THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS aka TIM BURTON'S
NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Year: 1993
Year: 2006 (3D version)
USA: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
UK: Buena Vista Pictures International (UK)
Cast: Chris Sarandon, Danny Elfman, Catherine O'Hara, William Hickey, Glenn Shadix, Paul Reubens, Ken Page, Ed Ivory, Susan McBride, Debi Durst, Greg Proops, Kerry Katz, Randy Crenshaw, Sherwood Ball, Carmen Twillie
Director: Henry Selick
Country: USA
USA: 76 mins
USA Rated: PG for some scary images
USA Release Date: 27 October 2000 (Limited Re-release)
USA Release Date: 20 October 2006 (3D version)
UK Release Date: 1 December 2006 (3D version)
UK Release Date: 17 November 2006 (3D version) (Limited Release - London, Vue West End)

3D version
UK Distributor

Synopsis

Set in a world where every holiday has its own special land, THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS follows the misguided passion of Jack Skellington, Halloweentown's beloved Pumpkin King, who oversees the creation of all the ghoulish delights, frights and surprises that his holiday traditionally exports to the "real world." Bored with the same annual routine, Jack finds a new purpose in life when he accidentally stumbles upon the entryway to Christmastown and becomes instantly enraptured with the bright colors, toys, decorations and warm spirit that he discovers there. He returns home obsessed with bringing Christmas under his control and enlists his loyal townspeople to help him become a substitute Santa and create a "new and improved" version of the holiday. But even the best laid plans of mice and skeleton men can go seriously astray as Jack discovers all too soon.

Touchstone Pictures THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS was produced by Tim Burton, who conceived the project nearly 19 years ago when he was an animator and filmmaker at The Walt Disney Studios. NIGHTMARE was finally brought to the big screen by director Henry Selick, a leading creative force in stop-motion and other experimental forms of animation. Since no one had ever undertaken a stop-motion animation project on such a massive scale before, a special studio had to be created expressly for the needs of this production. A 40,000 square foot vacant studio space in the heart of San Francisco's South of Market area was transformed into Skellington Productions and top talents, primarily from the Bay Area, were recruited for this unique project. During the course of the two years of actual production, more than 120 animators, artists, camera operators and technicians worked on the film and, at the peak of production, 20 individual stages were simultaneously used for filming purposes. For Burton, THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS was always a very special project and seeing it realized in such a spectacular manner appears to have been well worth the wait.

Synopsis 3D version

THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS was originally released in 1993 and as the first full-length stop motion animated feature was celebrated for its groundbreaking accomplishments. The film has now been digitally re-mastered in stunning Disney Digital 3D™ and will be released in selected digital 3D cinemas across the country.

The dazzling new makeover of the musical-fantasy was led by the film's original filmmaking team of Academy Award® nominated writer/producer Tim Burton (CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, CORPSE BRIDE) and director Henry Selick (JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH) as well as the talented technical wizards at Industrial Light + Magic.

Audiences will get closer than ever to Halloweentown's beloved Pumpkin King, Jack Skellington (voice of Chris Sarandon), as he attempts to take over the Christmas holiday. Against the advice of Sally (voice of Catherine O'Hara), a lonely rag doll who has feelings for him, Jack enlists three mischievous trick-or-treaters - Lock, Shock, and Barrel - to help him kidnap Santa Claus. Jack eventually realizes his mistake but has to contend with the evil Oogie Boogie before he can make things right and restore the Christmas holiday.

Fuelled by an unforgettable Grammy® nominated soundtrack featuring ten ghoulishly delightful songs by Oscar® nominee Danny Elfman (CORPSE BRIDE, BIG FISH) who also provided the singing voice for Jack, THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS 3D combines the Oscar® nominated artistry of stop-motion animation with brand new state-of-the-art digital technology to create a unique and entertaining movie-going experience.