THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS
The Nightmare Before Christmas is an iconic dark fantasy holiday franchise born from a 1982 poem by Tim Burton and brought to life in the classic 1993 stop-motion animated film directed by Henry Selick. Spanning a landmark theatrical feature with 3D and 4K remasters, video games, graphic novels, theme park attractions, and official LEGO sets, the franchise centers on Jack Skellington's discovery and disastrous takeover of Christmas Town.
Cronologia
Overview
Created from a three-page poem written by Tim Burton in 1982 during his time as a Disney animator, The Nightmare Before Christmas has expanded into an enduring multimedia franchise.
The core property is the 1993 stop-motion animated feature film directed by Henry Selick, produced by Tim Burton and Denise Di Novi, with songs and score by Danny Elfman.
While the franchise centers on a single main theatrical film (later re-released in 3D in 2006 and as a 30th-anniversary 4K remaster in 2023), its footprint spans across over ten major video games, multiple comic and manga series, a published novel trilogy, theme park overlays like Disneyland's Haunted Mansion Holiday, and annual live concert performances.
Origins
The idea for the franchise began in 1982 when Tim Burton wrote a poem parodying Clement Clarke Moore's 'Twas the Night Before Christmas while working at Walt Disney Feature Animation.
Drawing inspiration from classic holiday television specials like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Burton collaborated with Rick Heinrichs on concept art, storyboards, and character models. Disney initially considered developing the project into a short film or a 30-minute television special.
In 1990, Burton struck a development deal with Disney, which held the film rights. Because Burton was busy directing Batman Returns, Henry Selick was hired to direct, while Danny Elfman composed the songs and score. Production officially commenced in July 1991 in San Francisco at Skellington Productions with a crew of 200 workers. Fearful that the dark tone might be too scary for children, Disney released the original film under its Touchstone Pictures banner on October 29, 1993.
I PEZZI DI THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS
Collecting
For collectibles enthusiasts, The Nightmare Before Christmas boasts an extensive array of licensed merchandise and display pieces spanning over three decades.
Early physical collectibles originated in 1993 with Tiger Electronics' handheld LCD electronic game, promotional postcard books, and storybooks.
Modern collecting highlights include the official 2024 LEGO Ideas building set (#21351), which features detailed Halloween Town landmarks alongside minifigures of Jack Skellington, Sally, Santa Claus, Zero, Lock, Shock, and Barrel. Gaming collectors also seek out interactive physical items such as the 2013 Disney Infinity Jack Skellington figurine. Additionally, Disney Consumer Products releases annual seasonal merchandise collections every Fall—ranging from home decor and apparel to high-end display statues—ensuring the franchise remains a sought-after staple for collectors year after year.
Tim Burton blocked plans for a CGI movie sequel in 2001 to preserve the original film's artistic purity.
