A new trend on TikTok has users getting into the Halloween spirit with a little help from director Tim Burton. Participants in the “Tim Burton challenge” are using makeup and filters to pay tribute to the filmmaker’s catalog of spooky movies. While TikTokers from all over use the challenge to celebrate Burton, others are taking the opportunity to address controversial remarks he has made in the past.
PopBuzz credits TikTok user @spaghettandmeatball, a.k.a. Julia, with starting the trend on October 16. Set to the tune of “Ice Dance” from the Burton classic Edward Scissorhands, the clip shows Julia using the “Time Warp Scan” filter to simulate droopy eyes and sunken-in cheeks. The look recalls the style of Burton movies like The Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride, and Frankenweenie.
@spaghettandmeatball ##TimeWarpScan ##fyp I look so sad but I’ve been doing this for so long it’s so fun
♬ Ice Dance (From “Edward Scissorhands”) – Ashton Gleckman
It didn’t take long for TikTok stars Emma Chamberlain and Brittany Broski to promote Julia’s video, which has since gained more than seven thousand views. Soon enough, TikTok exploded with users sharing their own takes on the Tim Burton challenge.
@brittany_broski ##duet with @spaghettandmeatball ##TimeWarpScan
♬ Ice Dance (From “Edward Scissorhands”) – Ashton Gleckman
@colleen ##duet with @spaghettandmeatball i’m scared.
♬ Ice Dance (From “Edward Scissorhands”) – Ashton Gleckman
Controversial Remarks
While many users are hopping on the trend to celebrate Burton’s filmography, others are using it to call attention to comments the director has made about diversity in his movies.
“Nowadays, people are talking about [diversity] more,” the director said in 2016. “Things either call for things, or they don’t. I remember back when I was a child watching The Brady Bunch and they started to get all politically correct. Like, OK, let’s have an Asian child and a black. I used to get more offended by that than just… I grew up watching blaxploitation movies, right? And I said, that’s great. I didn’t go like, OK, there should be more white people in these movies.”
As a result of this comment, some TikTokers are using the challenge to accuse Burton of excluding people of color from his films.
@iwantmangoz trying to prove tim burton’s racist ass wrong ##TimeWarpScan ##timburton ##corpsebride ##fyp ##trending ##ThriftShop
♬ little dark age by MGMT – 🎵anti.audios🎵
@tamia_tiktok ik it’s wonky it was hard 😭##TimeWarpScan ##timburton ##timburtonchallenge ##corpsebride ##halloween ##DOLLHOUSECHALLENGE ##fyp ##xyzbca ##desi ##alt ##makeup
♬ Ice Dance (From “Edward Scissorhands”) – Ashton Gleckman
@beetswif3y i’m starting to think this guy may have been right 🌚🌚🌚##timburton ##timewarpscan ##fypシ ##foryoupage ##trending
♬ Tears to Shed – Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride Soundtrack-Helena Bonham Carter, Jane Horrocks And Enn Reitel
Still, many clips under the #timburtonchallenge hashtag focus simply on recreating the look of classic characters like Edward Scissorhands and Jack Skellington.
@phantomsigns thanks for showing me how @spaghettandmeatball ##DialItForward ##timewarpscan ##timburton ##fyp
♬ Ice Dance (From “Edward Scissorhands”) – Ashton Gleckman
@bellapoarch Trying out this trend…I look scary😂 ##TimeWarpScan
♬ Ice Dance (From “Edward Scissorhands”) – Ashton Gleckman
