Further connections can be made between the suburban neighborhoods in which Frankenweenie and Edward Scissorhands are set and the conservative town of Burbank, California, where Tim Burton grew up. Burton grew up in an area of ​​California that conformed to the stereotypical norms of mainstream America. Victor and Edward are both placed in ordinary, conformist worlds that accentuate their differences and individuality. In both Tim Burton creations, the hedges that border the neighborhood properties are representative of the banal suburbs. Edward uses these hedges to explore his artistic abilities and bring life to an otherwise bland community. In Victor's case, while trimming hedges, Mayor Burgemeister throws clippers at Victor with the intention of monitoring where Sparky goes to the bathroom. It has been suggested that at this point in the film the mayor is presented as the antithesis of Edward as he demands conformity and middle class values ​​(Weinstock). In each film, there is also an apparent lack of support within communities. In both situations, neighbors only come together when there is something to gossip about or something has gone terribly wrong. This depiction of suburbia unmistakably derives from Burton's experiences. Burton stated that: I always had the feeling that growing up in these types of neighborhoods, the only time you would see the neighbors all together was if there was an accident or something ahead... I was always fascinated by that, and how the parallels between suburban life and a horror movie were actually closer than you might think” (“The Gothic Imagination of Tim Burton” 16). Based on Burton's statements, there is an unmistakable connection between Burton's childhood and the kind of ..... . middle of paper ......has had an extraordinary journey, going from being an avid film watcher to designing and making films himself. He elaborately uses dark and gothic themes in most of his works which sets him apart from others in the industry. Burton's huge advantage is that no one “can see any of [his] films and not immediately know that it is [his]” (Weinstock, 217). His recurring ability to introduce characters who are an obvious extension of himself allows viewers to connect with Burton as an individual and find comfort in his own imperfections. He excels at developing characters who adopt the role of antihero and protest against the conventional hero. Together, the themes intertwined in Tim Burton's works function to push the boundaries of cinema away from the ordinary and allow him to remain exclusively an outsider working in a mainstream industry..