and Zero definitely aren’t the same dog.