Tired of scaring humans every October 31 with the same old bag of tricks, Jack Skellington, the spindly king of Halloween Town, kidnaps Santa Claus and plans to deliver shrunken heads and other ghoulish gifts to children on Christmas morning. But as Christmas approaches, Jack's rag-doll girlfriend, Sally, tries to foil his misguided plans.

Wandering her rambling old house in her boring new town, 11-year-old Coraline discovers a hidden door to a strangely idealized version of her life. In order to stay in the fantasy, she must make a frighteningly real sacrifice.

该美术片为木偶动画片，改编自“眉间尺为双亲报仇”的历史传说，该传说在史书上有多处记载，内容大同小异，鲁迅也曾以此为蓝本创作小说《铸剑》（初名为《眉间尺》）。
铸剑高手干将和莫邪的徒弟黑子斗牛时杀死了楚王的神牛，楚王大怒，命令将他处死，奸臣谗言，楚王决定拿黑子性命要挟干将和莫邪为他铸造隐形宝剑。干将和莫邪花去三年功夫，为楚王打造出一雌一雄两把隐形宝剑，但预感有祸事的干将只献出其中一把，后夫妻两人果然都惨死。楚王派兵追杀黑子、小妹（干将和莫邪的另一个徒弟）和小眉间尺（干将和莫邪的儿子）时，三人侥幸逃脱。眉间尺长到15岁，从小妹口中得知父母惨死真相，决定为双亲也为天下百姓报仇。