The Nightmare Before Christmas

1993 stop motion film directed by Henry Selick

The Nightmare Before Christmas is a 1993 stop-motion animated dark fantasy comedy film directed by Henry Selick and produced/co-written by Tim Burton. It tells the story of Jack Skellington, a skeleton from "Halloween Town" who opens a portal to "Christmas Town". This new town makes Jack realize he wants to do something different than Halloween every year. Jack tries Christmas out but soon realizes that Christmas may not be for him. Danny Elfman wrote the music to the movie and provided the singing voice of Jack, as well as other characters. Other voices in the movie include Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, William Hickey, Ken Page and Glen Shadix.

The Nightmare Before Christmas
Directed byHenry Selick
Written byStory:
Tim Burton
Lyrics:
Danny Elfman
Adaptation:
Michael McDowelll
Screenplay:
Caroline Thompson
Produced byTim Burton
Denise Di Novi
2006 reissue:
Don Hahn
StarringDanny Elfman
Chris Sarandon
Catherine O'Hara
William Hickey
Glen Shadix
Ken Page
CinematographyPete Kozachik
Edited byStan Webb
Music byDanny Elfman
Production
companies
1993 release:
Touchstone Pictures
Disney Digital 3-D:
Walt Disney Pictures
Distributed byBuena Vista Pictures Distribution
Release date
October 29, 1993
Running time
76 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$18 million[1]
Box office1993:
$50 million
2006:
$8.7 million
2007:
$15.8 million
2008:
$1.1 million

Cast & Characters

change
  • Chris Sarandon as Jack Skellington, the main protagonist.
  • Danny Elfman as Jack Skellington’s (singing voice), Barrel, one of the four secondary antagonists, and one of the trick-or-treaters working for Oogie Boogie. Barrel’s costume is a skeleton. Danny also voices Clown with the Tearaway Face, who has a minor role in the film, but has a tear-away face that makes his voice way lower and scarier.
  • Catherine O'Hara as Sally, the main protagonist’s wife that escaped from Doctor Finkelstein’s lab and Shock, one of the four secondary antagonists, and one of the trick-or-treaters working for Oogie Boogie. Shock wears a witch costume, and has electrocuted hair.
  • William Hickey as Doctor Finkelstein, one of the four secondary antagonists that “created” Sally.
  • Glenn Shadix as Mayor of Halloweentown, the mayor that works with Jack to make Halloween and Christmas.
  • Paul Reubens as Lock, one of the four secondary antagonists, and one of the trick-or-treaters working for Oogie Boogie. Lock wears a Devil costume, and has a blue and white face.
  • Ken Page as Oogie Boogie, the main antagonist that attempts to kill Santa, also known as Sandy in Halloween Town.
  • Ed Ivory as Santa Claus, the hero that saves Christmas and undoes the damage that Jack and Oogie caused.

References

change
  1. Mark Salisbury, Tim Burton (2006). Burton on Burton. London: Faber and Faber. pp. 121–127. ISBN 0-571-22926-3.

Other websites

change