Pauline Li Gaudefroy
The 1993-movie by Tim Burton, The Nightmare Before Christmas, is a movie loved by all ages from its fascinating plots to deeper meaning of self-identification.
Nightmare Before Christmas film strip scene, https://flic.kr/p/7a6EJc
The movie begins in a peculiar forest with trees that have different holiday symbols painted on them. Then we’re immediately taken to the cheery Halloween town, where the people of the town are celebrating the reincarnation of their hero, Jack Skellington, who is also the protagonist of the story. We see Sally, a rag doll monster, watching from afar as if she’s hiding from something. Or someone.
As the townspeople praise Jack, he can’t help feeling as though each Halloween is always the same. While walking through the graveyard (and calling on his dog “Zero”), he starts singing how easy and boring halloween has become, and his yearning for something more exciting, even claiming that “he’s growing weary of the sounds of screams”. From a distance, Sally watches him sing to the moon his emotions of longing as she longs to be with him.
Jack isn’t aware of the time and wanders farther and farther into the forest we were shown at the beginning of the movie, until he reaches the circle of holiday trees. He senses a strong attraction to the tree with a Christmas tree painted on it, and opens the door only to be sucked in by a strong gust of snowy breeze. He finds in a winter wonderland with illuminating lights, snow falling everywhere, and elves working about. This sparks an idea for Jack as he goes on to sing “What’s this”.
Upon his return in Halloween town, the people are perplexed at the multiple items he has brought back, and what they are. For this reason, a town meeting is soon called. While this happens, we get to see why Sally is so shy at the beginning of the movie. It appears that a peculiar scientist created her to assist him through his old age. However, her restlessness seems to be a problem for him as she always seems to find a way to escape him. Nevertheless, she flees from him once again and attends the town meeting where Jack Skellington attempts to make the people of the town understand the unusual objects in front of them.
As the plot progresses and unravels, and the love between Sally and Jack blooms, the story tells us important messages on what makes us people.
Main Themes
1. Identity and acceptance
The story would have never happened if it weren’t for Jack’s hunger for something new and dynamic. At the same time, he feared if he was actually fulfilling his duties to the fullest, and wondered what he would be if Halloween didn’t exist. I believe that stop-motion movies protrude a major philosophical question many people are afraid to answer, but explains that being us is enough to be content with ourselves.
2. Curiosity, exploration, and discovery
As Jack depressingly wanders through the forest, pondering his own existence, he encounters a tree with a Christmas tree painted on it. And out of curiosity for new ideas, he enters a brand new realm and his mind lights up with many plans for halloween. This, like many historical events, brings an important change in life and it highlights how breaking apart from a routine is normal, and might even be beneficial, a problem that many people seem to have nowadays due to social media influence.
3. Creative expression
While it may not look like it, because the creators of the film are just that good, The Nightmare Before Christmas is a stop-motion movie. However, multiple other forms of art adds on to the brilliance of the film. First of all, the visual arts and idea of the movie itself was all of Burton’s idea. He composed the drawings and the poem of the movie when he was still working at Disney as an animator. Secondly, the music perfectly describes the jolly vibes it gives, all thanks to Danny Elfman. And lastly, the use of storytelling, which I will explain in the next block.
4. Storytelling and childhood fairytales
The story borrows many famous fiction stories, such as Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, which depicts Jack Skellington’s dog “Zero”, particularly when Jack Skellington takes off in the fog thanks to the help of Zero’s abnormally shiny nose. Moreover, the title of the movie itself is inspired by the poem “A Visit from St. Nicolas”, or more commonly known as “‘Twas the night before Christmas”. It can be seen in the title of the movie, as a smart wordplay.
Overall, the movie is a family friendly, must-watch between the holidays Halloween and Christmas.
Pauline Li Gaudefroy