People are turning themselves into Tim Burton characters on TikTok

19 October 2020, 15:58 | Updated: 3 November 2020, 10:44

Emma Chamberlain does the Tim Burton character challenge on TikTok

By Katie Louise Smith

Here's how to do the Tim Burton character challenge on TikTok.

From Edward Scissorhands to The Corpse Bride and The Nightmare Before Christmas, Tim Burton's signature aesthetic has long been a popular staple in pop culture. The sunken cheeks, the huge round eyes... A Halloween classic every time.

Now, TikTok users have found a way to morph into their own Tim Burton-esque character, using a filter on the app.

How to do the Tim Burton Challenge on TikTok:

1) Select the Time Warp Scan filter, and make sure it travels down the screen instead of across.

2) Use two fingers to slightly pull the bottom of your eyes open.

3) Drag your thumbs or index fingers down your cheeks to create the cheekbones.

Do all this in time with the filter while holding as steady as you can and voilà! You've turned yourself into a Tim Burton character.

Tim Burton character challenge on TikTok
Tim Burton character challenge on TikTok. Picture: @spaghettandmeatballs, @emmachamberlain via TikTok

Emma Chamberlain and Brittany Broski are amongst the TikTokers who have already attempted the challenge, duetting user @spaghettandmeatball's original video which has over 7m views. Some look pretty convincing but it's clear that it takes a steady head and a steady hand to really nail the aesthetic.

Others are also doing the trend as a response to Tim Burton's past comments about non-white actors and characters in his films.

In an interview with Bustle back in 2016, Burton's comments about the lack of diversity in some of his films sparked outrage on social media. These comments have also recently resurfaced.

While discussing Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, he said: "Nowadays, people are talking about it more, 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."