Attention, anyone who loves Tim Burton and Disney, then it has been 20 years since the greatest fantasy musical film, The Nightmare Before Christmas, came to theaters.

The Nightmare Before Christmas originated in a poem written by Tim Burton in 1982, while he was working as a Disney animator. With the success of Vincent in the same year, Disney started to consider developing The Nightmare Before Christmas as either a short film or 30-minute television special. Over the years, Burton’s thoughts regularly returned to the project, and in 1990, Burton and Disney made a development deal. Production started in July 1991 in San Francisco. Walt Disney Pictures decided to release the film under their Touchstone Pictures banner because they thought the film would be “too dark, and scary for kids.”

The movie was met with critical and financial success. Disney has reissued the film annually under their Disney Digital 3-D format since 2006, being the first stop-motion animated feature to be entirely converted to 3-D.

This year is a bit of a special one as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the film’s release. In 1993 with a love for both Christmas and Halloween, The Nightmare Before Christmas quickly became one of the greatest moves of all time.

For those who have not experienced the film in 4-D, Disney uses lights, fog, and even “snow” to enhance the movie going experience for audiences and make them feel like they are a part of the film.

Each year, the El Capitan Theater kicks off the event on opening night with a panel consisting of film makers, voice actors and other special guests. Previous guests also include Evanescence’s Amy Lee as she performed Sally’s Song, Danny Elfman and even the man himself, Tim Burton.

This year, The Nightmare Before Christmas will be playing from October 15 – November 3. The guest on the first night will be Ken Page, who voiced Oogie Boogie, as well as an unannounced “special guest”. As of now, the special guest who will be performing is unknown.

There has also been a ride in Disneyland since October 3, 2001: The Haunted Mansion Holiday. The ride blends the settings and characters of the original Haunted Mansion with those of The Nightmare Before Christmas. The Haunted Mansion typically closes for two and half weeks in September so it can be converted into the Haunted Mansion Holiday. The overlaid attraction is then open to guests from late-September through early-January, before being closed again during January so the overlay can be removed. It has been eleven years since the ride opened.

For anyone who loves the movie, the Disney Store is selling neat merchandise as is Hot Topic. If no one has seen the movie, purchase the 20th anniversary edition of The Nightmare Before Christmas in your local stores.

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