The perfect holiday family film doesn’t exist – or at least that’s what someone might say if they had never heard of Disney’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. Follow the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town and his trusty, ghostly sidekick, Zero, as they seek to bring a little bit of Christmas to the land of trick or treat!
This topsy-turvy holiday classic is just right for the transition from summer into autumn, and is always a fun choice for any time, from Halloween through to Christmas! Though it focuses heavily on Jack Skellington and his quest for Christmas, what else is there to learn about his faithful animal friend, Zero?
He Is A Ghost That Breathes
Zero has the face of a dog while the rest of his body takes on the appearance of a children's ghost costume. Jack's adorable companion is clearly meant to be the ghost of a pet pup that has passed on to the other side.
But despite being dead (along with most of the other citizens of Halloween Town), Zero appears to breathe! In the film, while sleeping in his basket bed, his sheet-like body can be seen rising and falling, as if inhaling and exhaling in relaxed slumber.
He Can Shapeshift
The Nightmare Before Christmas was based on a poem written by Tim Burton, which was a reimagining of the poem, "The Visit From Saint Nicholas," more commonly known as "Twas The Night Before Christmas."
While the story is quite similar as far as the basic elements of the plot go, there are a few key differences. One such revelation is that Zero can shapeshift! At the end of the poem, Zero sees Jack crying and swiftly turns into a tissue box so that his master can wipe his tears.
He Has His Own Comic Series
Someone saw that there was a lot of potential in the playful ghost dog and gave Zero his very own comic book series! Published by TOKYOPOP, Zero's Journey serves as the sequel to the movie and is a collection of 20 separate single-issue comics.
The stories focus on the many adventures of Zero, including a secret visit to Christmas Town ... but there will be more on that later!
He Brings To Mind Other Holiday-Themed "Rudolphs"
Zero was inspired by the story and features of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, made obvious by his shiny, pumpkin-shaped nose. Why does he have that nose though, and how are the other holiday towns connected to each other in the world created in The Nightmare Before Christmas?
If there is a Rudolph in Christmas Town and a Zero with his own glowing nose in Halloween Town, are there more? A Thanksgiving Turkey with a glowing beak? Of course, the true answer is that it was just a cute callback to Christmas and Zero's future role leading Jack's sleigh, but it is fun to consider.
He Has Gone To Christmas Town By Himself
Zero's Journey explores Zero's trip to Christmas Town. While playing a game of fetch, he chases Jack's rib bone all the way into the forest and straight up to the same holiday-themed doors that his master once found.
Intrigued by the Christmas door, Zero goes through and finds himself terribly lost in the colorful world of Christmas Town, but can he find his way back in time for both Halloween and Christmas in his own world?
He May Be Based On A Dachshund
Zero has a slender, pointed face, and long, floppy ears, followed by an elongated ghost body. Many fans have noticed that he appears to be inspired by the dachshund breed.
This wouldn't be the first time that Tim Burton has been inspired by a specific dog from real life. His short film (and later feature-length stop motion-film) Frankenweenie was inspired by the loss of his own pet friend when he was only 10-years-old.
His Mood Is Linked To Jack's Emotional State
Watch closely or you might miss it! Throughout the movie, and especially during "Jack's Lament," Zero's mood shifts based on Jack's emotions, moment by moment. He is happy when Jack is happy, and sad when Jack is sad.
This is likely inspired by the emotional capacity of real-life dogs, and how they seem to understand when their owners are upset by something.
He Is Featured In Many Video Games
Not only a popular movie, poem, and comic book series, The Nightmare Before Christmas franchise has also expanded to video games - and Zero came with them!
Zero is featured as a playable character in the phone game, Disney Magic Kingdom, and can be bought with in-game gems. He can also be found in other games, including The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Pumpkin King, and The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge.
He Was One Of Only Three Characters In The Poem
In the original poem written by Tim Burton, there were only three actual characters - Jack Skellington, Zero, and Santa Claus. Zero spends the length of the poem attempting to cheer Jack up.
Helpful, cute, and described in the poem as the best friend that Jack had ever had, it's easy to see why he just had to be included in the full film version.
He Is The Only Main Character That Doesn't Speak
Often by Jack's side or otherwise attempting to help him in some way, Zero functions as a main character in both the poem and in the movie. He is also the only main character that doesn't speak.
Despite his lack of dialogue, the audience can easily understand Zero's emotions and what he is trying to tell Jack at any given moment, thanks to his facial expressions and his actions, brilliantly brought to life by stop motion animators.