The Nightmare Before Christmas Review

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Release Date: 10th November 1994 - Australia

Production Companies

Walt Disney Pictures (3D version)

Touchstone Pictures (original

release) (presents)

Skellington Productions Inc.

Tim Burton Productions (uncredited)

Distribution

Walt Disney Studios Motion

Pictures Australia

Genre: Animation/Family/

Fantasy

Rating: G

Runtime: 73 minutes

Budget: $24,000,000

Box Office Gross: $107,798,585 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Jack Skellington, Halloween Town's beloved Pumpkin King, is bored with the same

scare-and-scream routine he

pulls in every Halloween and

has wanted something more. He accidentally stumbles upon the threshold of Christmas Town and plans to spread the magic of Christmas around Halloween Town. But Jack's yuletide plan goes astray when it puts Santa in jeopardy, and his attempt to fill his boots turns into a nightmare for all good little boys and girls.

Voice Cast

Chris Sarandon - Jack

Skellington

Danny Elfman - Jack

Skellington (singing voice)/

Barrel/Clown with the

Tear Away Face

Catherine O'Hara - Sally/Shock

William Hickey - Doctor Finklestein

Ken Page - Oogie Boogie

Glenn Shadix - Mayor

Paul Reubens - Lock

Edward Ivory - Santa Claus

Susan McBride - Big Witch/W.W.D.

Debi Durst - Corpse Kid/Corpse Mom/

Small Witch

Greg Proops - Harlequin Demon/

Devil/Sax Player

Kerry Katz - Man Under Stairs/

Vampire/Corpse Dad

Randy Crenshaw - Mr. Hyde/

Behemoth/Vampire

Sherwood Ball - Mummy/Vampire

Carmen Twillie - Undersea Gal/

Man Under the Stairs

Glenn Walters - Wolfman

Crew

Director - Henry Selick

Based on a Story and Characters/

Producer - Tim Burton

Adaptation - Michael McDowell

Screenplay - Caroline Thompson
Associate Producer/Music and Lyrics/

Original Score - Danny Elfman

Producers - Denise Di Novi and

Don Hahn (2006 3D Version)
Co-Producer - Kathleen Gavin

Art Director - Deane Taylor

Assistant Art Directors - Kendal Cronkhite

and Kelly Asbury

Assistant Art Director/Model Maker -

Bill Boes

Artistic Coordinator - Allison Abbate

Character Designer - Bud Luckey
Additional Character Designers - David Cutler,
Barry E. Jackson and Chris Ure (Uncredited)

Additional Character Designer/

Storyboard Artist - Jorgen Klubien

Visual Consultant - Rick Heinrichs
Storyboard Supervisor - Joe Ranft

Set Designer & Dressing Supervisor - Gregg Olsson

Set Construction Supervisor - Lee Bo Henry

Animation Supervisor/Animator - Eric Leighton

Additional Animator/Track Reader - Daniel Mason

Character Fabrication Supervisor - Bonita R. DeCarlo
Armature Supervisor - Tom St. Amand

Snow Animation: Walt Disney Feature

Animation - Dave Bossert

Director of Photography/Visual Effects

Supervisor - Pete Kozachik

Camera Operators - Jim Aupperle, Jo Carson,

Selwyn Eddy, Ray Gilberti, David Hanks,

Richard Lehrmann, Pat Sweeney and Eric Swenson

Assistant Camera - Mike Bienstock, Mark Kohr,

Sara Mast, Jimmy Matlosz, Carl Miller,

Cameron Noble, Chris Peterson, Brian Van't Hul

and Matthew White

Assistant Production Coordinator - Kat Alioshin

Digital Effects Supervisor: Walt Disney

Feature Animation - Ariel Velasco-Shaw

Stereoscopic Supervisor - Phil 'Captain 3D'

McNally (2006 3D Version)

Editor - Stan Webb

Consulting Editor - Chris Lebenzon

Additional Editor - Michael Kelly

Associate Editor - Edie Ichioka

Supervising Sound Editor - Richard L. Anderson

Special Sound Effects - John Pospisil

Re-Recording Mixers - Terry Porter

and Greg P. Russell

Re-Recording/Songs & Music Mixer -

Shawn Murphy

Vocal and Song Arrangements/

Orchestrations - Steve Bartek

Music Editor - Bob Badami

Awards

1994 Academy Awards
Best Visual Effects - Peter Kozachik,

Eric Leighton, Ariel Velasco-Shaw and

Gordon Baker (Nominated)

Review

A delightful, ageless movie, THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS is considered one of master director Tim Burton's cinematic treasures. But even though he didn't direct it, he did come up with the idea and the characters. This movie comes gift-wrapped with loads of macabre-filled fun and entertainment for families, not to mention there are frightening scenes to scare young viewers with its ghoulish aspects. This animated feature doesn't fail to fulfil its promises intended for Burton lovers seeking its iconic status, visual style and fast pace.

The pairing of Tim Burton's designs and classic stop-motion animation, as seen in specials such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, combined well. Not only was it Burton's first full-length animated feature, but it was also the first for its director, Henry Selick. It opened their eyes to stop-motion animation, which led them to create other movies using the same animation technique, such as James and the Giant Peach, Corpse Bride, Coraline and Frankenweenie.

This sensationally animated musical is not without the liveliness and catchiness of Danny Elfman's music. I had no idea that Elfman is thrice the composer, singer and songwriter as his reputation. The movie's rhythmical flair reflects this talent. One could imagine that he could have gotten an Oscar nomination for one of the film's best songs, such as "This Is Halloween", "Sally's Song", "Jack's Lament", "What's This?" and "Oogie Boogie's Song". The actors are equally fantastic, with characters voiced by unparalleled and notable names, including Catherine O'Hara, Chris Sarandon and Ken Page.

I can't give enough thanks to Tim Burton for creating THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS. It is an unusual holiday classic that's dark, funny, spooky and fearfully cheerful. I have to watch this movie again with others by the legendary director. Or I like to revisit one of his old favourites like Edward Scissorhands? I recommend to enthusiasts of Burton and animation that this excellent work is for you to watch, and to do so will put a smile on your face!

Star rating: (9/10) Excellent Movie

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