Tim Burton honored with handprint ceremony at TCL Chinese Theatre

HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Quirky director Tim Burton was honored with a handprint ceremony Thursday afternoon at the TCL Chinese Theater.

It's part of a longstanding Hollywood tradition, and the master of macabre became the latest celebrity to place his hands and footprints into cement that will be displayed in the forecourt of the theatre.

Burton has premiered seven of his movies at the theater. At the ceremony, he was introduced by longtime friend Winona Ryder, who has starred in several of his popular works including "Beetlejuice" and "Edward Scissorhands."

During her short speech, Ryder thanked Burton for kickstarting her career and told the crowd how his heart influences the characters he brings to the big screen.

"Tim understands the human heart in a way I have never seen certainly on screen," she said. "He knows the pain of the misunderstood, of the odd and even of the mad. He celebrates them in a way that is both totally unique, so very, very tender, sometimes terrifying and very often hilarious."

Burton's career took off in 1989 with the creation of "Beetlejuice," which starred Michael Keaton as the titular character alongside Ryder.

Since then, Burton has released a slew of big hits such as "Batman," again with Keaton, and "Alice in Wonderland." He has produced even more movies, including "The Nightmare Before Christmas."

His next movie set to hit theaters on Sept. 30 will be "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children."