Jack Skellington Returns in 3D

by Chris May 2, 2006

Sally will drop nightshade into Dr. Finkelstein’s tea in 3-D come Halloween, when Walt Disney Pictures releases a digitally re-mastered version of “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.”

(Hollywood Reporter) Â– Sally will drop nightshade into Dr. Finkelstein’s tea in 3-D come Halloween, when Walt Disney Pictures releases a digitally re-mastered version of “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.” The digital release of the 1993 stop-motion animated classic is set for October 20. “Nightmare” marks the second digital 3-D theatrical release from Disney after “Chicken Little” did banner business last year in digital 3-D on 84 US screens at 81 locations. The digital 3-D boxoffice returns outperformed the standard screenings nearly 3-to-1, according to Disney estimates. Burton and “Nightmare” director Henry Selick are involved in the digital re-mastering of the stop-mo feature starring Jack Skellington, the pumpkin king of Halloween Town. Disney’s re-release of the wicked tale represents the first 3-D feature to stake a claim on the Halloween holiday, much like Warner Bros. Pictures called dibs on the Christmas frame with the 3-D re-release of 2004’s “The Polar Express.” “Nightmare” is in the early stages of being digitally scanned and converted into 3-D by the computer-graphics group at George Lucas’ Industrial Light + Magic. Executives were reluctant to discuss the design of the 3-D passive glasses that will be handed out to audiences at “Nightmare” screenings but suggested they will be appropriately ghoulish and collectible.