Two of Disney's most beloved films are Coco and The Nightmare Before Christmas. Both are a quintessential part of the movie watch list for the fall season as each one of them offers audiences a unique viewing experience that will certainly put them in an autumnal mood.
But it's difficult to decide which of these is the ultimate fall film. While each brings something different to the table, neither one of them is a clear winner. Both are musicals, too, making the comparison even more apparent. However, there are a few elements that demonstrate why each of them could be considered to be the best movie to keep up your autumn binge-watch.
Nightmare Before Christmas: Halloween
It's obvious from the opening "This is Halloween" number that The Nightmare Before Christmas is all about the spooktacular holiday. Indeed, there's an ongoing debate over whether this is really a Christmas film or a Halloween film; there are plenty of arguments for both sides.
However, from Jack Skellington himself to the trick-or-treat children, the various vampires, werewolves and ghouls, and the fact that the film literally starts in a place called Halloween Town, this is the perfect movie to get into the spooky spirit.
Coco: The Color Scheme
The behind-the-scenes work on the color grading and cinematography of Coco is absolutely stunning and perhaps is a demonstration of some of Disney's best in terms of visual design. Each sequence is a breathtaking display of art and color.
What particularly stands out are the warm reds, yellows and oranges that are present on the bridge to the Land of the Dead and throughout the movie. They are a clear indicator of the fall season and are very symbolic of changing times.
Nightmare Before Christmas: Run Up To Christmas
Autumn is also a time of year to start building towards another important holiday. As soon as Halloween is over people across the world are looking towards Christmas.
The Nightmare Before Christmas is perfect as it takes into account that buildup to the festive season and balances the two holidays perfectly. By bringing in Santa and Christmas trees while also playing off of Halloween themes, this popular musical manages to portray both celebrations effectively.
Coco: Día De Los Muertos
Día De Los Muertos takes place on the 2nd of November. It's a Mexican fall holiday and one that Coco celebrates in such a mesmerizing way that those not familiar with the Day of the Dead will become enthralled by the traditions.
This celebration of those who have passed is a beautiful part of Miguel's culture and the film does an excellent job in remaining authentic to that experience. It's truly an emotional, global celebration of an event that is an integral part of autumn for many.
Nightmare Before Christmas: Holiday Songs
While the songs in Coco are fantastically written, they aren't necessarily ones that relate to the fall season. The songs of The Nightmare Before Christmas, on the other hand, are all about autumn.
While there are songs about Christmas trees and Santa Claus, there are also those that celebrate the themes of Halloween and an Oogie Boogie man who is sure to give someone a fright on All Hallows' Eve. The cancelled sequel would have likely continued to produce a number of themed songs.
Coco: No Christmas
While it is good that The Nightmare Before Christmas manages to build up to the next season, it does slightly detract from the fact that it's also a Halloween film.
Coco on the other hand doesn't have any Christmas in sight. It's fully focused on the autumnal celebrations and is entirely set during fall. It therefore has the edge in terms of the the setting itself and some of its key themes.
Nightmare Before Christmas: Connections To Other Fall Films
One thing many don't realize about The Nightmare Before Christmas is that it links to a few other works that Tim Burton has his DNA in. One such film is the stop motion animated feature The Corpse Bride.
It's very easy to line up the two movies with fan theories suggesting that Jack Skellington and Victor Van Dort are actually the same characters. With films like this and Frankenweenie connecting, they have become part of the core of Halloween cinema and defined the autumn season of movies.
Coco: PIXAR's One And Only
Although there could be a sequel to Coco down the line, for now this is PIXAR's one and only autumnal film, which is a big deal for the studio as PIXAR often travels to a similar idea twice.
There are a number of other projects PIXAR has yet to do, including making a Christmas film, so it's that much more special that Coco really is a one-of-a-kind project, representing this beloved season.
Nightmare Before Christmas: Costume Design
The character design of Nightmare demonstrate the drab and gloomy period that autumn can bring. The characters are all inspired by the Halloween season, with their monstrous looks and dark coloring.
These stop motion models are a work of art, with Jack Skellington and Zero in particular becoming cultural icons because of how good their designs are. The images from this film will forever be linked to this time of year.
Coco: Thankful For Family
Coco manages to subtly include another fall holiday that Americans will be getting ready to celebrate; Thanksgiving is an important time of year for family, and the core of this movie is indeed that.
Coco must learn about his ancestors, reconnect his family and learn to grow with them and feel accepted by them. The film carries a lot of important messages and is perfect to watch on Thanksgiving, too, for very that reason.