Another Classic 90's Animated Feature

Rating: 10/10 (27 October 2011)

Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas is a 1993 animated motion picture released by Disney affiliate Touchstone Pictures that, at the time, decided to use a new form of animation: stop motion. The story is about Jack Skellington (voiced by Chris Sarandon/Danny Elfman), the Pumpkin King of Halloweentown who, being tired of tricks and treats and all the scary elements that make up Halloween, decides, while walking with his trusty sidekick Zero (whom I affectionately call the Orange-Nosed Ghost Dog!), to explore a new world. That new world was Christmastown! After being enchanted by the wonders and joys of Christmastown, Jack devises a plan to take over Christmas and fill Santa Clause's shoes (or as Jack calls him, "Sandy Claws"). In doing so, he get's the entire town involved by putting a Halloween-like twist on Christmas (making ducks with razor-sharp teeth, dolls with no heads, etc.), and he get's the mischievous prankster trio of Lock, Shock, and Barrel to "kidnap the sandy claws." At first, the trio hillariously kidnaps the Easter Bunny, but the second time, when they do kidnap Santa, they send him to Oogie Boogie, the villain of Halloweentown, and then, more chaos ensues! This movie, even though it's animated and might not exactly be scary, it's very dark and creepy compared to most animated features that were made before and around that time frame. That being said, it was so dark that Disney, who originally produced and was going to release this film, had to back out and release it under Touchstone Pictures. Even though it's not slated under the Disney canon, it still has all the elements of a Disney classic: great story, great music score/songs composed by Danny Elfman (my favorites are "This is Halloween," "What's This," "Kidnap the Sandy Claws," and "Making Christmas,"), and some of the most amazingly imaginative characters ever animated such as the two-faced Mayor of Halloweentown (voiced by Glenn Shaddix), the mad scientist of Halloweentown Dr. Finklestein (voiced by William Hickey), and Jack's rag-doll of a girlfriend Sally (voiced by Catherine O'Hara). My favorites are Lock, Shock, and Barrel! If you by any chance haven't seen this amazing motion picture classic in the last 18 years it's been out, what are you waiting for! Watch it when it comes on T.V. again this Holiday season or rent it if you come across it! I love this movie and it's one of my favorites! Definitely a Classic! Rating: A scarifying 10/10!