Sally (The Nightmare Before Christmas)
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Sally is a fictional character in Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, and the main female protagonist of the film.
Sally is a rag doll-type character stuffed with autumn leaves and is the creation of the mad scientist Doctor Finklestein. As the movie begins, it is shown that she has grown resentful of the Doctor's over-protectiveness (he claims that Sally is "not ready for so much excitement"). Prior to the events of the movie, Sally has slipped deadly nightshade into his soup on at least three occasions, and left the house while he was sleeping.[1] Nevertheless, she does show some fondness towards her creator, as evidenced by her covering him with a blanket before leaving.
It is perhaps this restlessness, or, more specifically, this desire for something better in her life, that draws her to Jack Skellington. In the opening scene of the movie, she idolizes and adores Jack, as do many of the female residents of Halloween Town; however, when she overhears his sorrowful song, expressing his weariness of his life, she comes to understand the deeper connection between them.[2] The two refer to each other as "friends", though he seems unaware of her true feelings for him, as she is too shy to make them known to him other than through her sweet actions. For example, in order to bring to Jack a gift basket she had prepared, she threw herself out of the tower that she had been imprisoned in by Doctor Finklestein. Although her body fell to pieces when she hit the ground, she survived and was able to put herself back together. She delivered the basket, but ran away before Jack could speak to her.
Sally is an expert at needlework, and keeps a needle and thread on her person at all times. As mentioned previously, she is able to sew herself together when limbs come detached. She was also given the task of tailoring Jack's "Sandy Claws" outfit, suggesting that her skills are well appreciated. Sally also has some skills at brewing potions (this seems to have been her main job in the service of Doctor Finkelstein), and may have some psychic talents. Much of the latter half of the film has her trying to convince Jack that his Christmas idea is a mistake, after seeing a vision of a Christmas tree burst into flames. She even goes to rescue Santa Claus from Oogie Boogie, believing that he can save Jack when things turn bad, but she is herself captured.
At the end of the film, once Jack has defeated Oogie Boogie, Santa tells Jack that Sally is "the only one who makes sense in this insane asylum". Jack finally comes to appreciate what Sally has attempted to do for him. Even though she still cannot admit her feelings, he can, and he makes the first move. The final line of the movie has the two of them realising that they are "meant to be".
Sally was voiced by Catherine O'Hara in the film and by Rita Rudner in Kingdom Hearts, and Kath Soucie in the video games Kingdom Hearts II and The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge. Her Japanese voice in these games (with the exception of Oogie's Revenge) is done by Yūko Doi. Her song is re-sung on the re-released soundtrack by Fiona Apple.
