"The Nightmare Before Christmas" is a poem, written by Tim Burton, which served as the foundational inspiration for the beloved 1993 stop-motion animated film of the same name. Burton penned the poem in 1982 while working as an animator at Disney, and it details the frustrations of Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloweentown, who grows weary of the annual Halloween festivities and yearns for something new. [1] [2]
The poem's opening lines, "'Twas the nightmare before Christmas / And all through the house / Not a creature was peaceful / Not even a mouse," are a direct parody of Clement Clarke Moore's "A Visit From St. Nicholas" (better known as "'Twas the Night Before Christmas"), which is also an obvious inspiration for the poem's title. [1] [2]
The poem introduces key characters and plot points that would later be central to the movie. It describes Jack Skellington as "tall and thin with a bat bow tie" and highlights his boredom with the repetitive nature of scaring and fright. The narrative unfolds with Jack discovering a grove of holiday trees, each representing a different holiday, and his subsequent tumble through the Christmas tree portal into Christmastown. [3]
Upon his return to Halloweentown, Jack, filled with wonder, attempts to explain Christmas to his fellow residents, who struggle to grasp the concept outside of their macabre understanding. [3] He then decides to take over Christmas, believing he can improve it. Jack's misguided attempts to deliver presents, which are, in true Halloweentown fashion, terrifying and monstrous, lead to widespread panic in the human world. This culminates in Jack being shot down by the military, a moment of "All Is Lost" in the narrative structure. [3]
Santa Claus is kidnapped by creatures from Halloweentown and taken to see Jack. The poem concludes with Santa confronting Jack, acknowledging his good intentions but emphasizing that Halloween is Jack's true place, and then setting Christmas right again. The poem's ending also sees Santa bringing a touch of Christmas to Halloweentown, a "snowy miracle" that the residents finally understand. [3]
The poem was later adapted into a children's storybook with illustrations. The film, directed by Henry Selick and produced by Denise Di Novi and Tim Burton, premiered on October 29, 1993, nearly a decade after the poem was written. [4] [3] Despite Disney's initial concerns that the film might be too scary for young viewers, it has since become a beloved classic enjoyed by audiences of all ages. [2]
A significant difference between the original poem and the film is the absence of Sally, Jack's rag doll admirer, in the poem. [2] The romantic component was added later in the film's development. Jack's loyal ghost dog, Zero, with a "jack-o'-lantern nose that glowed in the dark," is also present in the original poem, though Jack initially hardly notices him.