Tim Burton’s Cameo in ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ Explained
In a delightful twist, acclaimed director Tim Burton makes a unique cameo in his latest project, ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,’ the sequel to the iconic 1988 film ‘Beetlejuice.’ This surprise appearance has been highlighted in a recent featurette included with the film’s home release, alongside comments from two of the visual effects artists involved in the project.
Returning Cast and New Faces
The sequel sees Burton reunite with original cast members Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara, alongside a new ensemble featuring Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, and Willem Dafoe. Notably, actor Danny DeVito also appears in an extended cameo.
A Detailed Look at Burton’s Cameo
Burton’s cameo is cleverly integrated into a stop-motion sequence depicting the demise of the character Charles Deetz. During this segment, viewers can catch a glimpse of a puppet representation of Burton as a passenger on the ill-fated flight, which tragically crashes into the ocean. This chaotic moment captures Deetz’s fate at the jaws of a great white shark.
Insights from the Creative Team
As revealed in the featurette, ‘An Animated Afterlife: The Stop-Motion Art of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,’ stop-motion producer Glenn Holberton discussed the origin of this sequence, noting it was inspired by Burton’s own unpleasant experiences with budget airlines. “It’s the flight from hell, basically,” animator Andy Biddle added, capturing the atmosphere of chaos with references to disruptive passengers.
How to Spot Burton’s Avatar
Tim Burton’s puppet is subtly placed among the background characters in the film. It can be seen starting at the 8-minute and 58-second mark, positioned several rows back on the aircraft. “I don’t think normally Tim would be quite that far back,” noted stop-motion supervisor Ian Mackinnon, referring to Burton’s well-known aversion to flying.
Multiple Appearances in the Sequence
According to visual effects supervisor Angus Bickerton, Burton’s puppet actually appears twice in the passenger crowd, enriching the visual storytelling with a familiar figure. “Tim wanted this cluster so claustrophobic,” Bickerton explained, underscoring the creative direction behind the flight’s frantic atmosphere.
Further Engagement with Burton’s Cameo History
This isn’t the first time that Burton has made an appearance in his films; he previously had cameos in ‘Pee-wee’s Big Adventure’ (1985) and ‘Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children’ (2016). Additionally, it was noted that Burton contributed to the audio effects in ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,’ voicing the character of Baby Beetlejuice.
Availability of ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’
‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ is currently available on various platforms, including digital streaming, 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD.
