Tim Burton expressed his discomfort and the feeling of having his humanity drained when AI was used to recreate his unique animation style. While acknowledging that the reimagined Disney characters were “very good”, Burton found it disturbing to see the princesses with pale faces, big eyes, and dark dresses in gothic settings. He compared the experience to having something taken away from his soul or psyche, similar to the belief that having one’s picture taken steals their soul in other cultures.
The use of AI in Hollywood has contributed to the ongoing strike among writers and actors. Tim Burton was close to completing the long-awaited sequel to ‘Beetlejuice’ before the strike was called. Despite the limited time frame, Burton expressed gratitude for what they were able to achieve, stating that the film is 99% done.
Burton admitted that making big studio movies is exhausting for him, and he struggles to watch the finished films due to the emotional attachment he feels. However, he always focuses on the positive experiences and the enjoyment of working with talented individuals. For ‘Beetlejuice 2’, Burton aimed to strip everything back and return to the basics of collaborating with good people, actors, and puppets, which reminded him why he loves making movies.