Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas: The Film, the Art, the Vision

by Frank T. Thompson, Tim Burton (Foreword)

On-screen, Jack Skellington leaps with joy, singing with wonder at his discovery of Christmas Town. He seems so real, so alive, that we believe both he and his fantastical worl must somehow exist.

But in reality it is not Jack who is the star of the show; it is the over 140 artists and technicians who spent more than two years bringing Jack and all his cohorts to life on the sceen. Every gesture Jack makes was created by a human hand, by an animator who moved the puppet in tiny increments from fram to frame. Every character, every set, every prop - even the candy dances - had to be designed and then actually fabricated by someone. This book tells the true story of the film, highlighting the art and the vision that make the movie so memorable.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Film, Christmas, Halloween, Media Tie In, Reference

192 pages, Paperback

First published October 14, 1993

Reviews

[Fiction Addition Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Relive the magic of Disney’s Tim Burton’s ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas through the retelling of this classic.

This book just published in November by studio press books is accompanied by paintings, story sketches and the concept art from the Disney studios. A must for any fans.

In this tale we meet Jack Skellington who lives in Halloween land.

Jack is bored of the scaring and terror and fright, tired of being something that goes bump in the night.

And so to bring joy to the town, Jack kidnaps Santa and takes his place as a jolly elf.

To find out what happens you’ll have to read the book. Meet the characters, Sally, Oogie Boogie, Dr Finklestein and more..

But does Jack eventually learn the meaning of Christmas? What do you think?

Have you seen the movie?

[Parka · Rating 5 out of 5]

(More pictures at parkablogs.com)

This is the dark yet wickedly cool making-of book for The Nightmare Before Christmas.

There are three parts to the book, The Film, The Art and The Vision.

The first part is on how Tim Burton came up with his story and characters, the process of getting approval from movie studios to get his idea, asking Henry Selick to direct. If you still remember the tunes from the movie, this section contains the lyrics and you can sing along (if you want to).

The second section is the art. This is where you'll see the nitty gritty details on art direction, creating sets, sculpting characters and all sorts of post production work. The creative illustrations, film stills and photos aren't limited to this section as they are throughout the whole book. There's a good amount of artwork drawn by Tim Burton himself, in his usual scrawly scratchy style.

The last part is additional commentary on the film with Tim Burton, Henry Selick (director), Danny Elfman (music), Caroline Thompson (screenwriter), Kathleen Cavin (producer) and Denise Di Novi (producer). They analyse the film from their own unique perspective and expertise, looking back at the challenges and fun working on the set.

This is a nice visual companion, especially if you like the movie.

[karolína · Rating 5 out of 5]

zboznuju tima burtona ahhhhh

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read this before and loved it (not to mention the fact that this is my favourite movie), I of course loved it all over again. The details and insights this book provides are superb and show the progression of the movie from Burton's original poem through the storyboarding, design, scripting and filming process. Not to mention showing the level of skill and dedication that everyone who worked on it had, which is more than impressive by itself. Not to mention that it gives me all the song lyrics so I can completely sing a-long next time I watch it...not that I would do that kind of thing mind you...!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having watched the top rated deservingly so movie it was a pleasure to read the book version. Long Live the Pumpkin King and Queen. The Pumpkin King might try to ruin Christmas however excels at Halloween and learns from his mistakes. Sally makes him even better a partnership to be reckoned with. Jack and Sally beat any rom com expectation.

[Elia · Rating 5 out of 5]

خب این کتاب نوشته‌ی تیم برتون‌عه ( که اسمش یجورایی به گوش هممون خورده)
و گویا می‌گن این داستانش به داستان عروس مرده ربط داره:) که دور از ذهن هم نیست چون شخصیت‌هاشون خیلی شبیه‌ان به هم!
خلاصه، این کتاب برای کودک بود بیشتر، ولی من واقعا ازش لذت بردم🥺🥺

[Hope Strickler · Rating 5 out of 5]

The nightmare before Christmas is about a skeleton named jack who lives in a land of Halloween.
One day he went on walk in the woods with his dog zero.
Jack found trees with holidays on them. Jack found one with a Christmas tree on it.
He opened it fell in and he suddenly was in a land with snow and joy fullness.
He went back and told everyone he want to have Christmas not Halloween.
Everyone got ready for Christmas.
And jack made himself a Santa suit. And sent 3 kids to get Santa so jack can be Santa.
On the night of Halloween he went to Christmas town and when he gave kids toys they where terrifying toys. Everyone was finding jack.
Jacks sleigh came down and when he go. up he realized he could not be Santa. So he just stayed himself.

I recommend this book because the nightmare before Christmas is awesome. It was full of surprises and had lots of holidays. It is a popular book and movie.

[Hannah | Reading Under Covers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took an intro to stop-motion animation course taught by Owen Klatte in college, and when he revealed that he was an animator on The Nightmare Before Christmas, he immediately became a sort of hero for me.

This book gets 5 stars for the quotes and photos of Owen and his wife alone because they are my f a v o r i t e s and I don’t know if I’ll ever get over seeing people I know on the big screen.

If you love the film, or have any interest in the behind the scenes of how this movie was made, I highly recommend this book.

[Qt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and informative--and loaded with pictures, sketches, and photos!

[Indah Threez Lestari · Rating 4 out of 5]

649 - 2020

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's the perfect Christmas book and I refuse to listen to arguments against it.

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great behind-the-scenes look at the art, puppets, and music of the film. I loved the different perspectives offered in here from everyone involved like set builders, puppeteers, painters, etc. and that it didn’t just focus on Tim Burton. It truly shows what an artistic and technical feat the film was.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just happened to see this book on the shelf when I was at the library picking up some other things and had to check it out. I love this movie and have always been interested in its production. I like behind-the-scenes stuff and did already know quite a bit about the making of this movie but still really enjoyed reading more about it along with looking at all of the artwork.

[Esperance A Mulonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love love love. It was so cute

[Brittney · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a fan of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, then you absolutely need to get your hands on the Grehge Classics edition in hardcover with art! This book is a total gem that will transport you straight into the enchanting world of Halloween Town.

Let's talk about the artwork - it's absolutely stunning! Each page is filled with beautiful illustrations that capture the essence of the film perfectly. The colors are vibrant, and the attention to detail is incredible. You'll find yourself getting lost in the whimsical and spooky world of Jack Skellington and his friends.

The hardcover format adds a touch of elegance to this edition. It's well-made and feels sturdy in your hands. The cover design is eye-catching and features iconic imagery that will make any Nightmare Before Christmas fan smile. It's a book that you'll want to proudly display on your shelf for everyone to see.

But that's not all - this edition also includes bonus art prints! These prints are a fantastic addition to the book. They showcase some of the most memorable scenes and characters from the film, and they're beautifully reproduced. You can frame them and hang them up to bring a little bit of Halloween Town into your own home.

Overall, the Grehge Classics edition of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas in hardcover with art is a must-have for any fan. The artwork is breathtaking, the book is well-made, and the bonus art prints are a delightful surprise. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just discovering the magic of this film, this book will make you fall in love with Halloween Town all over again. Don't miss out on this enchanting treasure!

[ema · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Film, the Art, the Vision 🕷️🎄

I recently read Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Film, the Art, the Vision and would like to share my review.

Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

In this book, the authors delve into the making of the iconic film *The Nightmare Before Christmas*. They provide insights into the creative process, showcasing the stunning art and illustrations that brought the movie to life. The book also explores Tim Burton's vision and the impact of the film on popular culture.

While the book offers a fascinating look behind the scenes, it lacks in-depth analysis and could benefit from more detailed commentary. Additionally, it would have been interesting to see more interviews and anecdotes from the cast and crew.

If I am being hones overall it wasn’t the best book for me, but read it and you will see. ☺️

[Caryn Reveling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always loved this movie and finally bought the book to read. It's a great story about finding out who you are and finding happiness. Jack is one of my favorite characters and Sally is a remarkable monster that finds the good in everyone.

We follow Jack on his journey to find his true self. Finding happiness in his life. He explores the outskirts of Halloweentown until he finds the holiday trees. After discovering Christmas he tries to bring that spirit to his own people. It doesn't go as planned and Jack learns some things about life and even finds that spirit of Christmas in his own self. Thanks to the help of Sally who was looking out for him all the while.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you a true fan of this movie, this thin volume is a true delight! I knew this stop motion film was a lot of work but, whoa! The explanations of how the sets and characters are built, the time involved, etc is quite interesting. 3 separate Oogie Boogies?! I had no idea. Solid 4 stars.

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creativity thriving into art for all to see in on 70 minute film!

[vittorio · Rating 4 out of 5]

such a good insight into my favorite movie 🩶

[Aisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like the film. So beautifully created

[Jaydin Lottman]

It was an amazing book and if you can; you can see the movie while reading the book.

[Regina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Normal

[Nicole Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually like the book better than the movie

[Biridiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful work!!
If you are a Burton fan, this is a must.

[Drew Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Twas a long time ago, longer now than it seems in a place that perhaps you have seen in your dreams, for the story which this has to be told began with Tim Burton's holiday worlds of old. Now you've probably wondered where stop-motion movies come from. If you haven't I'd say that it's time you've begun! For movies are the result of much fuss and hard work for the casts and crews who create them for us. Well, you see now, quite simply, that's all that they do, making one unique movie especially for you. But once, a masterpiece ever so great occurred when several geniuses met... more or less on purpose.

(u c wut i did ther?)

So after Tim Burton had this idea of his rumbling around his brain for a few years, he was finally given the go-ahead by Disney to get it made into a film. This book outlines a lot of the details behind the movie, the artistic inspiration and execution, and the general art of this well-known and well-loved holiday cross-over movie. Stop-motion animation always sort of blows my mind with the level of detail and craftsmanship and the painstaking nature of the process, but this book made me even more exhausted in that respect than watching the movies does. The work that these filmmakers put into every step of the process is just incredible, and this book does a good job of getting that across, not only regarding the artistry, but also the technological and technical details that are required to complete a project like this. I thought the balance between text and art was a little too heavy in favor of the text, but it was always pretty interesting, and it also contained an outline of the script, including song lyrics (some of which were oddly inaccurate, at least according to the finished product), and parts of the original poem on which the film is based. I think if this book were to be made nowadays it would probably be a lot bigger, and include more art and less text.

This is a great book for fans of Tim Burton's Halloween/Christmas extravaganza, or for anyone interested in the painstaking and impressive process of stop-motion animation. I thought it was a little text-heavy at times, but it still had a lot of great art (from concept stages to finished sets and characters), and interesting details about the making of Tim Burton's animated masterpiece.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this picture book of her own to a four-year-old I was babysitting, but then the father returned and was disturbed that I was reading this to her. He said there were "much better choices" of Christmas stories to read to her than this one, and removed it from the playroom. I had assumed that since she owned the book it would be OK to read to her. The mother didn't know how they had come to possess the book, but thought it had been a gift from someone.

I could see how some of the pictures might be disturbing or scary to a four-year-old, and would probably have chosen more uplifting Christmas books for our own kids at that age, but I wouldn't have a problem with them reading the book and laughing now. Our youngest is eight.

This particular four-year-old did not seem frightened by the book, but did ask why Jack was a skeleton. I didn't have an answer for that. Her older brother, seven, routinely watches and reads scarier stuff, including Star Wars, so I think she's been toughened up by inadvertent exposure to scary stuff.

OK - enough of the debate surrounding this book. My personal opinion: I thought it was funny and creatively done. It definitely does not portray much of the deeper meanings of Christmas, if that's what you're looking for in a book. If your kids are old enough not to be scared and want a brief laugh at something before delving into the more serious meanings of Christmas, then this book would fit.

If you really wanted a positive message from the book, I would focus on Santa's forgiveness of Jack and the others.

[Leonardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a most beautiful and heart-warming tribute to a movie that is powerful that not even the most omnipresent and blatant commercialization has been able to strip it of its magic and craftsmanship. An excellent balance between texts and images makes this book a most enjoyable reading. Tim Burton's original sketches, matched with illustrations and photographs from the whole production process, mixed with the (almost) complete lyrics from the soundtrack and Frank Thompson's caring and insightful prose, make this an essential reading for any Nightmare's fan, as well a required reading for anyone interested in contemporary stop-motion animation. An updated version that included an essay on the legacy of the film would improve upon a delightful book.

[Marta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tim Burton - an out-of-this-world visionary, Henry Selick (the director of the movie) - a hard working genius, and Danny Elfman (the composer, lyricist and singer) - magical masterpiece of a mind, and many many more talented creators who brought this incredible story of Jack Skellington to life - THANK YOU!!!! This movie is so much more intricate and complicated than it seems at first sight, and with all the meticulous work that's been invested in it, Nightmare Before Christmas still appears to be effortless.

The book by Frank Thompson is a must read for everyone who truly want to understand what lies beyond the screen and for those who want to see why animation should be praised higher, for every page you turn, you can't help but say: "What's this?"! ;-)