 In
1993 Disney released Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas,
the story Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of HalloweenTown, who
discovers Christmas and immediately wants to celebrate this strange
holiday himself.
Pictured right The Nightmare
Before Christmas DVD
The combination of Tim Burton's amazing ideas, drawings and characters,
direction by Henry Selick, one of the leading stop-motion animators
and a fantastic score written by Danny Elfman (also the voice of
Jack Skellington) has taken this story and turned it into a cult
classic.
 Tim
Burton says of the film in the book The Nightmare Before Christmas:
the Film, the Art, the Vision: "Nightmare Before Christmas
is deeper in my heart than any other film. It is more beautiful
than I imagined it would be. Thanks to Henry and his talented crew
of artists, animators, and designers. As I watch it, I know I will
never have this feeling again. Nightmare Before Christmas is special.
It is a film that I have always known I had to make. More important,
it is a film I have always wanted to see. Now I can. It has been
worth the wait. I think there are few projects like that in your
life."
Pictured above left The Nightmare
Before Christmas Original Book which has been sold for over $100
and more at auction.
 As
with many classics the film was not an immediate sensation - maybe
the idea of a skeleton in HalloweenTown (surrounded by vampires,
werewolves, mad doctors, ghosts and more) kidnapping Santa Claus
did not appeal to some parents?
Pictured right a 1993 Jack Skellington
 Now
the thirtysomethings cannot get enough of the film and over ten
years later there is a whole industry of merchandise and collectibles
relating to the film.
Pictured left original 1993 Lock,
Shock and Barrel - Halloween kids who 'Kidnap the Sandy Claws'
Part of this success is down to the Japanese finding
the film and producing products after the initial film merchandising
had gone. As with Star Wars toys there was not an immediate demand
for the original toys and these are the most sort after.
 Today
the collectors is spoiled for choice with many companies producing
items ranging from: bags to trading cards, action figures to snowglobes,
to high end limited edition figurines and animation art.
Pictured right is a 2004 Halloween
Snowglobe from NECA featuring Jack and his ghost dog Zero.
 Disney
continue to create and market many products, exclusives and Limited
Editions.
Pictured left is a Jack Skellington
Framed Pin Set in a Limited Edition of 1000.
Whilst people continue to discover the film and current collectors
continue to collect, companies will carry on producing the merchandise.
As with many collectibles the early material and small limited
editions will continue to be the most sought after.
The WCN Nightmare
Before Christmas Collectibles message board.
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