Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas

Tim Burton's favorite holiday is Christmas, but his other one is Halloween. In this film imagined in his early days as a Disney animator the two holidays meet when Jack Skellington of Halloween Town stumbles into the magical doorway to Christmas Town. Being the Pumpkin King all his life has led Jack into self-doubt about his aspirations, and he feels a longing for something more. Christmas Town with all it's brightly colored lights and toys immediately consumes his dreams, and he decides to make Christmas his own.

Starring
Chris Sarandon - Jack Skellington's speaking voice
Danny Elfman - Jack Skellington's singing voice, and Barrel
Catherine O'Hara - Sally Ragdoll and Shock
Glen Shadix - The Mayor of Halloween Town
Paul Reubens - Lock
Ed Ivory - Santa
Ken Page - Oogie Boogie

Early in his career as a Disney animator, Tim Burton wrote a short story poem three pages long and also drew up the original characters. Burton's poem only featured Jack, his ghostly dog Zero, and Santa Claus. The project was never produced until Tim Burton struck a deal with Disney after his success as a director.

It took seven years to make The Nightmare Before Christmas.
With Tim busy directing other movies like Batman Returns, the directing chores were given to animator Henry Selick, who would next do the stop-motion animated version of Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach. Nightmare Before Christmas was the first stop-motion animated film that went beyond fixed camera work and utilized more cinematic approaches.

Also by Tim Burton
The stop-motion animated film The Corpse Bride featuring the voices of Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Danny Elfman as Bone Jangles.

Tim Burton first admired Danny Elfman and his LA band Oingo Boingo before he and Paul Reubens decided to ask the singer and songwriter to write his first film score for Pee Wee's Big Adventure. It was the first major motion picture for the trio, and Tim and Danny continue to work together 20 years later. Prior to Nightmare Before Christmas Danny also scored Beetlejuice, Batman, and Edward Scissorhands for Burton.

The songs Danny would write would have Dr. Seuss-like lyrics, with catchy rhymes and Danny's great sense of rhythm and melody. He became so enamoured with Jack Skellington that he insisted on performing the character's singing voice, and many fans agree Danny Elfman is the soul of the Pumpkin King.

Behind the scenes there had been some disagreement that led to Tim deciding not to work with Elfman on his next film Ed Wood, resulting in Danny being even more upset with Tim. But Burton soon regretted it and invited the composer to meet privately. They immediately made-up, began discussing their next film Mars Attacks, and have remained the best of friends and creative partners ever since. Recently Danny wrote music and songs for Tim's films The Corpse Bride and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Visit dannyelfman.info for more about Danny Elfman and Oingo Boingo.

You can be the Pumpkin King on PS2, Xbox, or Gameboy!
Video games inspired by The Nightmare Before Christmas were released in 2005.