The animated movies in Disney’s vault are often associated with cute, woodland creatures; gentle, wise grandmotherly types; and ingenues who are beautiful in their innocence. 

Tim Burton’s "The Nightmare Before Christmas," an offbeat animated film presented this weekend with live musical accompaniment by the Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra, is one of the exceptions. 

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" tells of ghoulish creatures who — unaware that they’re undead — march to their own beat, readying all year long for their favorite holiday: Halloween. Their leader, Jack Skellington, however, grows a tad bored with the day-in and day-out routine one year and dejectedly wanders off in search of fresh ideas. In the process he winds up in Christmas Town. Misadventure soon follows when Skellington, aka the Pumpkin King, becomes obsessed with Christmas.

The Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra will pay tribute this weekend to the popular film, which is often hailed as one of Burton’s best works. The stop-motion animated movie has been well received by both critics and moviegoers since its release in 1993. 

"Nightmare Before Christmas" is the opening event this season for the Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra’s "musicthatPOPS" season. Leading the 70-person orchestra this weekend is conductor Stuart Chafetz, who has also directed orchestras in Phoenix, Houston, Milwaukee, Detroit, Cincinnati and other locations this year. 

"To do this film around Halloween is perfect," said an energetic and enthusiastic Chafetz during a phone call from San Francisco. "I remember seeing the movie in Hawaii, when I lived there full time, with a clarinetist and a violinist. We laughed pretty hard." 

There are 10 songs in the movie, composed by Danny Elfman. The orchestra will perform the music live while the film — including the dialogue, sound effects and singing — plays on screen. 

The biggest challenge will be syncing the music with the characters’ dialogue, Chafetz said. 

"When you lock in and everyone is on the same page, it’s invigorating," he said. "The best part is to hear everyone laugh, and the musicians making music and enjoying what they do." 

The orchestra has two days’ worth of rehearsals to prepare for the two shows this weekend — and the tight rehearsal schedule is not atypical, said Chafetz, who is eager to reunite with friends and colleagues within the group. 

"It’s amazing how great the local orchestra is — doing pop, neighbor island tours, etc.," he said. "It’s exciting to see new and restructured events. ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ is one way to reach new audiences who have never gone to an orchestra show. It’s a community treasure." 

Disney began coordinating with orchestras to present film packages in 2011; "Pirates of the Caribbean" was the first Disney movie package showcased. 

Jon Heely, director of music publishing and concert licensing for Disney, said in an email that "Nightmare Before Christmas" was chosen because "we still have a close relationship with Elfman, who composed the music for this film, and it’s a unique film and special for this season and time of the year." 

Heely added that Disney premiered "Ratatouille" in concert in Paris the week of Oct. 18 and "Frozen in Concert" in Royal Albert Hall in London this week. "These two packages will become part of our catalog," he said. 

For the Honolulu shows, a costume contest will begin one hour before each performance, with prizes given out during intermission in five categories. Celebrity judges for the contest include Michael Titterton of Hawaii Public Radio on Saturday and actor Jorge Garcia, Keoki Kerr of Hawaii News Now and former Miss Hawaii Kanoe Miller on Sunday. 

Chafetz, who was a timpanist with the former Honolulu Symphony Orchestra for 20 years, estimated that he has conducted three or four other Disney-themed concerts in various locations. Chafetz’s wife, Ann Krinitsky, conducted the sold-out "Disney in Concert: ‘Magical Music from the Movies’" program in Hawaii back in January. 

"With ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ you are guaranteed to get into the holiday spirit," said Chafetz. "You do not have to feel guilty about eating too much candy, and there will be a few ghoulish laughs."