[ Narrator ] 'Twas a long time ago,
longer now than it seems,
in a place that perhaps you've seen in your dreams.
For the story that you are about to be told...
took place in the holiday worlds of old.
Now, you've probably wondered where holidays come from.
If you haven't, I'd say it's time you begun.
Boys and girls of every age
Wouldn't you like to see something strange
Come with us and you will see
This, our town of Halloween
This is Halloween This is Halloween
Pumpkins scream in the dead of night
This is Halloween Everybody make a scene
Trick or treat till the neighbor's gonna die of fright
It's our town Everybody scream
In this town of Halloween
I am the one hiding under your bed
Teeth ground sharp and eyes glowing red
I am the one hiding under your stairs
Fingers like snakes and spiders in my hair
This is Halloween This is Halloween
Halloween, Halloween Halloween, Halloween
In this town we call home
Everyone hail to the pumpkin song
In this town Don't we love it now
Everybody's waiting for the next surprise
'Round that corner, man Hiding in the trash can
Something's waiting now to pounce and how you'll scream
- This is Halloween - Red and black
- Slimy green - Aren't you scared
Well, that's just fine Say it once, say it twice
Take a chance and roll the dice
Ride with the moon in the dead of night
Everybody scream Everybody scream
In our town of Halloween
I am the clown with the tear-away face
Here in a flash and gone without a trace
I am the ''who'' when you call ''Who's there?''
I am the wind blowing through your hair
I am the shadow on the moon at night
Filling your dreams to the brim with fright
This is Halloween This is Halloween
Halloween, Halloween Halloween, Halloween
Tender Lumplings everywhere
Life's no fun without a good scare
- That's our job - But we're not mean
In our town of Halloween
In this town Don't we love it now
Everyone's waiting for the next surprise
Skeleton Jack might catch you in the back
And scream like a banshee Make you jump out of your skin
This is Halloween Everybody scream
Won't ya please make way for a very special guy
Our man Jack is king of the pumpkin patch
Everyone hail to the Pumpkin King now
This is Halloween This is Halloween
Halloween, Halloween Halloween, Halloween
In this town we call home
Everyone hail to the pumpkin song
La la la la la la Halloween, Halloween
La la la la la la Whee
[ Bell Ringing, Cheering ]
- [ Cackling ] - Whee!
- It's over! - We did it!
- Wasn't it terrifying? - [ Both ] What a night!
Great Halloween, everybody.
I believe it was our most horrible yet.
Thank you, everyone.
No. Thanks to you, Jack.
- Without your brilliant leadership-- - Not at all, Mayor.
You're such a scream, Jack!
You're a witch's fondest dream.
You made walls fall, Jack.
[ Big Witch ] ''Walls fall''? You made the very mountains crack, Jack.
- The deadly nightshade you slipped me wore off, Sally. - Let go.
- You're not ready for much excitement. - Yes, I am.
- You're coming with me. - No, I'm not!
[ Groans ]
Come back here, you foolish--
Ow! Oh. Oh!
Ooh, Jack, you made wounds ooze and flesh crawl.
Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you very much.
[ Mayor ] Hold it! We haven't given out the prizes yet.
Our first award goes to the vampires...
for most blood drained in a single evening.
Our second and honorable mention...
goes to the fabulous Dark Lagoon Leeches.
[ Dirge ]
Nice work, Bone Daddy.
Yeah, I guess so. Just like last year.
And the year before that, and the year before that.
- [ Gate Opening ] - [ Gasps ]
There are few who deny
At what I do I am the best
For my talents are renowned far and wide
When it comes to surprises in the moonlit night
I excel without ever even trying
With the slightest little effort
Of my ghostlike charms
I have seen grown men give out a shriek
With a wave of my hand
And a well-placed moan
I have swept the very bravest off their feet
Yet year after year it's the same routine
And I grow so weary of the sound of screams
And I, Jack the Pumpkin King
Have grown so tired of the same old thing
Oh, somewhere deep
Inside of these bones
An emptiness
Began to grow
There's something out there
Far from my home
A longing that
I've never known
I'm the master of fright
And a demon of light
And I'll scare you right out of your pants
To a guy in Kentucky I'm Mr. Unlucky
And I'm known throughout England and France
And since I am dead I can take off my head
To recite Shakespearean quotations
No animal nor man can scream like I can
With the fury of my recitations
But who here
Would ever understand
That the Pumpkin King with the skeleton grin
Would tire of his crown If they only understood
He'd give it all up if he only could
- [ Gasp ] - Oh, there's an empty
Place in my bones
That calls out for
Something unknown
The fame and praise
Come year after year
Does nothing for
These empty tears
Jack.
I know how you feel.
[ Thunder Rumbling ]
Sally.
You've come back.
- I had to. - For this.
Yes.
Shall we, then?
That's twice this month you've slipped deadly nightshade into my tea and run off.
- Three times. - You're mine, you know.
I made you with my own hands.
You can make other creations.
I'm restless. I can't help it.
It's a phase, my dear. It'll pass.
We need to be patient, that's all.
But I don't want to be patient.
[ Barking ]
No, Zero. Not now.
I'm not in the mood.
[ Barking ]
All right. [ Bone Cracking ]
Here you go, boy.
[ Growling ]
[ Barks ]
[ Snoring ]
[ Groaning ]
Mornin', gents.
- [ Groaning ] - [ Humming ]
[ Humming ]
[ Bell Rings, Screams ]
[ Humming ]
[ Bell Rings, Screams ]
Jack? You home?
Jack, I've got the plans for next Halloween.
I need to go over them with you so we can get started.
Jack, please, I'm only an elected official here.
I can't make decisions by myself.
Jack! Answer me!
[ Screaming ]
- [ Groaning ] - He's not home.
- Where is he? - He hasn't been home all night.
[ Groans ]
[ Yawning ] Where are we?
It's someplace new.
[ Barking ]
What is this?
[ Gasps ]
[ Wind Gusting ]
- Whoa! - [ Barking ]
Whoa!
[ Whistle Blowing ]
What's this? What's this? There's color everywhere
What's this There's white things in the air
What's this? I can't believe my eyes I must be dreaming
Wake up, Jack! This isn't fair What's this
La-la-la-la-la-la-la
What's this, What's this There's something very wrong
What's this, there's people singing songs, what's this
The streets are lined with little creatures laughing
Everybody seems so happy Have I possibly gone daffy
What is this What's this
There's children throwing snowballs instead of throwing heads
They're busy building toys And absolutely no one's dead
There's frost in every window Oh, I can't believe my eyes
And in my bones I feel the warmth
That's coming from inside
Oh, look, what's this They're hanging mistletoe They kiss
Why, that looks so unique Inspired
They're gathering around to hear a story
Roasting chestnuts on a fire What's this
What's this in here They've got a little tree How queer
And who would ever think And why
They're covering it with tiny little things
They've got electric lights on strings
And there's a smile on everyone, so now correct me if I'm wrong
This looks like fun This looks like fun
Oh, could it be I got my wish What's this
Oh my, what now The children are asleep
But look There's nothing underneath
No ghouls, no witches here to scream and scare them or ensnare them
Only little cozy things
Secure inside their dreamland
[ Sighs ] What's this
The monsters are all missing and the nightmares can't be found
And in their place there seems to be good feeling all around
Instead of screams, I swear I can hear music in the air
The smell of cakes and pies are absolutely everywhere
The sights, the sounds They're everywhere and all around
I've never felt so good before
This empty place inside of me is filling up I simply cannot get enough
I want it Oh, I want it Oh, I want it for my own
I've got to know, I've got to know what is this place that I have found
What is this
Christmas Town?
- Hmm. - [ Train Whistle Blowing ]
Ho-ho-ho-ho!
Hmm.
- This has never happened before. - It's suspicious.
- It's peculiar. - It's scary.
- Stand aside. Coming through. - [ Growls ]
[ Grunts ]
We've got to find Jack!
There's only 365 days left till next Halloween!
364!
Is there anywhere we've forgotten to check?
- I looked in every mausoleum. - We opened the sarcophagi!
I tromped through the pumpkin patch.
I peeked behind the Cyclops' eye.
I did, but he wasn't there.
It's time to sound the alarms!
[ Alarm Screeching ]
[ Screeching Continues ]
[ Brew Hisses ]
Frog's breath will overpower any odor.
[ Croaks ]
[ Belches ]
Oh! [ Coughing ]
Bitter!
Worm's wart. Wh-Where's that worm's wart?
[ Scientist ] Sally!
Is that soup ready yet?
Ah. Coming!
Lunch!
Ah, what's that? Worm's wart!
Mmm! [ Sniffs ]
And frog's breath.
Wh-What's wrong?
I-I thought you like frog's breath.
Nothing's more suspicious than frog's breath.
Until you taste it, I won't swallow a spoonful.
I'm not hungry. Oops.
You want me to starve.
An old man like me, who hardly has strength as it is.
Me, to whom you owe your very life.
Oh, don't be silly.
[ Slurping ] Mmm! See?
Scrumptious!
[ Gulping ]
Did anyone think to dredge the lake?
[ Yawns ] This morning.
[ Barking ]
- Hear that? Shh. - What?
- [ Barking ] - Zero!
[ Barking ]
[ Kids Cheering ] Jack's back!
Yea! Jack's back!
[ Mayor ] Where have you been?
Call a town meeting and I'll tell everyone all about it!
- When? - Immediately!
[ Bell Ringing ]
Town meeting! Town meeting!
Town meeting tonight!
- [ Snoring ] - [ Mayor ] Town meeting!
Town meeting tonight!
[ Clown Horn Honking ]
- [ Honks Horn, Chuckles ] - [ Gasps ]
Listen, everyone.
I want to tell you about Christmas Town.
[ Bats Screeching ]
There were objects so peculiar
They were not to be believed
All around things to tantalize my brain
It's a world unlike anything I've ever seen
And as hard as I tried I can't seem to describe
Like a most improbable dream
But you must believe when I tell you this
It's as real as my skull and it does exist
Here, let me show you.
- [ Gasping ] - Ooh!
This is a thing called a present
- The whole thing starts with a box - A box
- Is it steel - Are there locks
- Is it filled with a pox - A pox How delightful, a pox
If you please.
Just a box with bright colored paper
And the whole thing's topped with a bow
- A bow - But why
- How ugly! What's in it - What's in it
That's the point of the thing Not to know
- It's a bat - Will it bend
- It's a rat - Will it break
Perhaps it's the head that I found in the lake
Listen now You don't understand
That's not the point of Christmasland
Now pay attention
We pick up an oversized sock
And hang it like this on the wall
Oh, yes, does it still have a foot
Let me see, let me look Is it rotted and covered with gook
Um, let me explain.
There's no foot inside but there's candy
Or sometimes it's filled with small toys
- Small toys, do they bite or explode in the sack - Do they snap
Perhaps they just spring out and scare girls and boys
What a splendid idea This Christmas sounds fun
I fully endorse it Let's try it at once
Everyone, please Now not so fast
There's something here that you don't quite grasp
I don't know. Do you get it?
Well, I may as well give them what they want.
And the best I must confess I have saved for the last
For the ruler of this Christmasland
Is a fearsome king with a deep, mighty voice
Least, that's what I've come to understand
And I've also heard it told that he's something to behold
Like a lobster Huge and red
When he sets out to slay with his rain gear on
Carting bulging sacks with his big, great arms
That is, so I've heard it said
And on a dark, cold night Under full moonlight
He flies into a fog like a vulture in the sky
And they call him
Sandy Claws [ Laughing ]
[ Cheering, Whistling ]
Well, at least they're excited
But they don't understand
That special kind of feeling
In Christmasland
Oh, well.
[ Howling ]
Hmm.
There's got to be a logical way to explain this Christmas thing.
You've poisoned me for the last time, you wretched girl.
- [ Slams ] - [ Groans ]
[ Bells Chiming ]
Oh, my head!
The door is open!
- Hello? - Jack Skellington!
[ Scientist ] Up here, my boy.
Doctor, I need to borrow some equipment.
Is that so? Whatever for?
I'm conducting a series of experiments.
How perfectly marvelous.
- Curiosity killed the cat, you know. - I know.
Come on into the lab and we'll get you all fixed up.
Hmm. Experiments?
[ Jack ] Zero, I'm home.
Interesting reaction.
But what does it mean?
[ Body Hits Ground ]
You can come out now if you promise to behave.
Sally?
- Oh! Gone again! - [ Glass Shattering ]
Hmm.
Oh!
[ Birds Squawking, Chirping ]
[ Crowing ]
Something's up with Jack Something's up with Jack
Don't know if we're ever going to get him back
He's all alone up there Locked away inside
- Never says a word - Hope he hasn't died
Something's up with Jack Something's up with Jack
Christmastime is buzzing in my skull
Will it let me be I cannot tell
There's so many things I cannot grasp
When I think I've got it then at last
Through my bony fingers it does slip
Like a snowflake in a fiery grip
Something here I'm not quite getting, though I try I keep forgetting
Like a memory long since past
Here in an instant Gone in a flash
What does it mean What does it mean
In these little bric-a-brac
A secret's waiting to be cracked
These dolls and toys confuse me so
Confound it all I love it though
Simple objects Nothing more
But something's hidden through a door
Though I do not have the key
Something's here I cannot see
What does it mean What does it mean
- [ Snoring ] - Hmm. Hmm.
I've read these Christmas books so many times
I know the stories and I know the rhymes
I know the Christmas carols all by heart
My skull's so full It's tearing me apart
As often as I've read them something's wrong
So hard to put my bony finger on
Or perhaps it's really not as deep as I've been led to think
Am I trying much too hard
Of course, I've been too close to see
The answer's right in front of me Right in front of me
It's simple really Very clear
Like music drifting in the air
Invisible but everywhere
Just because I cannot see it
Doesn't mean I can't believe it
You know I think this Christmas thing is not as tricky as it seems
And why should they have all the fun It should belong to anyone
Not anyone, in fact but me
Why, I can make a Christmas tree
And there's no reason I can find
I couldn't handle Christmastime
I bet I could improve it too
And that's exactly what I'll do
Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee!
Eureka!
This year... Christmas will be ours!
[ Cheering ]
[ Mayor ] Patience, everyone.
Jack has a special job for each of us.
- Dr. Finkelstein! - [ Wheelchair Motor Whirring ]
Your Christmas assignment is ready.
[ Grumbling ] Dr. Finkelstein, to the front of the line.
[ Crying ]
What kind of noise is that for a baby to make?
- Perhaps it can be improved? - [ Vampires ] No problem.
I knew it!
Doctor! Thank you for coming.
We need some of these.
Hmm.
Their construction should be exceedingly simple, I think.
How horrible our Christmas will be.
No! How jolly!
Oh. How jolly our Christmas will be.
[ Gasping, Growling ]
- What are you doing here? - Jack sent for us.
- Specifically. - By name.
- Lock. - Shock. - Barrel.
Jack! Jack!
It's Boogie's boys.
Ah, Halloween's finest trick-or-treaters.
The job I have for you is top secret.
It requires craft, cunning, mischief.
And we thought you didn't like us, Jack.
[ Laughing ]
Absolutely no one is to know about it. Not a soul!
Now... [ Whispering ]
[ Jack Whispering ] ...tree...
...Christmas Town...
- [ Crunching ] - Ow! Hmm.
And one more thing.
Leave that no-account Oogie Boogie out of this!
Whatever you say, Jack.
- Of course, Jack. - Wouldn't dream of it, Jack.
[ Giggling ]
Kidnap Mr. Sandy Claws
- I want to do it - Let's draw straws
- Jack said we should work together - Three of a kind
- Birds of a feather - Now and forever
La la-la la la-la La la-la la-la
Kidnap the Sandy Claws Lock him up real tight
Throw away the key and then turn off all the lights
First we're going to set some bait inside a nasty trap and wait
When he comes a-sniffing we will snap the trap and close the gate
Wait, I've got a better plan to catch this big red lobster man
Let's pop him in a boiling pot and when he's done we'll butter him up
Kidnap the Sandy Claws Throw him in a box
Bury him for 90 years Then see if he talks
Then Mr. Oogie Boogie Man
Can take the whole thing over then
He'll be so pleased I do declare
That he will cook him rare Whee
[ Sinister Laughter, Munching Noise ]
[ Bug Screams ]
I say that we take a cannon aim it at his door and then
Knock three times and when he answers Sandy Claws will be no more
You're so stupid! Think now if we blow him up to smithereens
We may lose some pieces and then Jack will beat us black and green
Kidnap the Sandy Claws Tie him in a bag
Throw him in the ocean Then see if he is sad
Because Mr. Oogie Boogie is the meanest guy around
If I were on his boogie list I'd get out of town
He'll be so pleased by our success
That he'll reward us too I'll bet
Perhaps he'll make his special brew