Nightmare Before Christmas Intro Analysis

You can immediately tell that the film is a child friendly horror by the use of images associated with children's halloween. Pumpkins and scarecrows are shown, but the images are not made to be as scary as possible due to the jolly narration and singing. The characters are all typically 'scary' things for kids, such as ghosts. monsters under the bed, witches etc. However, through song they seem less menacing and seem to be introducing themselves rather than scaring people. However, they are still all typical halloween images, and halloween is usually depicted as scary. The introduction cleary shows that there will be scary monsters in it, but the monsters are friendly and pull the film away from horror and more towards Fantasy.


The sound used in the opening of the film is mostly comprimised of the 'pantomime' styled song, which is sung by the monsters. It is used to introduce the characters via song, which makes them seem less scary to the viewer, which is key to restraining the horror elements of the film to make it watchable for young viewers. Instantly regocnisable sounds accopany the music and introduction of the characters. For example, the witches cackle instantly gives the film ties to halloween, creating more powerful imagery associated with halloween. The sound is especially impotant in this opening scene as it hold the film back from being too scary by creating a pantomine atmosphere.


There is a wide range of characters that are introduced in the opening sequence through song, forming a close link between character introduction and sound. Nearly all of the residents of 'Halloween Town' are introduced during the pantomine style song, which gradually leads up to the introduction of the films main protagonist: 'The Pumpkin King'. This graual build up creates a sense of anticipation within the viewer before the Pumpkin King is introduced. You can immediately tell that the other characters are his 'subjects' by the way they are dancing and performing around him in a celebratory way, as if he has returned from an absense. Again, this provides a hook to keep viewers watching.


A scary atmosphere, suitable for young children, is set almost immediately by the vast range of Iconography relating to Halloween. Examples of this include witches and other monsters. In contrast to this, a jolly atmosphere is created through the pantomine stlye song sung by the characters. The two constrasting atmospheres are blended together expertly and, being a childrens film, the jolly, sing-song atmosphere is more prominent than the scaryness. The two atmospheres are also different in the medium they are presented in - the scaryness is fabricated using imagery whilst the lighter mood is offered via song.