Our family shares an activity that’s fast become a new holiday tradition – and a source of continued entertainment
The author’s children, Ellie (left) and Millie have are just as obsessed with ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ as she was 30 years ago. Photo Credit Tracey Tong
When I was growing up in the 90s, Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” was my favourite movie.
This was long before the gothic stop-motion animated film – which follows Halloween Town’s pumpkin king, the successful but bored Jack Skellington, discovers Christmas Town and after arranging for the kidnapping of Santa (“Sandy Claws”), tries to take over the holiday – became a cult classic.
It worked for two of my favourite holidays – Halloween and Christmas – which meant that the movie constantly played at our house. My parents joked that I’d wear out the magnetic strip on our VHS copy (yes, it was that long ago).
I marvelled at the magic of the animation, so carefully and lovingly done, sang along with Danny Elfman, admired Jack Skellington’s ambition and positivity and empathized with lovelorn rag doll Sally. To me, Oogie Boogie was the ultimate bad guy, the first villain I remember watching in a movie.
More than 30 years later, I’m still a huge fan of “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” and my daughters – both dressing as Sally this Halloween – have embraced a new family tradition: an annual October screening of “The Nightmare Before Christmas” with a bonus activity this year – a build of the LEGO® Ideas Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.
The author’s daughters take on a challenging 18+ build (with a little help from dad). Photo Credit Tracey Tong
For me, this set – featuring connectible models of iconic locations Spiral Hill (remember Jack and Sally embracing against the backdrop of that full moon? Iconic.) and the graveyard; Jack Skellington’s house; and the Halloween Town Hall with a fountain outside – was a trip down memory lane, when my little brother and I would watch the film from our couch fort. The kit also includes minifigures of characters Jack, Sally, Santa, bad boys Lock, Shock and Barrel, Jack’s loyal ghost dog Zero and the two-faced mayor (who my husband pointed out was a specialty piece, with details printed directly onto the plastic brick instead of requiring a sticker).
It’s in the details: LEGO’s ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ set has Easter eggs from the 1993 film. Photo Credit Tracey Tong
The children loved this unique alternative to traditional treats. Although the kids – ages 11 and seven – have been building LEGO® since they were preschoolers, the movie diorama kit is rated for builders 18-plus, includes a whopping 2,193 pieces and required parental help. No problem – their dad, a lifelong LEGO® fan, was more than happy to help, turning the build into a screen-free, relatively quiet family event that quiets the mind and relaxes the nerves after a long week of school and extracurricular activities. Did I mention that building is best done indoors, making it a perfect activity for chilly or rainy fall afternoon?
Sally and Jack Skellington forever – and now in brick form. Photo Credit Tracey Tong
Even the most O.G. fans of the movie will find that the details have been faithfully replicated in this set, from the uneven stonework of the buildings to the twisted, haunting trees. Perhaps like us, they will enjoy hunting for all the Easter eggs – the fog juice in the fountain that initially prevented Jack from flying on Christmas Eve; Jack’s formula for creating Christmas scribbled on his blackboard, and the gift basket with the fish (!) that Sally delivers to Jack.
Tim Burton’s ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ by LEGO Ideas. Photo Credit LEGO Group
The completed set will have huge play value, the author writes. Photo Credit Tracey Tong
Looking ahead, I see the kids getting tremendous play value from this set, and that it will likely end up dismantled and its unique bricks reconfigured and combined with their Disney Princess/Jurassic World/Dreams pieces before being put back together again (not unlike Humpty Dumpty). But make no mistake, not only is this adult set a true collectible (each LEGO® Ideas set is created by a fan designer, voted for by fans and produced by the LEGO® Group) and is totally holiday display-worthy… a good thing since I can’t see this going away anytime soon.
-30-