Nobody else, therefore, was surely more suitable to adapt Dahl's much-loved novel, and nobody else was surely daring enough to attempt a re-make of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971, directed by Mel Stuart), that enduring classic starring Gene Wilder as Wonka.
His subsequent directorial work on Beetlejuice (1988), Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992) cemented his role as an experimental and visionary director/producer. However, his hard work and talent did not go unnoticed. He made several animated shorts, none of which were deemed suitable for children - an early indication of Burton's dark outlook. Director Tim Burton has come a long way since his first job as an animator for Disney in the early 1980's.
