The name above the title may belong to Tim Burton, the writer-director of such films as Batman and Edward Scissorhands, but the painstaking "art" of this film is courtesy of animator Henry Selick (who also directed the stop-motion animation version of James and the Giant Peach). Selick is a master of the form, bringing grotesque, goofy and graceful characters (and every combination of the three) to life.

The Nightmare Before Christmas is a breathtaking fantasia about what happens when the king of Halloween Town, Jack Skellington, decides to mix things up by taking over Santa's duties, administering Christmas instead of Halloween. Chaos ensues, of course, but what beautiful and imaginative chaos it is.

Make no mistake: This isn't just an animated fairy tale. It's an animated, musical fairy tale, and while the songs (written by regular Burton collaborator Danny Elfman) are peppy and inventive, they're also overlong. Between the length of the songs and the film's pervasive black humor, Nightmare seems crafted for adult sensibilities and attention spans rather than for children's tastes.

A weak story line also hampers the movie. We know that Oogie Boogie (a rotund, walking burlap sack filled with squirming bugs) is the villain, but the reason is never given: His motivations aren't as carefully crafted as his appearance. If you're looking for animation that will engage and excite you, Nightmare qualifies, but odds are that you'll remember the images long after the story line has faded from memory. - James Rocchi, Netflix