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The animated masterpiece “The Nightmare Before Christmas” often mistakenly attributes its direction to Tim Burton, despite the fact that Henry Selick was the visionary behind the film. Selick, a renowned stop-motion filmmaker, expressed his feelings about the situation, acknowledging the overshadowing of his work by Burton’s reputation.
During an interview with the AV Club while promoting his Netflix film “Wendell and Wild,” Selick candidly revealed his sentiments regarding the misattribution of the movie’s direction. He admitted feeling slightly disheartened by the way the film was promoted as “Tim Burton’s Nightmare” just three weeks before its release, despite Burton’s primary role being in the story’s creation and character design.
Selick highlighted that he led the team that brought the film to life, emphasizing the collaborative effort but underscoring his pivotal role in directing the movie. He humorously recalled an instance with Danny Elfman, the composer of the film’s iconic songs, who earnestly credited Selick for “illustrating” his songs, indicating the level of collaboration involved.
Despite feeling overshadowed by Burton’s association with the film, Selick displayed a gracious attitude, emphasizing his penchant for collaboration while acknowledging his leadership in realizing the movie’s vision. Nonetheless, it’s understandable that he might find it challenging to witness another person receiving the lion’s share of credit for his hard work.