Tim burton Reveals ‘Nightmare before Christmas’ began as a Poem, a Decade Before โRelease
LOS ANGELES, CA โ- Tim Burton disclosed โขthat the genesis of his stop-motionโข animated classic, The Nightmare Before Christmas, stemmed fromโฃ a poem he penned in 1982 while working at Disney, aโ full decade before the film’s eventual 1993 release. The revelation surfaced during a recent interview, offering aโข new perspective on the film’s remarkably unique origins and its enduring cultural impact.
Theโ story behind The Nightmare before Christmas is particularly resonant as Disney prepares for a potential live-action adaptation, sparking debate among fansโ about preserving the film’s distinctive aesthetic and spirit. Burton’s initial โขvision,born from a desire to create a non-customary holiday film,faced years of advancement hurdlesโข within the Disney system,ultimatelyโข finding โฃits form through โขstop-motion animation and the creative partnershipโ with director Henry Selick. The film’s continued popularity-it remains a Halloween staple and aโฃ beloved family favorite-underscores theโ power of Burton’s original concept and its โlastingโ appeal.
Burton described the poem as a dark, lyrical exploration of Halloween and Christmas colliding, initially conceived as a short film.โ While working โขon projects likeโฃ Pee-wee’s Big Adventure โ and Beetlejuice, he continued โคto develop โคthe idea,โข sketching character designs and envisioning the worldโค of Halloween town. “It was something I had to get out,” Burton explained, recalling the early stages of โthe project. “It was aโฃ way to express things that weren’t necessarilyโฆ conventional.”
despite Burton’s persistent efforts, Disneyโ executives were hesitant to embrace the film’s macabre tone and unconventional style. The projectโ languished for years until Burton secured โthe support of producer Kathleen Kennedy, who championed the idea of a stop-motion animated feature. Henry Selick was brought on to direct, while Burton remained heavily involved as a producer and conceptual designer, ensuring the film stayed true to his original vision.
The resulting film, released on โOctober 29, 1993, became a critical and commercial success, โlauded for its innovative animation, memorable characters, and hauntingly beautiful score by Danny Elfman. The โคNightmare Before Christmas has as grossed over $63 โmillion worldwide and cemented its โคplace as aโ cornerstoneโ of โHalloween culture, proving that Burton’s initial poem, born from a desire to blend darkness and joy, resonated with audiences across generations.
