Imagine a Rankin/Bass holiday special written by Charles Addams and designed by Edward Gorey, and you've pretty much got the gist of The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Based on a story by Tim Burton (hence his name in the title), The Nightmare Before Christmas is the story of Jack Skellington (speaking voice by Chris Sarandon, singing voice by Danny Elfman, who also provides the score and songs), the "Pumpkin King" of Halloween Town, where all of the frights and scares for All Hallow's Eve are manufactured by various creeptacular denizens--werewolves, vampires, witches, etc. Jack is the best at what he does, but he's bored with it all and wants something more, something new, in his (after)life.
While walking through the forest with his ghost-dog, Zero, Jack stumbles onto the doorways to the homes of other holidays, including Christmas Town, where Santa Claus (Ed Ivory) is busily preparing for the upcoming yuletide season. Jack falls through the door and is enthralled by what he finds on the other side: Snow! Lights! Tinsel! Ornaments! Presents!
When he returns to Halloween Town, Jack is determined to have a go at this Christmas thing himself--which, of course, would mean putting this "Sandy Claws" fellow out of the way until the holiday is done. Jack enlists Lock, Shock and Barrel (Paul Reubens, Catherine O'Hara and Elfman, respectively), three little trick-or-treaters who are scarier with their masks off, to kidnap Santa without doing him harm. Unfortunately, they work for Oogie Boogie (Ken Page), a burlap-wrapped, maggoty, malevolent ghost who'd be more than happy to take over Halloween Town if Jack's so tired of it.
Meanwhile, Jack goes on trying to duplicate the Christmas spirit (filtered through his Halloween sensibilities, so you wind up with stuff like bat garlands and gifts that try to eat you) with the help of mad scientist Doctor Finkelstein (William Hickey). Only Finkelstein's assistant/creation, Sally (O'Hara), thinks this is all a spectacularly bad idea. Of course, she's also in love with Jack, even though he can't see it (I feel your pain, girlfriend).
All of the above is, of course, plot summary for The Nightmare Before Christmas and nothing more. It doesn't convey the wonder of the stop-motion, computer-aided animation directed by Henry Selick It doesn't properly capture the charm, wit and cheerful morbidity (can one be cheerful and morbid at the same time?) of Caroline Thompson's script, which dances carefully between comical creepiness and holiday/romantic sentimentality while throwing in sly references to classic holiday specials. (Zero's little pumpkin nose just happens to glow like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer's--wonder who will wind up pulling Jack's sleigh?) It doesn't speak to the catchiness of Elfman's songs, most of which will be stuck in your head for days.
If this movie were just a satire of all those seasonal specials we grew up with, it'd still be great fun. But throw in its serious message about taking risks (for both satisfaction with your life's work and for someone you love), its gothic charm and its ultimate sweetness the final scene is tear-inducing), and The Nightmare Before Christmas becomes something unique: An animated feature that has itself become a classic for not one, but both of America's most popular holidays.
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