Unseen footage is typical for films — with many deleted scenes appearing on later special edition releases. "The Nightmare Before Christmas" is no different and saw numerous media releases after its theatrical run. Yet one shot that is still missing is that of Selick's nod to Burton's involvement. For Selick, its deletion remains one of his regrets about the project.
The shot appears towards the film's end. Jack is back in Halloween Town, and everyone is celebrating the gift of a snowy Christmas. Citizens revel in all of the usual activities that accompany wintry weather — including a rousing game of hockey. The game itself is the setting for this now-missing element. While viewers may remember it as a pumpkin flying at the screen, the vampires initially used an interesting choice of puck, Burton's head.
According to Selick, there were concerns among the film's producers about its presence. The director relayed the details In a 2018 interview with The Hollywood Reporter. "Denise Di Novi or one of the Hollywood producers told me, 'I don't think Tim's going to like that'," Selick said. No matter who made the decision, it left Selick regretting not speaking directly with Burton. As for whether the shot is available to view, he's not so sure, but the director is up for a do-over. "I'd love to replace the one in there and I'm sure Tim would love it," Selick said later in the interview.
