The Untold Story Behind Tim Burton's 'Nightmare Before Christmas' Revealed by Real Director after 30 Years

Summary

Henry Selick directed The Nightmare Before Christmas, not Tim Burton, despite the confusion caused by the marketing credit.

Burton's involvement in the development of the storyline and characters justified the inclusion of his name in the film to ensure recognition and prevent any confusion with other horror films. The Nightmare Before Christmas served as a significant milestone in Selick's career, cementing his position as a prominent figure in stop-motion animation, and he rightly deserves accolades for his direction of the film.

The director of The Nightmare Before Christmas opens up about the longstanding confusion surrounding Tim Burton's involvement in the film. Despite being released in 1993, the film has often been mistakenly attributed as "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas" on posters and promotional material. This has understandably led to the misconception that Burton directed the film, when in fact it was directed by stop-motion visionary Henry Selick.

According to People, Selick addresses this mix-up regarding The Nightmare Before Christmas. He confesses that the confusion over the accreditation did bother him somewhat in the past. However, Selick has now largely moved on from this issue and states that it no longer bothers him at all, particularly since "everyone in the industry" is aware that he was the director. Below is the full quote from Selick:

Why Henry Selick Deserves More Recognition for The Nightmare Before Christmas

: It used to be a concern, but now it's not. Generally speaking, within the industry of animation, everyone knows that I'm the one who directed it. Perhaps it was necessary to credit him to avoid any confusion, possibly with Nightmare on Elm Street or another pure horror film. Therefore, yes, it bothered me more in the past. However, it no longer bothers me at all.

Although Selick directed the film, Burton was credited with the marketing, thanks to his creation of the story behind The Nightmare Before Christmas. Additionally, Burton served as a producer and was responsible for the development of the characters and storyline. Selick acknowledges the importance of having Burton's name associated with the film, stating that it helped to ensure its recognition and distinctiveness as The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Despite being accredited to Tim Burton, The Nightmare Before Christmas holds significant importance in Henry Selick's career. Following this film, Selick went on to direct two notable works in the realm of stop-motion animation, including the stylistically diverse James and the Giant Peach and Coraline. In particular, Coraline showcases the influence of The Nightmare Before Christmas visuals, with its slender characters and minimalistic lighting.

Both James and the Giant Peach and Coraline, like The Nightmare Before Christmas, are pivotal creations in the world of stop-motion animation. Therefore, The Nightmare Before Christmas should be recognized as an important contribution by Selick, as it solidified him as a prominent figure in this form of storytelling. While Selick may no longer be bothered by the confusion with Burton, he still deserves acknowledgement for his direction of The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Source: People