Danny Elfman composed the songs and score for Tim Burton’s 1993 film The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Elfman also provided the singing voice for Jack Skellington, while Chris Sarandon supplied Jack’s speaking voice. The songs are central to the film’s storytelling, introducing Halloween Town, explaining Jack’s dissatisfaction, and driving his attempt to take over Christmas.
The film was directed by Henry Selick, not Burton. Burton conceived the original story and produced the movie, which is why it is commonly associated with his distinctive visual style. That distinction is a frequent source of confusion when people describe the film as a “Tim Burton movie.”
The stop-motion production used replacement animation and detailed miniature sets. Its songs, including “This Is Halloween” and “What’s This?”, helped the film develop a lasting identity beyond its visual design.