I was seventeen when my best friend introduced me to her favorite movie of all time: The Nightmare Before Christmas. She popped it into my VCR and sang along quietly while I watched enthralled for the first of many times to come. I was into it, and recognized the concept as quality, but I couldn't quite fall in love with the film the way she had hoped. It was only a while later, when I found out that Tim Burton had also created Edward Scissorhands that I began to seriously admire him, and coming across his book The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy and Other Stories pretty much sealed the deal for me.

Tim Burton was born August 25, 1958 in Burbank, California. He has been directing films since his breakout feature, Pee Wee's Big Adventure, in 1985, and has since gone on to direct, produce and write. Although notably he is best known for The Nightmare Before Christmas, he also had a hand in Beetlejuice, Batman, Batman Returns, Sleepy Hollow, Corpse Bride, Sweeny Todd and numerous others. His work is characterized by its dark undertones and supernaturally quirky plots. The characters he creates are lovable and flawed, deep and dark and undeniably endearing--perfect tattoo material.

Released in 1993, The Nightmare Before Christmas is a stop motion fantasy film directed by Henry Selick and produced/co-written by Tim Burton. It is based loosely on a three-page poem Burton had written while working as an animator for Disney in the early 1980s. It tells the story of Jack Skellington, a native of Halloweentown where the only other residents are ghosts, ghouls, goblins, vampires, witches, monsters and the like. One day he happens upon a portal that leads him to Christmas Town and plans to overtake Christmas. Meanwhile, Sally, a rag doll created by Halloweentown's resident mad scientist, starts to fall in love with Jack, at the same time fearing his impending plot.

This 1990 dramedy starring Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder tells the story of a man named Edward who was created with scissors for hands by an inventory and ultimately left unfinished. He is discovered in his lair by the matriarch of a suburban family who brings him home to live with her family. He quickly falls in love with the woman's teenage daughter, Kim. At first the town is delighted by Edward's presence (and his uncanny ability to cut hair and trim hedges) but soon events coalesce and the townspeople turn against him.

Published in 1997, The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories is a book of black humor poetry written and illustrated by Tim Burton. The volume contains nursey rhymes of a dark, sardonic nature, twisted tales that make you want to cry and/or commit suicide--they're THAT sad. Roy, the Toxic Boy, for example, is a bowling ball-shaped little guy who thrives on ammonia and asbestos but dies when placed in a garden to breathe fresh air. His soul leaves a hole in the ozone layer when it ascends into heaven. Another rhyme tells the story of star-crossed lovers Stick Boy and Match Girl, whose love sets their hearts ablaze...until they die.