The Nightmare Before Christmas

It took a team of 100 people three years to make this visually delightful stop animation film based on ideas and characters conceived of by Tom Burton, who is credited as a co-producer here. The twisted Christmas story is typically Burton, as director Selick has put it "Dr. Seuss meets German Expressionism" or, in other words, just the sort of bentness that both its pre-teen target audience and their parents will appreciate.

There is a considerable musical component although the songs, by long-time Burton collaborator Danny Elfman (who is the singing voice of Jack Skellington), are more Kurt Weil than Broadway and although clever are not of the catchy, toe-tapping variety.

 

Want something different?