The Nightmare Before Christmas
Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas is a 1993 animated musical film written and produced by Tim Burton, directed by Henry Selick and scored by Danny Elfman. The film was based on Burton's characters and original story. The film follows Jack Skellington, the leader of a holiday-themed world known as Halloween Town, who becomes bored of his repetitive lifestyle and eventually stumbles upon the world of Christmas Town; interested in the new world's culture, Jack attempts to combine the two holidays, with disastrous results.
The film was a critical and commercial success, with particular praise awarded for Tim Burton's original storyline and stop motion animation, combined with Danny Elfman's creative musical score. Following its theatrical, and home video release, the film has earned a significant following, including merchandise, video games and other related media dedicated to the film. The film has also been theatrically re-released on several occasions, including two remastered 3-D versions released in Disney Digital 3-D on October 20, 2006,October 19, 2007 and will make a 3rd re-release on October 24, 2008. It is rated PG for "some scary images" by the MPAA. Disney CEO, Michael Eisner, commented that the film was "too dark for children", therefore it would be decided that Disney release the film under Touchstone Pictures. However, the 2006 3-D version of the film was released under the Walt Disney banner and the Special Edition DVD is also released under the Walt Disney banner.
Since 2001, the Disneyland in California and Tokyo Disneyland in Japan have received a Nightmare Before Christmas themed overlay, entitled The Haunted Mansion Holiday for their Haunted Mansion attractions. The attractions are closed in September (August at Tokyo) each year for themes to be completely transformed, and open again themed in late September until January of the next year. The ride has included a score that incorporates music from the film, written by composer Danny Elfman, and adapted specifically for the ride by John Debney.