It's been over 20 years since "The Nightmare Before Christmas" hit the big screen but a question has long lingered around the Tim Burton classic: Is it a Halloween or a Christmas movie?
Given the story revolves around the inhabitants of Halloween Town, it's easy to assume that the movie is indeed for that holiday. But because Christmas is also a central theme in the film, it can also be considered as catering to the more festive holiday. So is it a Halloween or Christmas movie? Henry Selick, the director of "The Nightmare Before Christmas," finally has an answer to the decades-old question.
Invited to the Telluride Horror Show, the oldest horror film festival in Colorado, Selick witnessed a special screening for "The Nightmare Before Christmas." The screening was then followed by a Q & A, which turned out to be a blast, showing the director to be a really smart and funny guy.
As the Q & A was wrapping up, a little girl raised her hand and asked if "The Nightmare Before Christmas" was a Halloween or Christmas movie.
"Oh boy."
Selick was slightly taken aback by the question. He also probably knew that whatever answer he produce would still be up for debate and was biding his time before responding.
"It's a Halloween movie," he said.
The director acknowledged that many people liked parts of the movie involving Christmas Town way more than Halloween Town but pointed out that he is only telling the truth. They really did make "The Nightmare Before Christmas" as a Halloween movie, about the holiday and how the people of Halloween Town react to a holiday like Christmas being thrust into their lives.
"The Nightmare Before Christmas" came out in 1993. A stop-motion movie, it was inspired by a poem written by Tim Burton back in 1982. It was originally considered as either a 30-minute television special or short film but Burton made a development deal with Disney. However, "The Nightmare Before Christmas" was released under Touchstone Pictures as it was believed the movie is too dark and scary for a Disney movie.
Due to its financial and critical success, "The Nightmare Before Christmas" was reissued by Walt Disney Pictures, re-released in 3D format from 2006 to 2009. This made the movie the first stop-motion feature to be converted entirely into the format.
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