The song comes from Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, the 1993 stop-motion film in which Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, stumbles into Christmas Town. What's This is the musical number where he explores the unfamiliar holiday world, touching snow, lights and presents with childlike fascination. Because the moment is so recognisable and instantly readable, the short clip has become a favourite online reaction sound for discovery, surprise and curiosity, especially in seasonal videos and edits that contrast Halloween and Christmas.
About this sound
A short clip of Jack Skellington singing What's This from The Nightmare Before Christmas, used for moments of curious discovery and wide-eyed surprise.
This is a brief, bright moment from Jack Skellington's song as he wanders into Christmas Town and marvels at everything around him. The vocal line rises with genuine curiosity, carried by Danny Elfman's playful orchestration, with bells and a lively, almost childlike bounce underneath. It feels like a gasp turned into music, full of wonder rather than fear, and it instantly signals that something strange and delightful has just been found. Even in just over a second, the clip captures the feeling of stumbling on something unexpected, which is why it lands so well when a video suddenly reveals a surprise, a new place, or an idea that changes everything.
