Did you know that before The Nightmare Before Christmas was made into a full length feature film it at first started out as a book written by Tim Burton Himself? Trust me, even I didn’t know that when I first watched the movie. Still it is impressive to see the origins of one of my favorite stop-motion films told in its original form as a book before making its way to becoming a full length motion picture.
If you know the story of the movie, then you’ll find the book very similar despite the fact that it’s a shortened down version of the story than the hour and a half feature film. For those that are unaware of the story, here's a refresher. Jack Skellington is the king of Halloween and is tired of being something that goes bump in the night. While walking aimlessly through the forest he comes across a forest of doors that lead to different holiday worlds.
Jack’s eyes are transfixed on the door of Christmas and inside he finds a world full of magic and wonder. With a new purpose in life, Jack goes back to Halloween and obsessively wonders why he can’t be the one to spread Christmas cheer. In an answer to his question, he comes up with the “brilliant” idea to take over Christmas but is naive to realize that his way of spreading the joy of Christmas may be too deranged.
The story is told in rhyme, much like the works of Dr Suess. It’s as creative in it’s premise as it is in it’s visual style. The illustrations are beautifully handled and give a unique take on the holidays we are all familiar with. The character designs are all uniquely from the imagination of Tim Burton, they’re creepy yet also intriguing. Jack’s character is simple in context, but more complex and relatable if you were to dive deep into his dilemma. The story goes many directions that are surprising in creepy and engaging ways. Despite the story’s short length, it makes the best of what it can do with its premise which is wildly creative to begin with
It may be a picture book arguably for kids, but the story is more than it appears thanks to it’s likable main character, beautifully haunting illustrations and a story that truly is timeless. If you're a fan of the movie and want to experience the origins of how the story came to be, this is an excellent recommendation to fans or anyone looking to read an adventure in a creepy creative new world.
(Final Grade: A)