View source for Danny Elfman

{{short description|American composer (born 1953)}}
{{pp-blp|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| image            = DANNY ELFMAN 2022.jpg
| alt              = 
| caption          = Elfman at the premiere for ''[[Next Exit (film)|Next Exit]]'' at the [[Village East by Angelika]] in 2022
| birth_name       = Daniel Robert Elfman
| birth_date       = {{birth date and age|1953|5|29|mf=yes}}
| birth_place      = [[Los Angeles]], [[California]], U.S.
| occupation       = {{hlist|Composer|record producer|singer|songwriter|musician}}
| years_active     = 1971–present
| spouse           = {{marriage|Geri Eisenmenger|end=divorced}}<br>{{marriage|[[Bridget Fonda]]|2003}}
| children         = 3
| mother           = [[Blossom Elfman]]
| relatives        = [[Richard Elfman]] (brother)<br>[[Bodhi Elfman]] (nephew)
| website          = {{URL|dannyelfman.com}}
| module           = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes
| genre            = {{flatlist|
* [[Film score]]
* [[pop music|pop]]<ref name="AllMusicOingoBoingo">{{cite web|title=Oingo Boingo|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/oingo-boingo-mn0000390532|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=December 26, 2016}}</ref><ref name=denman2015>{{cite news|last1=Denman-Underhill|first1=Lori|title=Overcoming Stage Fright, Danny Elfman Brings Nightmare to the Bowl|url=http://www.laweekly.com/music/overcoming-stage-fright-danny-elfman-brings-nightmare-to-the-bowl-6188586|access-date=October 14, 2019|work=[[LA Weekly]]|date=October 12, 2019}}</ref>
* [[New wave music|new wave]]
* [[contemporary classical music]]
}}
| past_member_of  = [[Oingo Boingo]]
}}
}}

'''Daniel Robert Elfman''' (born May 29, 1953) is an American film composer, singer, songwriter, and musician. He came to prominence as the lead vocalist and primary songwriter for the [[New wave music|new wave]] band [[Oingo Boingo]] in the early 1980s.<ref name="AV Club">{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/article/danny-elfman-oingo-boingo-film-scores-and-beatles--210856|title=Danny Elfman on Oingo Boingo, film scores and the Beatles almost ruining ''Batman''|date=October 27, 2014|first=Sean|last=O'Neal|publisher=AV Music|access-date=March 4, 2018}}</ref> Since scoring his first studio film in 1985, Elfman has garnered international recognition for composing over 100 feature [[film score]]s<ref name="Kraft-Engle">{{cite web |url=http://kraft-engel.com/clients/danny-elfman/ |title=Danny Elfman |last=Kraft |first=Richard|website=Kraft-Engel.com |publisher=Kraft-Engel Management|access-date=October 8, 2019 |quote=Beginning with his first score on Tim Burton's Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Elfman has scored over 100 films...}}</ref> as well as compositions for television, stage productions, and the concert hall.

Elfman has frequently worked with directors [[Tim Burton]], [[Sam Raimi]], and [[Gus Van Sant]], contributing music to nearly 20 Burton projects, including ''[[Pee-wee's Big Adventure|Pee-Wee's Big Adventure]]'', ''[[Beetlejuice]]'', ''[[Batman (1989 film)|Batman]]'', ''[[Edward Scissorhands]]'', ''[[Batman Returns]]'', ''[[Mars Attacks!]]'', ''[[Sleepy Hollow (film)|Sleepy Hollow]]'', ''[[Big Fish]]'', and ''[[Alice in Wonderland (2010 film)|Alice in Wonderland]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/dumbo-composer-danny-elfman-on-his-iconic-partnership-with-tim-burton|title=''Dumbo'' composer Danny Elfman on his iconic partnership with Tim Burton|last=Gilchrist|first=Todd|date=March 25, 2019|website=SYFY WIRE|access-date=October 22, 2019}}</ref> as well as scoring Raimi's ''[[Darkman]]'', ''[[A Simple Plan (film)|A Simple Plan]]'', ''[[Spider-Man (2002 film)|Spider-Man]]'', ''[[Spider-Man 2]]'', ''[[Meet the Robinsons]]'', ''[[Oz the Great and Powerful]]'', and ''[[Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/danny-elfman-doctor-strange-2-multiverse-of-madness-score-music|title=Exclusive: Danny Elfman confirms he's scoring ''Doctor Strange 2''|last=Francisco|first=Eric|date=February 18, 2021|website=Inverse|access-date=June 1, 2021}}</ref> and Van Sant's [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]]-winning films ''[[Good Will Hunting]]'' and ''[[Milk (2008 American film)|Milk]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.parkrecord.com/entertainment/filmmaker-gus-van-sant-and-composer-danny-elfman-talk-of-their-collaborations/|title=Filmmaker Gus Van Sant and composer Danny Elfman talk of their collaborations|last=Iwasaki|first=Scott|date=January 24, 2018|website=[[Park Record]]|location=Park City, Utah|access-date=October 22, 2019}}</ref> He wrote music for all of the ''[[Men in Black (franchise)#Film series|Men in Black]]'' and ''[[Fifty Shades (film series)|Fifty Shades of Grey]]'' franchise films, the songs and score for [[Henry Selick]]'s animated [[Musical film|musical]] ''[[The Nightmare Before Christmas]]'', and the [[Theme music|themes]] for the popular television series ''[[Desperate Housewives]]'' and ''[[The Simpsons Theme|The Simpsons]]''.<ref name=vulture2015>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2015/07/danny-elfman-on-8-of-his-iconic-scores.html|title=Danny Elfman Tells the Stories Behind 8 of His Classic Scores|last=Collette|first=Olivia|date=July 6, 2015|website=[[New York (magazine)|Vulture]]|access-date=October 22, 2019}}</ref>

Among his honors are four [[Academy Awards|Oscar]] nominations,<ref name="Kraft-Engle"/> three [[Emmy Award]]s,<ref>{{cite web|access-date=September 11, 2019|url=https://www.emmys.com/bios/danny-elfman|title=Danny Elfman: Awards & Nominations|date=September 18, 2016|publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences}}</ref> a [[Grammy Awards|Grammy]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/danny-elfman/16657|title=Artist: Danny Elfman|publisher=National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences|access-date=November 11, 2019}}</ref> seven [[Saturn Awards]] for [[Saturn Award for Best Music|Best Music]], the 2002 Richard Kirk Award,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/233117|title=Top Film, TV, Cable Composers Honored at BMI's Annual Film/TV Awards|publisher=Broadcast Music, Inc.|date=May 14, 2002|access-date=October 28, 2010}}</ref> the 2015 [[Disney Legends|Disney Legend Award]],<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Lincoln|first=Ross|title=George Lucas, Danny Elfman, Others to Be Honored at D23 2015|url=https://deadline.com/2015/07/george-lucas-others-to-be-named-disney-legend-at-d23-2015-1201475685/|magazine=Deadline|date=July 14, 2015|access-date=August 4, 2015}}</ref> the [[Max Steiner Film Music Achievement Award]] in 2017,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/bmi-composer-danny-elfman-receives-max-steiner-award-at-hollywood-in-vienna|title=BMI Composer Danny Elfman Receives Max Steiner Award at Hollywood in Vienna|date=October 7, 2017|website=BMI.com|access-date=March 2, 2020}}</ref> and the [[Society of Composers & Lyricists]] Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Grein |first=Paul |date=November 23, 2022 |title=Danny Elfman & Nicholas Britell to Be Honored at Society of Composers & Lyricists' Holiday Celebrations |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/danny-elfman-nicholas-britell-society-of-composers-and-lyricists-honor-1235176001/ |access-date=November 26, 2022}}</ref>

==Early life==
Elfman was born on May 29, 1953 in [[Los Angeles, California]]<ref name="monger" /> to a [[Jews|Jewish]] family of [[History of the Jews in Russia|Russian]] descent.<ref name="AV Club"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thejc.com/node/28977 |title=Interview: Danny Elfman |work=The Jewish Chronicle |date=March 4, 2010 |access-date=August 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100310025305/http://www.thejc.com/node/28977|archive-date=March 10, 2010}}</ref> He is a son of [[Blossom Elfman]] (née Bernstein), a writer and teacher, and Milton Elfman, a teacher. He is the brother of actor, musician, and journalist [[Richard Elfman]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/34/Danny-Elfman.html|title=Danny Elfman profile|publisher=Film Reference|access-date=January 2, 2011}}</ref> Elfman was raised in an affluent, racially-mixed community in [[Baldwin Hills, Los Angeles|Baldwin Hills, California]], where he spent much of his time at the local movie theater discovering classic [[Science fiction film|sci-fi]], fantasy and horror films and first noticed the music of such film composers as [[Bernard Herrmann]] and [[Franz Waxman]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=M. Glionna|first1=John|title=Danny Elfman Pinged from Oingo Boingo Front Man to Prolific Movie Score Writer. Now This Oddball May Pong into Directing His Own Scripts.|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-apr-18-tm-28420-story.html|access-date=December 26, 2016|work=Los Angeles Times|date=April 18, 1999}}</ref> Elfman has admitted to fabricating stories about his past out of boredom, including a false birthplace of [[Amarillo, Texas]], and parents who served in the [[United States Air Force]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kcscfm.com/programming/interviews/interview_details.asp |title=Interview with Danny Elfman |date=July 20, 2001 |last=Hendrickson |first=Barbara |website=[[KUCO (FM)|KCSC FM]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030401035304/https://kcscfm.com/programming/interviews/interview_details.asp |archive-date=April 1, 2003 |access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref>

In his early school days, Elfman exhibited an aptitude for science with almost no interest in music, and was even rejected from elementary school orchestra "for having no propensity for music."<ref name=bond2015>{{cite book |last=Bond |first=Jeff |title=Danse Macabre: 25 years of Danny Elfman and Tim Burton |publisher=[[Warner Records|Warner Bros.]] | id=5251722 |date=October 2015 |pages=12–259 }}</ref>{{rp|15}} This would change when he switched high schools in the late 1960s and fell in with a musical crowd, who introduced him to early [[jazz]] and the work of [[Igor Stravinsky|Stravinsky]] and his [[20th-century music|20th-century]] contemporaries.<ref name="bond2015" />{{rp|17}} Elfman attended [[University High School (Los Angeles)|University High School]] in Los Angeles before dropping out.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/qampa-danny-elfman-117492/ | title=Q&A: Danny Elfman | website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] | date=August 14, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2021-06-08/danny-elfman-solo-album-tim-burton | title=After 30 years as Hollywood's coolest film composer, Danny Elfman still has something to prove | website=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=June 8, 2021 }}</ref>

Elfman left school to follow his brother Richard to France, where he performed violin with [[Jérôme Savary]]'s Le Grand Magic Circus, an [[avant-garde]] musical theater group.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.buzzine.com/2008/05/oingo-boingo |title=Oingo Boingo – The Complete History |publisher=Buzzine |date=May 7, 2009 |access-date=January 2, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100116044422/http://www.buzzine.com/2008/05/oingo-boingo |archive-date=January 16, 2010 }}</ref> He then embarked on a ten-month, self-guided tour through Africa, [[Street performance|busking]] and collecting a range of West African percussion instruments until a series of illnesses forced him to return home.<ref name="carruthers2015">{{cite news |last=Carruthers |first=Fiona |date=August 2, 2015 |title=How Danny Elfman got his inspiration for the Simpsons theme tune |url=https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/management/how-danny-elfman-got-his-inspiration-for-the-simpsons-theme-tune-20150721-gih706 |work=[[The Australian Financial Review]] |location=Sydney |access-date=October 13, 2019 |quote=I took a year off to travel Africa when I was 18. On my 19th birthday I crossed into Nigeria... I spent time in Mali, Ghana, Zaire, Uganda, Kenya... I have all my drums from India, Africa, plus my gamelan (percussive music set) from Bali...}}</ref> At this time, Richard was forming a new musical theater group in Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite web|title=Composed No. 2 – Danny Elfman|url=http://cinetropolis.net/composed-2-danny-elfman/|website=Cinetropolis|date=August 26, 2013|access-date=January 6, 2017|archive-date=December 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211230173327/http://cinetropolis.net/composed-2-danny-elfman/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Career==
===Oingo Boingo===
{{Main|Oingo Boingo}}
After returning to Los Angeles from Africa in the early 1970s, Elfman was asked by his brother [[Richard Elfman|Richard]] to serve as musical director of his [[street theatre]] performance art troupe [[The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo]].<ref name="bond2015"/>{{rp|22}} Elfman was tasked with adapting and arranging 1920s and 1930s [[jazz]] and [[big band]] music by artists such as [[Cab Calloway]], [[Duke Ellington]], [[Django Reinhardt]] and [[Josephine Baker]] for the ensemble, which consisted of up to 15 performers playing upwards of 30 instruments.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://medium.com/loopandreplay/mystic-knights-oingo-boingo-49f5170166a9 |title=The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo: Danny Elfman's Circus Theater Origins |last=Benson |first=Alex |date=May 15, 2018 |website=[[Medium (website)|Medium]] |access-date=October 13, 2019 }}</ref> He also composed original pieces and helped build instruments unique for the group, including an aluminum [[gamelan]], the 'Schlitz [[celesta|celeste]]' made from tuned beer cans, and a "junkyard orchestra" built from car parts and trash cans.<ref name="halfyard2004">{{cite book |last=Halfyard |first=Janet K. |date=September 7, 2004 |title=Danny Elfman's ''Batman'': A Film Score Guide |url=https://rowman.com/ISBN/9780810851269/Danny-Elfman's-Batman-A-Film-Score-Guide |publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield|Scarecrow Press]] |isbn=978-0810851269 }}</ref>

The Mystic Knights performed on the street and in theaters, and later in [[nightclub]]s throughout Los Angeles until Richard left in 1976 to pursue filmmaking.<ref name="bond2015" />{{rp|15}} As a send-off to the group's original concept, Richard produced the film ''[[Forbidden Zone]]'' based on the Mystic Knights' stage performances. Elfman composed the songs and his first [[film score|score]] for the film, and appeared as the character [[Satan]], who performs a reworked version of Calloway's "[[Minnie the Moocher]]."<ref name="kory2015">{{cite magazine |last=Grow |first=Kory |date=November 6, 2015 |title=Inside Danny Elfman's Twisted Cult Film ''Forbidden Zone'' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/inside-danny-elfmans-twisted-cult-film-forbidden-zone-70127/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=September 11, 2019 }}</ref>

Before the release of ''[[Forbidden Zone]]'', Elfman took over the Mystic Knights as lead singer-songwriter in 1976. In 1979, he pared the group down to eight players to record and tour as a [[ska]]-influenced [[new wave music|new wave]] band. That summer, the group's name would change to [[Oingo Boingo]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Thomas |first=Dana |date=April 29, 1990 |title=Eclectic and Eccentric |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/1990/04/29/eclectic-and-eccentric/415d9f8a-a086-432e-b574-9b7beca28cf3/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=October 13, 2019 }}</ref><ref name="denman2015" /> Their biggest success among eight studio albums penned by Elfman was 1985's ''[[Dead Man's Party (album)|Dead Man's Party]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.salon.com/2015/10/30/not_just_dead_mans_party_on_a_halloween_mix_oingo_boingo_deserves_more_respect_than_this/|title=Not just "Dead Man's Party" on a Halloween mix: Oingo Boingo deserves more respect than this|last=Hayden|first=Mack|date=October 30, 2015|website=Salon|access-date=October 15, 2019}}</ref> featuring the hit song "[[Weird Science (song)|Weird Science]]" from the movie of the same name.<ref name="AV Club" /> The band also appeared performing their single "[[Dead Man's Party (song)|Dead Man's Party]]" in the 1986 movie ''[[Back to School]]'',<ref name="Tedium">Buck, David. [https://tedium.co/2018/03/14/oingo-boingo-pop-culture-appearances/ "Mystic Knights of the Movie Soundtrack"], Tedium, March 14, 2018.</ref> for which Elfman also composed the score. Elfman shifted the band to a more guitar-oriented rock sound in the late 1980s,<ref>{{cite news |last=Willman |first=Chris |date=May 15, 1994 |title=Back to Boingo : Danny Elfman may have exhausted himself composing movie scores and TV themes, but he's getting renewed pleasure from the oddball rock band he founded and twice thought he'd retired |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-05-15-ca-57894-story.html |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=October 13, 2019 }}</ref> which continued through their last album [[Boingo (album)|''Boingo'']] in 1994.

Citing permanent hearing damage from performing live and conflicts with his film-scoring career,<ref name="bond2015" />{{rp|137}} Elfman retired Oingo Boingo in 1995 with a series of five sold-out [[Farewell (Oingo Boingo album)|final concerts]] at the [[Universal Amphitheatre]] ending on Halloween night.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-11-02-ca-64090-story.html|title=Oingo Boingo Bids Warm and Emotional Farewell|last=Hochman|first=Steve|date=November 11, 1995|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=October 15, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deseret.com/1996/4/26/19238694/boingo-closes-career-with-a-fitting-farewell|title=Boingo Closes Career with a Fitting 'Farewell...'|last=Iwasaki|first=Scott|date=April 26, 1996|website=Deseret News|access-date=November 4, 2019}}</ref> On October 31, 2015, Elfman and Oingo Boingo guitarist [[Steve Bartek]] performed the song "Dead Man's Party" with an orchestra as an encore to a live-to-film concert of ''[[The Nightmare Before Christmas]]'' score at the [[Hollywood Bowl]]. Elfman told the audience the performance was "20 years to the day" of Oingo Boingo's retirement.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Romano|first1=Nick|title=Danny Elfman: 'Dead Man's Party' performed after 20 years|url=https://ew.com/article/2015/11/01/danny-elfman-dead-mans-party/|access-date=December 26, 2016|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=November 1, 2015}}</ref>

===Film scoring===
As fans of [[Oingo Boingo]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/dark-shadows-composer-danny-elfman-on-his-long-collabor-1798231300|title=Dark Shadows composer Danny Elfman on his long collaboration with Tim Burton|last=Harris|first=Will|date=May 9, 2012|website=[[The A.V. Club]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191103130951/https://film.avclub.com/dark-shadows-composer-danny-elfman-on-his-long-collabor-1798231300|archive-date=November 3, 2019|url-status=live|access-date=October 7, 2024}}</ref> [[Tim Burton]] and [[Paul Reubens]] invited Elfman to write the [[Film score|score]] for their first feature film ''[[Pee-wee's Big Adventure]]'' in 1985.<ref name="harrington1990">{{cite news |last=Harrington |first=Richard |date=June 10, 1990 |title=Danny Elfman's Big Score |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/1990/06/10/danny-elfmans-big-score/fb856f51-44f2-495c-80b3-029be8aab483/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=October 14, 2019 }}</ref> Elfman was initially apprehensive because of his lack of formal training and having never scored a [[major film studio|studio]] [[feature film|feature]], but after Burton accepted his initial demo of the [[Theme music|title music]], and with [[orchestration]] assistance from [[Oingo Boingo]] guitarist and arranger [[Steve Bartek]], Elfman completed the score to great effect, paying homage to influential film composers [[Nino Rota]] and [[Bernard Herrmann]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/danny-elfman-on-film-scores-simpsons-and-working-with-tim-burton-69932/|title=Danny Elfman on ''The Simpsons'', ''Batman'' and Tim Burton|last=Grow|first=Kory|date=June 29, 2015|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=October 23, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thedissolve.com/features/movie-of-the-week/362-danny-elfmans-score-tied-pee-wees-big-adventure-to/|title=Danny Elfman's score tied ''Pee-wee's Big Adventure'' together—and launched a career|last=D'Angelo|first=Mike|date=January 16, 2014|website=The Dissolve|publisher=Pitchfork Media, Inc.|access-date=October 17, 2019}}</ref><ref name="multiple">{{cite web|last1=Silber|first1=Frederic|url=http://www.boingo.org/articles/FanfareArticle.html|title=Danny Elfman: Wunderkind of Filmmusic|work=Fanfare|publisher=Boingo|year=1989|access-date=January 2, 2011}}</ref> Elfman described the first time he heard his music played by a full orchestra as one of the most thrilling experiences of his life.<ref name="MCA Records">{{Cite AV media notes |title=Music for a Darkened Theatre: Film & Television Music Volume One |others=Danny Elfman |year=1990 |page=3–9 |type=booklet |publisher=[[MCA Records]] |id=MCD10065 |location=Universal City, CA}}</ref>

Following ''Pee Wee's Big Adventure'', Elfman scored a string of comedies in the late 1980s, including ''[[Back to School]]'' starring [[Rodney Dangerfield]], Burton's ''[[Beetlejuice]]'' and the [[Bill Murray]] film ''[[Scrooged]]''. Non-comedy work included the all-[[Synthesizer|synth]] score to [[Emilio Estevez]]'s [[Crime film|crime drama]] ''[[Wisdom (film)|Wisdom]]'' and the [[big band]], [[blues]]-infused music for [[Martin Brest]]'s [[Buddy cop film|buddy cop]] action film ''[[Midnight Run]]''.

In 1989, Elfman's influential, [[Grammy Awards|Grammy]]-winning score for Burton's ''[[Batman (1989 film)|Batman]]'' marked a major stylistic shift to dark, densely orchestrated music in the romantic idiom.<ref name=halfyard2004/> This continued in his scores for [[Warren Beatty]]'s ''[[Dick Tracy (1990 film)|Dick Tracy]]'', [[Sam Raimi]]'s ''[[Darkman]]'' and [[Clive Barker]]'s ''[[Nightbreed]]'', all released in 1990.

With ''Batman'', Elfman firmly established a career-spanning relationship with Burton,<ref>{{cite news |last=Burlingame |first=Jon |date=September 8, 2016 |title=Danny Elfman Looks Back at Tim Burton's Cinematic Adventures in Melody |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/awards/tim-burton-danny-elfman-music-cinematic-adventures-1201854151/ |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=October 14, 2019 }}</ref> scoring all but three of the director's major studio releases. Highlights include ''[[Edward Scissorhands]]'' (1990), ''[[Batman Returns]]'' (1992), ''[[Sleepy Hollow (film)|Sleepy Hollow]]'' (1999), ''[[Big Fish]]'' (2003) and ''[[Alice in Wonderland (2010 film)|Alice in Wonderland]]'' (2010). In 1993, Elfman wrote the score and ten songs for the Burton-produced [[stop motion]] animated film ''[[The Nightmare Before Christmas]]'', directed by [[Henry Selick]], and also provided the singing voice for main character [[Jack Skellington]], as well as the voices for secondary characters Barrel, the Clown with the Tear-Away Face and others.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/18-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-the-nightmare-before |title=18 Things You Probably Didn't Know About ''The Nightmare Before Christmas'' |last=Galindo |first=Brian |date=October 14, 2013 |website=[[BuzzFeed]] |access-date=October 14, 2019 |quote=8. Burton's friend and composer Danny Elfman wrote the songs and music for the film without a script or storyboard... 9. Elfman also provided the singing voice for Jack...11. Elfman also provided the voices for Barrel and the Clown with the Tear-Away Face.}}</ref> In 2005, he wrote the score and songs for Burton's ''[[Corpse Bride]]'' and provided the voice of the character of Bonejangles, and provided the score, songs and Oompa-Loompa vocals for Burton's ''[[Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (film)|Charlie and the Chocolate Factory]]'' that same year.

In addition to frequent collaborations with Burton, Raimi and [[Gus Van Sant]], Elfman has worked with directors such as [[Brian De Palma]], [[Peter Jackson]], [[Joss Whedon]], [[Errol Morris]], [[Ang Lee]], [[Richard Donner]], [[Guillermo del Toro]], [[David O. Russell]], [[Taylor Hackford]], [[Jon Amiel]], [[Joe Johnston]], and [[Barry Sonnenfeld]]. His scores for Sonnenfeld's ''[[Men in Black (1997 film)|Men in Black]]'', Van Sant's ''[[Good Will Hunting]]'' and ''[[Milk (2008 American film)|Milk]]'', and Burton's ''[[Big Fish]]'' all received [[Academy Award]] nominations.<ref name="Kraft-Engle"/>

Since the mid-1990s, Elfman expanded his craft to a range of genres, including [[thriller film|thriller]]s (''[[Dolores Claiborne (film)|Dolores Claiborne]]'', ''[[A Simple Plan (film)|A Simple Plan]]'', ''[[The Kingdom (2007 film)|The Kingdom]], [[The Girl on the Train (2016 film)|The Girl on the Train]], [[The Woman in the Window (2021 film)|The Woman in the Window]]''), [[drama (film and television)|drama]]s (''[[Sommersby]]'', ''[[A Civil Action (film)|A Civil Action]]'', ''[[Hitchcock (film)|Hitchcock]]''), [[independent film|indie]]s (''[[Freeway (1996 film)|Freeway]]'', ''[[Silver Linings Playbook]]'', ''[[Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot]], [[White Noise (2022 film)|White Noise]]''), [[Children's film|family]] (''[[Flubber (film)|Flubber]]'', ''[[Charlotte's Web (2006 film)|Charlotte's Web]]'', ''[[Frankenweenie (2012 film)|Frankenweenie]]'', ''[[Goosebumps (film)|Goosebumps]], [[Dolittle (film)|Dolittle]]''), documentary (''[[Standard Operating Procedure (film)|Standard Operating Procedure]]'', ''[[The Unknown Known]]''), and horror (''[[Red Dragon (2002 film)|Red Dragon]]'', ''[[The Wolfman (2010 film)|The Wolfman]]''), as well as entries in his well-established areas of [[horror comedy]] (''[[The Frighteners]]'', ''[[Mars Attacks!]]'', ''[[Dark Shadows (film)|Dark Shadows]]'') and comic book-inspired action films (''[[Hulk (film)|Hulk]]'', ''[[Wanted (2008 film)|Wanted]]'', ''[[Hellboy II: The Golden Army]]'').

Among his franchise work, Elfman composed the scores for four ''[[Men in Black (franchise)#Film series|Men in Black]]'' films (1997–2019)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://collider.com/men-in-black-international-walter-f-parkes-laurie-macdonald-interview/ |title=''Men in Black: International'' Producers on the Genesis of the Project and Casting Chris and Tessa |last=Weintraub |first=Steve |date=June 17, 2019 |website=Collider |access-date=October 8, 2019 |quote=The only people from the original franchise that are involved in this movie are me and Laurie, Emma and Danny Elfman, who did the music for all of them.}}</ref> and three ''[[Fifty Shades (film series)|Fifty Shades]]'' films (2015–2018).<ref>{{cite news |last=Kis |first=Eva |date=February 8, 2019 |title=Wait, Danny Elfman wrote the music for ''50 Shades of Grey''? |url=https://www.metro.us/entertainment/movies/danny-elfman-composer-fifty-shades-of-grey |work=[[Metro (U.S. newspaper)|Metro]] |access-date=October 11, 2019 |quote=We ask Danny Elfman, better known as Tim Burton's collaborator on spooky fairy tales, about composing the music for all three Fifty Shades of Grey movies. }}</ref> In 1996, he scored the first film in the [[Mission: Impossible (film series)|''Mission: Impossible'' series]], adapting themes for the original television series by [[Lalo Schifrin]] as well as composing his own.<ref name="Bond 2019 5-6">{{Cite AV media notes |title=''Mission: Impossible – Limited Edition'' |others=Danny Elfman |year=2019 |first=Jeff|last=Bond |pages=5–6 |type=booklet |publisher=La-La Land Records, Inc. |id=LLLCD1411 |location=Los Angeles, CA}}</ref> Elfman scored Raimi's ''[[Spider-Man (2002 film)|Spider-Man]]'' in 2002 and ''[[Spider-Man 2]]'' in 2004, themes and selections from which were used for Raimi's ''[[Spider-Man 3]]'', scored by [[Christopher Young]]. Elfman's ''Spider-Man'' theme was incorporated into the MCU film ''[[Spider-Man: No Way Home]]'' composed by [[Michael Giacchino]]. In 2007, he scored the [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|Disney]] animated film ''[[Meet the Robinsons]]'', taking inspiration from other cartoon composers like [[Carl W. Stalling|Carl Stalling]] (who was responsible for most of the music for the original ''[[Looney Tunes]]'' ''and [[Merrie Melodies]]'' cartoons).<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 15, 2016 |title=Danny Elfman talks Meet the Robinsons (2007) |url=https://filmmusiccentral.com/2016/12/15/danny-elfman-talks-meet-the-robinsons-2007/ |access-date=May 20, 2026 |work=Film Music Central}}</ref>

Elfman entered the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]] by providing additional music in 2015's ''[[Avengers: Age of Ultron]]'', receiving composer credit with [[Brian Tyler]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mendelson |first=Scott |date=March 4, 2015 |title=Final ''Avengers: Age of Ultron'' Trailer Teases Without Spoiling |work=[[Forbes]] |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2015/03/04/avengers-age-of-ultron-final-trailer-is-unlocked/?sh=4a0283426154 |access-date=November 27, 2022}}</ref> Elfman also scored MCU's ''[[Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness]]'' in 2022, utilizing Giacchino's theme to the original [[Doctor Strange (2016 film)|''Doctor Strange'']] film, as well as themes from [[WandaVision]] and [[X-Men: The Animated Series]], and music from [[Ludwig van Beethoven|Beethoven]]'s [[Symphony No. 5 (Beethoven)|Fifth Symphony]] and [[Johann Sebastian Bach|Bach]]'s [[Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565|Toccata and Fugue]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cooper |first=Hood |date=May 5, 2022 |title=The Marvel Movie Music Secretly Hidden in ''Doctor Strange 2'' |url=https://screenrant.com/doctor-strange-2-soundtrack-marvel-movie-music-scores/ |access-date=November 27, 2022 |website=Screen Rant}}</ref>

For several high-profile sequel and [[Reboot (fiction)|reboot]] projects in the 2010s, Elfman incorporated established musical themes with his own original thematic material, including the [[DC Extended Universe]]'s ''[[Justice League (film)|Justice League]]'',<ref>{{Cite news |last=Burton |first=Byron |date=November 18, 2017 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/justice-league-danny-elfman-hates-reboots-scrap-classic-themes-1059632|title=Danny Elfman Hates When Reboots Scrap Classic Themes|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=October 14, 2019}}</ref> ''[[The Grinch (film)|The Grinch]],''<ref name="Lenker">{{cite magazine |last=Lenker |first=Maureen Lee |date=November 9, 2019 |title=Danny Elfman talks reinventing "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" with Tyler the Creator |url=https://ew.com/movies/2018/11/09/danny-elfman-the-grinch-tyler-the-creator/ |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=October 12, 2019 |quote=...once Elfman felt his own heart grow two sizes when it came to Christmas, incorporating the original songs become one of the highlights of writing his score for The Grinch. "The 'Welcome' song was easy," he says. "We were playing the song twice in the film, so it was just how to score it and then pick up the melody and have it kind of lift up and explode when his heart does." When it came to the other hit song, "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch," Elfman had a slightly more complex task, collaborating with rapper Tyler the Creator on the iconic tune first recorded by Thurl Ravenscroft. }}</ref> ''[[Dumbo (2019 film)|Dumbo]]''<ref name="burlingame2019">{{cite news |last=Burlingame |first=Jon |date=March 28, 2019 |title=Danny Elfman Broke His Cardinal Rule for ''Dumbo''{{'}}s Bittersweet Score |url=https://variety.com/2019/artisans/production/danny-elfman-disney-dumbo-1203173252/ |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=October 12, 2019 |quote="This is a cultural icon," the composer says, "and I was happy to pay homage." So "Pink Elephants on Parade," "When I See an Elephant Fly" and the train motif "Casey Junior" all make appearances... }}</ref> and [[Men in Black: International|''Men in Black International'']].

Elfman was featured in the 2016 documentary ''[[Score: A Film Music Documentary|Score]]'', in which he appeared among over 50 film composers to discuss the craft of movie music and influential figures in the business.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.score-movie.com/the-interviews |title=The Interviews  |website=Score-Movie.com |access-date=September 20, 2019}}</ref><ref name=goldstein2017>{{cite news |last=Goldstein |first=Gary |date=June 22, 2017 |title=Review: ''Score: A Film Music Documentary'' explores composers' art |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-mini-score-documentary-review-20170622-story.html |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=September 20, 2019 |quote=Matt Schrader's "Score: A Film Music Documentary" spotlights such a rich and fascinating topic — the craft of motion picture scoring — that its mere presence proves a feast for the eyes and ears...the film is largely devoted to feting some of Hollywood's most influential composers...}}</ref>

In 2025, he composed the music for [[Luc Besson]]'s big-budget French film ''[[Dracula (2025 French film)|Dracula]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dracula de Luc Besson (2025) - Unifrance |url=https://en.unifrance.org/movie/59874/dracula |access-date=2025-11-18 |website=en.unifrance.org}}</ref>

===Concert music===
Elfman's first piece of original concert music, ''[[Serenada Schizophrana]]'', was commissioned by the [[American Composers Orchestra]], who premiered the piece on February 23, 2005, at [[Carnegie Hall]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.americancomposers.org/rel20050223.htm |title=All World Premiere Concert Features Legendary Rock Guitarist Andy Summers & Orchestral Debut of Hollywood Composer Danny Elfman |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=February 23, 2005 |website=AmericanComposers.org |access-date=September 18, 2019 |archive-date=October 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191028070054/http://www.americancomposers.org/rel20050223.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Subsequent concert works include his first ''[[Violin Concerto (Elfman)|Violin Concerto "Eleven Eleven"]]'', co-commissioned by the [[Czech National Symphony Orchestra]], Stanford Live at [[Stanford University]], and the [[Royal Scottish National Orchestra]], which premiered at [[Municipal House|Smetana Hall]] in Prague on June 21, 2017, with Sandy Cameron on violin and [[John Mauceri]] conducting the Czech National Symphony Orchestra;<ref name="Columbia Artists" >{{cite web |url=https://columbia-artists.com/artists/concerto-for-violin-and-orchestra-%22eleven-eleven%22-composed-by-danny-elfman/ |title=Concerto for Violin and Orchestra ''Eleven Eleven'' composed by Danny Elfman Composer |website=Columbia-Artists.com |publisher=Columbia Artists Management Inc. |access-date=October 7, 2019 |archive-date=July 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711174331/https://columbia-artists.com/artists/concerto-for-violin-and-orchestra-%22eleven-eleven%22-composed-by-danny-elfman/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> the ''Piano Quartet'', co-commissioned by the [[Lied Center for Performing Arts]], [[University of Nebraska–Lincoln]], and the [[Berlin Philharmonic]] Piano Quartet, which premiered February 6, 2018, in [[Lincoln, Nebraska]];<ref>{{cite news |last=Kruse |first=Kyle |date=February 22, 2018 |title=Berlin Philharmonic Piano Quartet premieres Danny Elfman piece at Lied Center |url=http://www.dailynebraskan.com/culture/berlin-philharmonic-piano-quartet-premieres-danny-elfman-piece-at-lied/article_a52dfc1c-181c-11e8-8fb2-2fba4b9684f6.html |work=[[The Daily Nebraskan]] |location=[[Lincoln, Nebraska]] |access-date=October 8, 2019 }}</ref> and the ''Percussion Quartet'', commissioned by [[Third Coast Percussion]] and premiered at the [[Philip Glass]] Days And Nights Festival in [[Big Sur]] on October 10, 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last=Malkin |first=John |date=October 9, 2019 |title=Out of the comfort zone: Danny Elfman has world premiere at Philip Glass Festival |url=https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2019/10/09/out-of-the-comfort-zone-danny-elfman-has-world-premiere-at-philip-glass-festival/ |work=[[Santa Cruz Sentinel]] |access-date=October 13, 2019 |quote=The Elfman Percussion Quartet will have its world premiere at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Henry Miller Library in Big Sur, as part of the Days and Nights Festival.}}</ref>

2022 saw the first performances of three concert works. Elfman's ''Cello Concerto'' for [[Gautier Capuçon]] was premiered by the [[Vienna Symphony]] on March 18, with subsequent performances by the [[Orchestre philharmonique de Radio France|Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France]] in May and the [[San Francisco Symphony]] US premiere in November.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.wienersymphoniker.at/en/events/robertson-capucon-korngold-elfman-stravinsky |title=18.03.2022 - Robertson, Capuçon / Korngold, Elfman, Stravinsky &#124; Wiener Symphoniker |access-date=August 15, 2022 |archive-date=August 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818132004/https://www.wienersymphoniker.at/en/events/robertson-capucon-korngold-elfman-stravinsky |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://philharmoniedeparis.fr/en/activity/concert-symphonique/22881-elfman-symphonique?itemId=116396 | title=Elfman symphonique|website=Philharmoniedeparis.fr | date=May 20, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sfsymphony.org/Buy-Tickets/2022-23/Capucon-Plays-Danny-Elfman | title=San Francisco Symphony - Capucon Plays Danny Elfman|website=Sfsymphony.org }}</ref> Elfman's ''Percussion Concerto'' for [[Colin Currie]] premiered on March 25 at London's [[Royal Festival Hall]] with [[London Philharmonic Orchestra]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://tickets.lpo.org.uk/events/movie-legends |title=Movie Legends &#124; the London Philharmonic Orchestra |access-date=August 15, 2022 |archive-date=March 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325111518/https://tickets.lpo.org.uk/events/movie-legends/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and was later performed at [[Soka University of America]] in California, with [[Pacific Symphony]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sfcv.org/events/pacific-symphony/sundays-soka-percussion-concerto-danny-elfman | title=Sundays at Soka: Percussion Concerto by Danny Elfman |website=Sfcv.org}}</ref> His ''Wunderkammer'', a commission from the [[National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain]], toured the UK in summer 2022, culminating in a performance in London's [[Royal Albert Hall]] as part of the [[BBC Proms]], with national radio and TV broadcasts.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.fabermusic.com/news/national-youth-orchestra-of-great-britain-premiere-danny-elfmans-wunderkammer14062022 | title=National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain premiere Danny Elfman's Wunderkammer |website=Fabermusic.com }}</ref>

Elfman's ''Suite for Chamber Orchestra'' was premiered on May 4, 2023, by [[Orpheus Chamber Orchestra]] at [[St. Mark's Episcopal Church (Washington, D.C.)|St Mark's Episcopal Church]] in Washington, D.C.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Library of Congress |title=Danny Elfman at the Library for the World Premiere of 'Suite for Chamber Orchestra' |url=https://newsroom.loc.gov/news/danny-elfman-at-the-library-for-the-world-premiere-of--suite-for-chamber-orchestra-/s/8efc06bd-ac54-43b2-921f-39956ce8adc6 |access-date=21 August 2024 |language=en}}</ref> The ''Suite'' was co-commissioned by the [[Library of Congress]], the Royalty Pool of [[Andre Kostelanetz]], the [[Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra]], and the [[National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland]]. Subsequent performances of the ''Suite'' include the New York premiere by the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra in July 2023<ref>{{cite web |title=Orpheus and Vijay Iyer Jazz Trio at 92NY |url=https://orpheusnyc.org/about/press-kit/orpheus-elfman-schreiber-2-3-2 |website=Orpheus Chamber Orchestra |language=en|access-date=21 August 2024}}</ref> at [[92NY]]'s inaugural MidSummer Music Fest, the West Coast premiere by the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra in December 2023<ref>{{cite web |last1=San Francisco Classical Voice |title=Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Presents West Coast Premiere of Danny Elfman's Suite for Chamber Orchestra and Features Renowned Violinist Christian Tetzlaff on Brahms' Violin Concerto in D major {{!}} San Francisco Classical Voice |url=https://www.sfcv.org/events/los-angeles-chamber-orchestra/los-angeles-chamber-orchestra-presents-west-coast-premiere |website=www.sfcv.org |access-date=21 August 2024}}</ref> at the [[Alex Theatre]] in Glendale, California, and a performance by the Reno Chamber Orchestra in October 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=24/25 Season - Reno Chamber Orchestra |url=https://www.renochamberorchestra.org/2425season |website=Reno Chamber Orchestra |language=en |access-date=21 August 2024}}</ref>

===Stage music===

In 2008, Elfman accepted his first commission for the stage, composing the music for [[Twyla Tharp]]'s ''Rabbit and Rogue'' ballet, co-commissioned by [[American Ballet Theatre]] and Orange County Performing Arts Center and premiering on June 3, 2008, at the [[Metropolitan Opera House (Lincoln Center)|Metropolitan Opera House]], [[Lincoln Center]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.twylatharp.org/works/rabbit-and-rogue |title=Rabbit and Rogue  |website=TwylaTharp.org |access-date=October 8, 2019 }}</ref> Other works for stage include the music for [[Cirque Du Soleil]]'s ''[[Iris (Cirque du Soleil)|Iris]]'' in 2011,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.soundtrack.net/title/iris-cirque-du-soleil/ |title=Review: Cirque du Soleil: Iris |last=Goldwasser |first=Dan |date=June 11, 2012 |website=Soundtrack.net |publisher=Autotelics, LLC |access-date=September 27, 2019 }}</ref> and incidental music for the [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] production of [[Taylor Mac]]'s ''[[Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus]]'' in 2019.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Portwood |first=Jerry |date=March 11, 2019 |title=Danny Elfman to Score ''Gary'' Production on Broadway |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/danny-elfman-gary-broadway-taylor-mac-806458/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=September 18, 2019}}</ref>
[[File:Nightmare Before XMAS Live 20151031 185935.jpg|thumb|360x360px|Elfman's ''[[The Nightmare Before Christmas]]'' live at the [[Hollywood Bowl]].]]
In October 2013, Elfman returned to the stage for the first time since his band [[Oingo Boingo]] disbanded to sing a handful of ''[[The Nightmare Before Christmas]]'' songs as part of the concert ''Danny Elfman's Music from the Films of Tim Burton'', featuring suites of music from 15 [[Tim Burton]] films newly arranged by Elfman.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ng|first=David|title=Danny Elfman concert of Tim Burton film music adds third performance|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-danny-elfman-tim-burton-third-concert-20130918-story.html|access-date=October 10, 2013|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=September 18, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Danny Elfman's Music from the Films of Tim Burton|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/orchestras/events/1392|publisher=BBC Concert Orchestra|access-date=October 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230043548/http://www.bbc.co.uk/orchestras/events/1392|archive-date=December 30, 2013}}</ref><ref name=ryzik2015>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/03/arts/music/danny-elfman-brings-music-from-tim-burtons-films-to-lincoln-center.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705183003/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/03/arts/music/danny-elfman-brings-music-from-tim-burtons-films-to-lincoln-center.html |archive-date=July 5, 2015 |url-access=limited|title=Danny Elfman Brings Music from Tim Burton's Films to Lincoln Center|last=Ryzik|first=Melena|date=July 2, 2015|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 23, 2019|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The concert has since toured internationally and has played in Japan, Australia, Mexico and throughout Europe and the United States. Since 2015, Elfman has appeared regularly in a [[Hollywood Bowl]] [[Halloween]] concert featuring full orchestra performing the ''Nightmare Before Christmas'' score live to the film projection.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ng |first=David |date=November 1, 2015 |title=Danny Elfman concert at Hollywood Bowl brings out Tim Burton fans |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-danny-elfman-concert-hollywood-bowl-20151101-story.html |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=October 13, 2019 |quote=Danny Elfman was the main attraction on Saturday night at the Hollywood Bowl during a live concert performance of Tim Burton's ''The Nightmare Before Christmas''...The screening of the 1993 stop-motion animated movie, with a live orchestra, felt almost like a decadent dessert to the main course... Elfman saved his entrance for last, sending the audience into a frenzy of cheering and fan worship.}}</ref> In 2025, he reprised his singing role as Jack Skellington for the 10th anniversary of the live version, which starred [[Janelle Monáe]], [[Keith David]] and [[John Stamos]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Turman |first1=Katherine |title=Danny Elfman still hasn't woken up from his 'Nightmare Before Christmas' |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2025-10-22/danny-elfman-nightmare-before-christmas-hollywood-bowl-jack-skellington |access-date=24 October 2025 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=22 October 2025}}</ref>

Elfman made his [[Coachella (festival)|Coachella]] debut on April 16, 2022, with ''Danny Elfman: From Boingo to ''Batman'' to ''Big Mess'' to Beyond!''<ref>{{Cite news |last=Blueskye |first=Brian |date=April 23, 2022 |title=Coachella 2022: 5 highlights from Danny Elfman's rock-infused, cinematic set |work=[[The Desert Sun]] |url=https://www.desertsun.com/story/life/2022/04/23/coachella-2022-5-highlights-danny-elfmans-cinematic-set/7397624001/ |access-date=November 27, 2022}}</ref> The concert, postponed from Coachella 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, featured Elfman's film and television music arranged for band, orchestra and choir, as well as songs from his solo album ''[[Big Mess (Danny Elfman album)|Big Mess]]'' and new arrangements of songs from his [[Oingo Boingo]] catalogue. Conducted by [[Steve Bartek]], and featuring Elfman (vocals, guitar, percussion), [[Wes Borland]] (guitar), [[Stu Brooks]] (bass), [[Nili Brosh]] (guitar), and [[Josh Freese]] (drums),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pearis |first=Bill |date=April 17, 2022 |title=Watch Danny Elfman play Oingo Boingo, ''Simpson's'', ''Nightmare Before Christmas'' & more at Coachella |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/watch-danny-elfman-play-oingo-boingo-simpsons-nightmare-before-christmas-more-at-coachella/ |access-date=November 27, 2022 |website=Brooklyn Vegan}}</ref> the concert was expanded for two shows Halloween weekend 2022 at the [[Hollywood Bowl]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Willman |first=Chris |date=August 22, 2022 |title=Danny Elfman to Perform at Hollywood Bowl Halloween Weekend, Following Coachella Triumph |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://variety.com/2022/music/news/danny-elfman-hollywood-bowl-concerts-halloween-weekend-1235347237/ |access-date=November 27, 2022}}</ref>

===Television and other projects===
In addition to his music for film, Elfman also penned themes for the television series ''[[The Simpsons]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elfman.filmmusic.com/elfman_la_times.html |title=Danny Elfman in the ''L.A. Times'' |access-date=July 3, 2006 |author=Glionna, John M. |year=1999 |publisher=Danny Elfman's Music for a Darkened People |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060228033204/http://elfman.filmmusic.com/elfman_la_times.html |archive-date=February 28, 2006 }}</ref> ''[[Tales from the Crypt (TV series)|Tales from the Crypt]]'', ''[[The Flash (1990 TV series)|The Flash]]'' and ''[[Desperate Housewives]]'', which won Elfman his first Emmy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234561|title=Composer Danny Elfman Scores First Emmy Award|website=BMI.com |publisher=[[Broadcast Music, Inc.]] |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=September 21, 2005 |access-date=September 20, 2019 }}</ref> He also adapted his original themes for the animated versions of ''[[Batman: The Animated Series|Batman]]'' and ''[[Beetlejuice (TV series)|Beetlejuice]]''. Occasional forays into serial television include episodes of ''[[Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1985 TV series)|Alfred Hitchcock Presents]]'', ''[[Amazing Stories (1985 TV series)|Amazing Stories]]'' and [[Pee-wee's Playhouse]], the [[miniseries]] ''[[When We Rise]]'' co-composed with [[Chris Bacon (composer)|Chris Bacon]], and themes for the [[Netflix]] series [[Wednesday (TV series)|Wednesday]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://filmmusicreporter.com/2017/02/09/soundtrack-album-for-abcs-when-we-rise-announced/ |title=Soundtrack Album for ABC's ''When We Rise'' Announced |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=February 9, 2017 |website=Film Music Reporter |access-date=September 27, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gomes |first=Dessi |date=November 23, 2022 |title=Here Are All the Songs in Netflix's ''Wednesday'' |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/songs-netflix-wednesday-010000713.html |access-date=November 27, 2022 |website=Yahoo}}</ref>

He has composed music for animated shorts, including [[Sally Cruikshank]]'s ''Face Like A Frog''<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=Music for a Darkened Theatre: Film & Television Music Volume One |others=Danny Elfman |year=1990 |page=2 |type=booklet |publisher=[[MCA Records]] |id=MCD10065 |location=Universal City, CA}}</ref> and Tim Burton's "Stainboy" internet series.<ref>{{cite news |last=Zahed |first=Ramin |date=November 2, 2000 |title=Stainboy |url=https://variety.com/2000/digital/reviews/stainboy-1200465679/ |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |location=Los Angeles, CA |access-date=October 7, 2019 |quote=Also effective is Burton's frequent music collaborator Danny Elfman, who offers a grandiose, orchestral score to the Stainboy's adventures.}}</ref>

Elfman provided background music for [[Luigi Serafini (artist)|Luigi Serafini]]'s solo exhibition ''il Teatro della Pittura'' at the Fondazione Mudima di Milano in [[Milan|Milan, Italy]] in 1998<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dannyelfman.com/wacky-tracks |title=Wacky Tracks |website=DannyElfman.com |access-date=October 14, 2019 |quote=In the mid 90s my friend Luigi Serafini, who's an amazing artist, asked me to write something to play for his gallery show in Milan, Italy. I put this together as a semi-composed, semi-DJ'd experiment for him. |archive-date=October 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008030500/https://www.dannyelfman.com/wacky-tracks |url-status=dead }}</ref> and for the ''Tim Burton'' exhibition at [[Museum of Modern Art|MoMA]] in 2009.

In the 1990s, Elfman composed music for advertising campaigns for [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]], [[Nissan]] and [[Mercury (automobile)|Lincoln-Mercury]], and in 2002 wrote the music for [[Honda]]'s "Power of Dreams" advertising campaign, which was the first cinema commercial to be shot in the [[IMAX]] format.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/gallery-22-best-us---honda/175957|title=Gallery 22: Best of the US – Honda|date=November 30, 2002|website=[[Campaign (magazine)|Campaign]]|location=London|access-date=October 24, 2019}}</ref>

In 2013 he composed the music and provided the English-language vocals for the [[Hong Kong Disneyland]] attraction [[Mystic Manor]].<ref name=napolitano2013 >{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/scene/2013/06/14/danny-elfman-on-scoring-for-a-disney-ride/|title=Danny Elfman on Scoring for a Disney Ride|last=Napolitano|first=Dean|date=June 14, 2013|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|access-date=September 19, 2019|quote=...the film composer Danny Elfman jumped at the chance to try something new: creating the music for Mystic Manor, a new Disneyland ride in Hong Kong...Figures in Chinese art leap off the walls, Roman frescos come alive, musical instruments play themselves, and floating headgear from armored suits sing in three languages: Mandarin, Cantonese and English. ("It's me singing in English, by the way," Mr. Elfman says.)}}</ref>

On October 31, 2019, the [[MasterClass]] online educational series released "Making Music out of Chaos," presenting 21 compositional and career lessons from Elfman's four decades of experience primarily in the [[film industry]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2019/10/30/nightmare-before-christmas-composer-its-halloween-movie/2505238001/|title=''Nightmare Before Christmas'' composer confirms it is, in fact, a Halloween movie|last=Ryan|first=Patrick|date=October 30, 2019|website=[[USA Today]]|access-date=November 6, 2019}}</ref>

Elfman scored the 10-minute video "Joe Biden," which introduced [[Joe Biden]]'s acceptance of the presidential candidacy nomination at the [[2020 Democratic National Convention]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tangcay|first=Jazz|date=August 21, 2020|title=Joe Biden's DNC Videos Were Shot by an Oscar-Winning Documentarian|url=https://variety.com/2020/politics/news/short-films-dnc-davis-guggenheim-1234743807/|access-date=August 23, 2020|website=Variety|language=en}}</ref>

On November 16, 2021, [[Disney Branded Television]] announced that Elfman would compose score and songs of the upcoming [[Disney Television Animation]] and [[20th Television Animation]] [[Stop motion|stop-motion]] animated comedy series ''Rhona Who Lives by the River'' created by [[Emily Kapnek]], Elfman also serves as executive producer for the series.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |last2=Petski |first2=Denise |date=2021-11-16 |title=Karen Gillan to Star in Emily Kapnek's ''Rhona Who Lives by the River'' Animated Musical Series With Danny Elfman in Works at Disney+ |url=https://deadline.com/2021/11/karen-gillan-emily-kapnek-rhona-who-lives-by-the-river-animated-musical-disney-plus-danny-elfman-1234875074/ |access-date=2023-09-23 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>

In June 2024, it was announced that Elfman would compose the music for the [[Dark Universe (Universal Epic Universe)|Dark Universe]] section of [[Universal Epic Universe]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/theme-parks/danny-elfman-message-confirms-involved-universal-orlando-epic-universe |title=See Danny Elfman's Sweet Message After He Confirms He's Involved With Universal Orlando's Epic Universe |website=CinemaBlend |first=Dirk |last=Libbey |date=June 24, 2024 |access-date=March 24, 2025}}</ref>

On January 18, 2025, Elfman made his first appearance on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', performing drums with [[A$AP Rocky]] during the song "Punk Rocky". Bassist [[Thundercat (musician)|Thundercat]] also performed. The appearance marked Elfman's SNL debut despite his decades-long career in music, as [[Oingo Boingo]] had primarily been a West Coast act and never received an invitation to appear on the show.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://parade.com/news/80s-icon-makes-surprise-appearance-on-saturday-night-live|title='80s Icon Makes Surprise Appearance on 'Saturday Night Live'|website=Parade|date=January 18, 2026|access-date=January 20, 2026}}</ref>

===Solo===
In October 2020, Elfman released the single, "[[Happy (Danny Elfman song)|Happy]]," on [[Anti- Records]] and [[Epitaph Records]].<ref name="Happy Pitchfork">{{cite web |last1=Minsker |first1=Evan |title=Watch Danny Elfman's Video for "Happy", His First New Solo Song in 36 Years |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/watch-danny-elfmans-video-for-happy-his-first-new-solo-song-in-36-years/ |website=Pitchfork |date=October 29, 2020 |access-date=October 30, 2020}}</ref> From January 2021 on the eleventh day of each month, he released five subsequent singles  "Sorry", "Love in the Time of COVID", "Kick Me", "True", and a reworking of the [[Oingo Boingo]] song "Insects" from the album ''[[Nothing to Fear (Oingo Boingo album)|Nothing to Fear]]''.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Grow|first=Kory|date=January 11, 2021|title=See Danny Elfman's Creepy Video for Self-Described 'Alien Orchestral Chamber Punk' Song 'Sorry'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/see-danny-elfmans-creepy-video-for-self-described-alien-orchestral-chamber-punk-song-sorry-1112539/|access-date=February 11, 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref> This culminated with the release of the double album ''[[Big Mess (Danny Elfman album)|Big Mess]]'' on June 11.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Moore|first1=Sam|date=April 12, 2021|title=Danny Elfman announces ''Big Mess'', his first new solo album in 37 years |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/danny-elfman-announces-big-mess-his-first-new-solo-album-in-37-years-2918900|access-date=April 6, 2021|website=NME|language=en-US}}</ref> Featuring 18 original songs, this was Elfman's first solo studio album since 1984's ''[[So-Lo]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Willman |first=Chris |date=January 3, 1985 |title=Oingo Boingo's Elfman Tries a ''So-Lo'' Album |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-01-03-ca-11341-story.html |access-date=November 26, 2022}}</ref>

On August 11, 2021, Elfman released a remix of "True" with lead vocals shared between Elfman and [[Nine Inch Nails]] frontman [[Trent Reznor]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=August 11, 2022 |title=Danny Elfman Taps Trent Reznor for "True" Remix |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/danny-elfman-trent-reznor-true-remix-video-1210696/ |access-date=November 26, 2022}}</ref> A year later, Elfman released ''Bigger Messier'', a compilation of 23 remixes of songs on the album ''Big Mess'' by artists including Reznor, [[Iggy Pop]], [[Blixa Bargeld]], [[Squarepusher]], [[Boy Harsher]] and more.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lemmon |first=Kyle |date=August 11, 2022 |title=Danny Elfman, Bigger. Messier. |url=https://floodmagazine.com/114854/danny-elfman-bigger-messier/ |access-date=November 26, 2022 |website=Flood}}</ref> A further solo album was announced by Elfman on his social media pages in 2025.

==Influences and style==
Elfman has said his major influences are composers from [[Classical Hollywood cinema|Hollywood's Golden Age]], such as [[Bernard Herrmann]], [[Dimitri Tiomkin]], [[Max Steiner]], [[David Tamkin]], [[Erich Wolfgang Korngold]], and [[Carl W. Stalling|Carl Stalling]]; [[20th-century music|20th century]] [[List of classical music composers by era|classical composers]] [[Sergei Prokofiev]], [[Igor Stravinsky]], [[Béla Bartók]], [[Dmitri Shostakovich]], and [[Carl Orff]]; and [[jazz]], [[Experimental music|experimental]] and [[Minimalist (music)|minimalist]] composers [[Kurt Weill]], [[Duke Ellington]], [[Harry Partch]], [[Philip Glass]], [[Lou Harrison]], [[Terry Riley]], and [[Steve Reich]].<ref name=":0">Elfman, Danny. "A note from the Composer." Liner notes. Serenada Shizophrana. CD. Sony Classical, 2006.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sfcv.org/events-calendar/artist-spotlight/danny-elfman-is-always-eying-the-next-thing|title=Danny Elfman Is Always Eying the Next Thing|last=Karliss|first=Jeff|date=March 28, 2018|website=San Francisco Classical Voice|access-date=October 20, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.americancomposers.org/elfman_interview.htm|title=An interview with composer Danny Elfman|last=Lustig|first=Jessica|date=February 23, 2005|website=americancomposers.org|access-date=October 20, 2019|archive-date=October 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026161109/http://www.americancomposers.org/elfman_interview.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Influences on specific scores include [[Erik Satie]] (''[[Forbidden Zone]]''), [[Nino Rota]] (''[[Pee-wee's Big Adventure]]''), [[George Gershwin]] (''[[Dick Tracy (1990 film)|Dick Tracy]]''), [[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky]] (''[[Edward Scissorhands]]''), and [[Jimi Hendrix]] (''[[Dead Presidents]]'').<ref name="MCA Records"/><ref name="MAFDTVol2">{{cite AV media|url=https://www.discogs.com/Danny-Elfman-Music-For-A-Darkened-Theatre-Film-Television-Music-Volume-Two/release/985227|title=Music for a Darkened Theatre, Vol 2|date=December 3, 2019|first=Danny|last=Elfman|type=booklet|publisher=MCA|access-date=October 15, 2019|id=MCAD2-11550}}</ref><ref name="vulture2015" /> Though not considered direct influences ''per se'', Elfman has discussed his respect and admiration for film composers [[Jerry Goldsmith]], [[Ennio Morricone]],<ref name="harrington1990" /> [[Thomas Newman]], [[Alexandre Desplat]] and [[John Williams]], as well as classical composer [[John Adams (composer)|John Adams]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lincolncenter.org/article/podcast-danny-elfman |title=This is Lincoln Center: Danny Elfman |last=Geslain |first=Kristy |date=January 8, 2018 |website=[[Lincoln Center|lincolncenter.org]] |access-date=November 3, 2019 |quote=there are composers that I love that have bridged that gap [between serious and entertaining music]. I mean, most famously amongst them for me, John Adams and Philip Glass |archive-date=November 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105210829/https://www.lincolncenter.org/article/podcast-danny-elfman |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Though many believe [[Richard Wagner]] informed his influential score to ''[[Batman (1989 film)|Batman]]'', Elfman has said it was more likely from Wagner's influence on classic film composers such as Herrmann, Steiner, Waxman and Korngold, as he was unfamiliar with Wagner's work at the time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sfcv.org/events-calendar/artist-spotlight/danny-elfman-is-always-eying-the-next-thing|title=Danny Elfman Is Always Eying the Next Thing|last=Kaliss|first=Jeff|date=March 26, 2018|website=San Francisco Classical Voice|access-date=October 20, 2019}}</ref>

Elfman counts Herrmann as his biggest influence, and has said hearing Herrmann's score to ''[[The Day the Earth Stood Still]]'' when he was a child was the first time he recognized [[Film score|film music]] as a cinematic art form and realized the powerful contribution a composer makes to the movies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/composers-talk-film-scores-83073|title=Composers talk film scores|date=April 28, 2009|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=October 20, 2019}}</ref> [[Pasticcio|Pastiche]] of Herrmann's music can be heard in Elfman's ''Pee-wee's Big Adventure'', especially the cues "Stolen Bike" and "Clown Dream", which directly reference Herrmann's music from ''[[Psycho (1960 film)|Psycho]]'' and ''[[The 7th Voyage of Sinbad]]'' respectively.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.filmtracks.com/titles/pee_wee.html |title=Editorial Reviews: Pee-wee's Big Adventure |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=May 26, 2011 |website=[[Filmtracks]] |access-date=October 23, 2019 |quote=...'Stolen Bike' is perhaps the clearest emulation of Herrmann's fearful tone from Psycho to ever exist (until Elfman ironically re-recorded the classic score in full over a decade later for the remake). }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://fanfarearchive.com/articles/atop/13_2/1320030.aa_Danny_Elfman_Wunderkind_Filmmusic.html |title=Danny Elfman: Wunderkind of Filmmusic – A Profile |date=Nov–Dec 1989 |format=subscription |access-date=September 25, 2019 |quote=As for the Herrmann touch, Elfman was able to draw from that reservoir in some of the film's more inspires dream sequences. 'There was some strange and wonderful music of Herrmann's that influenced me, in particular, Jason and the Argonauts, The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad, and Mysterious Island.'}} [http://www.boingo.org/articles/FanfareArticle.html Alt URL]</ref> His score to ''Batman'' makes more subtle nods to Herrmann's [[Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959 film)|''Journey to the Center of the Earth'']] and ''[[Vertigo (film)|Vertigo]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.filmtracks.com/titles/batman.html |title=Editorial Review: Batman |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=August 29, 1997 |website=[[Filmtracks]] |access-date=October 23, 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite podcast |url=http://www.artofthescore.com.au/podcast/2017/7/23/episode-10-batman |title=Episode 10: Batman |website=Art of the Score |date=July 23, 2017 |time=1:01:30 |access-date=October 23, 2019 }}</ref> and more integral [[Homage (arts)|homage]] can be heard in later scores for ''[[Mars Attacks!]]'' and ''[[Hitchcock (film)|Hitchcock]]'', as well as the "Blue Strings" movement of his first concert work ''[[Serenada Schizophrana]]''.

While Elfman is primarily known for writing large-scale orchestral works in the romantic, [[20th-century music|20th century]] and [[Classical Hollywood cinema|Hollywood Golden Age]] [[film score]] traditions, his compositions have used a wide range of idioms, including rock and [[blues]] (''[[Midnight Run]], [[Hot to Trot]]''), [[big band]] and [[jazz]] (''Dick Tracy'', [[Chicago (2002 film)|''Chicago'']]), [[operetta]] (''[[The Nightmare Before Christmas]]'', ''[[Corpse Bride]]''), [[funk]] and [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] (''[[Dead Presidents]]'', ''[[Notorious (2009 film)|Notorious]]''), [[Folk rock|folk]] and [[indie rock]] (''[[Taking Woodstock]]'', ''[[Silver Linings Playbook]]''), [[Americana (music)|Americana]] (''[[Article 99]]'', ''[[Sommersby]]'', ''[[Big Fish]]),'' [[Minimal music|minimalism]] (''[[Good Will Hunting]]'', [[Standard Operating Procedure (film)|''Standard Operating Procedure'']], ''[[The Unknown Known]]''), and [[Atonality|atonal]] or [[Experimental music|experimental]] (''[[Freeway (1996 film)|Freeway]]'', ''[[A Simple Plan (film)|A Simple Plan]], [[The Girl on the Train (2016 film)|The Girl on the Train]]'').

Given his appreciation and study of world music and his vast collection of instruments from non-Western cultures,<ref name="carruthers2015" /> Elfman will often use traditional instruments in his scores when there is an international setting, such as African percussion for ''[[Instinct (1999 film)|Instinct]]'', the [[oud]] for ''[[The Kingdom (2007 film)|The Kingdom]]'' set in [[Saudi Arabia]], and [[pan flute]] for ''[[Proof of Life]]'' set in South America.

When working on films with established musical identifiers, Elfman will often incorporate original themes in addition to his own thematic material. Examples include [[Lalo Schifrin]]'s main theme and "The Plot" from the original [[Mission: Impossible (1966 TV series)|Mission Impossible TV Series]] for ''[[Mission: Impossible (film)|Mission: Impossible]]'';<ref name="Bond 2019 5-6"/> [[John Williams]]' theme for ''[[Superman (1978 film)|Superman]]'', the [[Hans Zimmer]]/[[Tom Holkenborg|Junkie XL]] theme for ''[[Wonder Woman (2017 film)|Wonder Woman]]'' and his own original ''Batman'' theme for ''[[Justice League (film)|Justice League]];<ref>{{cite news |last=Burton |first=Byron |date=November 18, 2017 |title=Danny Elfman Hates When Reboots Scrap Classic Themes |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/justice-league-danny-elfman-hates-reboots-scrap-classic-themes-1059632 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=October 10, 2019 |quote=Elfman and Whedon previously worked together on 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron, another situation he describes as another "three-alarm call." He shared scoring credits with Brian Tyler. }}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media|people=Danny Elfman|date=November 10, 2017|title=Justice League: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack|type=CD liner|url=https://www.watertower-music.com/releases/release.php?title=justiceleague|access-date=September 27, 2019|location=[[Burbank, California|Burbank]], CA|publisher=[[WaterTower Music]]|id=19075807271|archive-date=December 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191201105301/http://watertower-music.com/releases/release.php?title=justiceleague|url-status=dead}}</ref>'' the "Welcome Christmas" song from the 1966 [[How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (TV special)|''How the Grinch Stole Christmas!'']] for [[The Grinch (film)|''The Grinch'']];<ref name="Lenker"/> and "Casey Junior," "Pink Elephants on Parade," and "When I See an Elephant Fly" from Disney's original 1941 [[Dumbo|animated film]] for ''[[Dumbo (2019 film)|Dumbo]]''.<ref name="burlingame2019"/>

The songs for ''The Nightmare Before Christmas'' and ''Corpse Bride'' were influenced by [[Kurt Weill]], [[Gilbert and Sullivan]] and early [[Rodgers and Hammerstein]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/4535789/danny-elfman-nightmare-before-christmas-live/|title=Danny Elfman on How ''Nightmare Before Christmas'' Endured|last=Berman|first=Eliza|date=October 26, 2016|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=October 26, 2017}}</ref> At the request of Tim Burton, ''Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'' songs drew inspiration from [[Bollywood]], [[the Mamas and the Papas]], [[ABBA]], and [[Earth, Wind & Fire]] individually.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://u.sbsun.com/Stories/0,1413,216~24281~2965262,00.html|title=Elfman goes (chocolate-covered) nuts|last=Lowman|first=Rob|year=2005|website=San Bernardino Sun|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060819181642/http://u.sbsun.com/Stories/0,1413,216%7E24281%7E2965262,00.html|archive-date=August 19, 2006|access-date=October 26, 2019}}</ref>

Elfman's work in pop music and specifically as songwriter for [[Oingo Boingo]] was influenced by [[the Specials]], [[Madness (band)|Madness]], [[the Selecter]], [[Devo]], [[Fun Boy Three]], and [[XTC]].<ref name="denman2015" /><ref>{{cite tweet|user=dannyelfman|first=Danny|last=Elfman|author-link=Danny Elfman|number=1146254698976075781|date=July 2, 2019|title=Andy Partridge was a huge influence. It was that first year of getting back to the radio after a decade long moratorium, and the music of XTC, The Specials, Selector, Madness, Fun Boy Three and Devo that turned me around.}}</ref>

==Methods==
[[File:Danny Elfman cropped.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|Elfman in 2010]]

===Film music===
For his [[film score]]s, Elfman draws musical inspiration almost exclusively from viewing a [[Film editing|cut]] of the film,<ref name="ryzik2015" /> and occasionally from visits to the [[Set construction|set]] while the film is in production (he wrote and orchestrated his theme for ''[[Batman (1989 film)|Batman]]'' on an airplane to Los Angeles after visiting the set in London).<ref name="AV Club" /> While he prefers not to work from script, story or concept, exceptions include ''[[The Nightmare Before Christmas]]'', for which ten songs needed to be written in advance of filmmaking, and ''[[Dumbo (2019 film)|Dumbo]]'', for which he composed the main theme before filming began.<ref name="burlingame2019" />

Once a [[rough cut]] of the film is ready, Elfman and the director have a [[Film score|spotting session]] to decide where to place music in the film, the emotional undercurrents of each scene, and overall tone.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/1990/02/23/danny-elfman-rise/|title=Danny Elfman: On the rise|last=Givens|first=Ron|date=February 23, 1990|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=October 30, 2019}}</ref> Elfman then spends a few weeks of free composition and experimentation to begin working out thematic material and to develop sounds and the harmonic palette.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://collider.com/danny-elfman-exclusive-interview-alice-in-wonderland-talks-wolfman-composing-picking-projects-directors-and-so-much-more/|title=Danny Elfman Exclusive Interview ''Alice in Wonderland'' – Talks ''Wolfman'', Composing, More|last=Weintraub|first=Steve|date=March 4, 2010|website=Collider|access-date=October 30, 2019}}</ref>

When he has received approval on initial material from the filmmakers, Elfman begins to compose anywhere from 60 to 120 minutes of music cue-by-cue. He says two of the most important things to capture at this point are the tone of each scene and editorial rhythm. Next to thematic development, action [[set piece]]s tend to take Elfman the most time given the complexity of timing music to action.

Early in his career, he wrote out his scores using pencil, but has composed largely digitally since the mid-1990s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.emusician.com/artists/dannys-big-adventure|title=Danny's Big Adventure|last=Pedersen|first=Greg|date=May 22, 2006|website=EMusician|access-date=November 1, 2019}}</ref>

Before recording the score, he demos each cue by mocking orchestral and choral parts on synthesizer to get approval from the director.<ref>{{cite AV media |people=Vienna Symphonic Library |date=April 4, 2014 |title=VSL Studio Chat with Danny Elfman |medium=video |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=712ntdvBBTg | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/712ntdvBBTg| archive-date=December 11, 2021 | url-status=live|access-date=November 6, 2019 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> Once approved, he provides a detailed, multi-line sketch of his composition to his lead orchestrator [[Steve Bartek]], who ensures the sketches are appropriately broken down for sections of the orchestra (i.e. [[String section|string]], [[Brass section|brass]] [[Woodwind section|woodwind]], some [[Percussion section|percussion]]), choir ([[SATB]]) and individual players.

Elfman also typically samples or records his own percussion and guitar playing to overlay with live orchestra. More than half of some scores feature Elfman's performance,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jan-04-tt-7986-story.html|title=Keeping Score|last=Colker|first=David|date=January 2001|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=October 14, 2019|quote=I record my own samples, doing my own percussion. Percussion was my first love, and I have a whole warehouse of percussion instruments. When you hear percussion in the movies I do, it's probably me playing.}}</ref> including ''[[Dead Presidents]]'', ''[[Mission: Impossible (film)|Mission: Impossible]]'', ''[[Planet of the Apes (2001 film)|Planet of the Apes]]'', ''[[The Kingdom (2007 film)|The Kingdom]]'', ''[[The Girl on the Train (2016 film)|The Girl on the Train]]'' and ''[[The Circle (2017 film)|The Circle]].''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fangoria.com/original/exclusive-interview-danny-elfman|title=Exclusive Interview: Danny Elfman|last=Gilchrist|first=Todd|date=October 30, 2019|website=[[Fangoria]]|access-date=November 1, 2019|archive-date=November 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102000617/https://www.fangoria.com/original/exclusive-interview-danny-elfman|url-status=dead}}</ref>

To produce the score, Elfman rents a recording studio and hires a conductor and orchestra/choir. He oversees the recording from the [[control booth]] so that he can troubleshoot with the film's director and [[Audio engineer|recording engineers]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.emu.com/artist/d_elfman/elfman_intrview.html|title=Danny Elfman's big adventure continues in Sleepy Hollow|last1=Lanser|first1=Bryan|year=1999|work=E-mu|access-date=October 30, 2019|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001213004800/http://www.emu.com/artist/d_elfman/elfman_intrview.html|archive-date=December 13, 2000|last2=Monahan|first2=Kevin|quote=I never conduct because the conductor's job for me is answering many questions all at once as quickly as possible, and then to keep things moving...I'm listening in the booth, which is where I prefer to listen anyway because I am hearing closer to the way it's going to sound.}}</ref> The final recording is given to the film's sound department to mix with dialogue and sound effects for the film's complete soundtrack. Elfman will usually do a separate mix of select cues for an album presentation of the score, and has produced nearly 100 to date.<ref name="monger">{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/danny-elfman-mn0000569119/discography|title=Danny Elfman {{!}} Album Discography|last=Monger|first=Christopher|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=November 1, 2019}}</ref>

On the occasion that there are compressed deadlines or in the event he is not available to rescore or adapt his music if there are major edits to the film after the score's completion, Elfman will hire additional composers to work on small cues or sections of cues, adapting his existing material or themes. Examples include [[Jonathan Sheffer]] on ''[[Darkman]]'', [[David Buckley]] on the ''[[Fifty Shades (film series)|Fifty Shades]]'' films, and [[Pinar Toprak]] on ''[[Justice League (film)|Justice League]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmscoremonthly.com/backissues/viewissue.cfm?issueID=168|title=Danny Elfman Part 2: Sound Effects Suck|last=Kendall|first=Lukas|date=December 1, 1995|website=[[Film Score Monthly]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226094728/https://www.filmscoremonthly.com/backissues/viewissue.cfm?issueID=168|archive-date=December 26, 2019|access-date=November 1, 2019}} [http://www.boingo.org/articles/FSMarticle2.html Alt URL]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmtracks.com/titles/fifty_shades3.html|title=Editorial Review: Fifty Shades Freed (Danny Elfman)|date=March 4, 2019|website=[[Filmtracks]]|access-date=November 1, 2019|quote=These projects have always been collaborations between Elfman and David Buckley, some of the concept's more memorable music actually the work of the ghostwriter.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/captain-marvel-composer-pinar-toprak-first-female-composer-of-marvel-movie-2019-3|title=Inside the inspiring journey of 'Captain Marvel' composer Pinar Toprak, from moving to America at 17 to becoming the first female composer of a Marvel movie|last=Guerrasio|first=Jason|date=March 13, 2019|website=[[Business Insider]]|access-date=November 1, 2019}}</ref> Since the 1990s, Elfman has occasionally co-composed music or shared music writing credit (e.g.''[[When We Rise]]'', ''[[Spy Kids (film)|Spy Kids]]'', ''[[Avengers: Age of Ultron]]'', ''[[Men in Black: International|Men in Black International]]''), or written themes that are then used or adapted by other composers, including [[Jonathan Sheffer]] (''[[Pure Luck]]''), [[Steve Bartek]] (''[[Novocaine (2001 film)|Novacaine]]''), [[John Debney]] (''[[Heartbreakers (2001 film)|Heartbreakers]]''), [[Deborah Lurie]] (''[[9 (2009 animated film)|9]]''), and [[the Newton Brothers]] (''[[Before I Wake (2016 film)|Before I Wake]]'').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.soundtrack.net/album/pure-luck/|title=Pure Luck Soundtrack (1991)|website=[[Soundtrack.Net]]|access-date=November 1, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://onemoviefiveviews.blogspot.com/2009/09/music-of-9-interview-with-composer.html|title=The Music of 9 – An Interview With Composer Deborah Lurie|last=Corrado|first=E.|date=September 18, 2009|website=One Movie, Five Views|access-date=November 1, 2019|quote=it was decided that Danny [Elfman] would do the themes for the film, and then I would get to take them, elaborate and score the film around them.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://behindtheaudio.com/2015/09/the-newton-brothers/|title=Scoring as a team: The creative approach of The Newton Brothers|last=Ebbinghaus|first=Peter F.|date=September 23, 2019|website=Behind The Audio|access-date=November 1, 2019|archive-date=November 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101222421/https://behindtheaudio.com/2015/09/the-newton-brothers/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Elfman has only collaborated once with another artist: [[Siouxsie and the Banshees]], on the song "[[Face to Face (Siouxsie and the Banshees song)|Face to Face]]" for ''Batman Returns'' in 1992.<ref>{{cite web|first=Sam |last=Davies |url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/danny-elfman-bigger-messier-interview-film-music-grim-reaper-1788548 |title=Danny Elfman: 'Somewhere ahead of me is the Grim Reaper' -Interview |work=inews.co.uk |date=August 11, 2022 |access-date=September 20, 2022}}</ref> It was a long-distance collaboration, as the studio needed the song very quickly; Siouxsie created the foundation of the song and sent it to Elfman, who added elements, and the two would send the track back and forth.<ref>{{cite web |first=Sam |last=Davies |url=https://post-punk.com/big-mess-an-interview-with-danny-elfman-and-berit-gilma-on-his-first-solo-album-in-37-years/ |title=Big Mess—An Interview with Danny Elfman and Berit Gilma on his First Solo Album in 37 Years |work=post-punk.com |date=July 29, 2021 |access-date=September 20, 2022}}</ref> Regarding collaboration, Elfman would later state, "I'm not used to collaborating at all with anybody. I did one track with Siouxsie and the Banshees but that's it. I've always been in my own bubble, and that bubble has been very fertile".<ref>{{cite web |first=Gary |last=Graff |url=https://www.theoaklandpress.com/2022/08/11/danny-elfmans-bigger-messier-5-things-to-know/ |title=Danny Elfman's 'Bigger, Messier,' 5 things to know |work=Theoaklandpress |date=August 11, 2022 |access-date=September 20, 2022}}</ref>

===Concert music===
In the liner notes for the 2006 CD recording of his first concert work ''[[Serenada Schizophrana]]'', Elfman wrote: "I began composing several dozen short improvisational compositions, maybe a minute each. Slowly, some of them began to develop themselves until finally I had six separate movements that, in some abstract, absurd way, felt connected."<ref name=":0"/>

To create the [[cadenza]]s for his violin concerto [[Violin Concerto (Elfman)|''Eleven Eleven'']], Elfman collaborated with soloist Sandy Cameron, for whom the piece was written.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://coloradosymphony.org/Blog/elfman-turned-up-to-eleven-eleven|title=Elfman, Turned Up to "Eleven Eleven"|last=Dobreff|first=Nick|date=April 17, 2019|website=Colorado Symphony|access-date=November 1, 2019|archive-date=November 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101232227/https://coloradosymphony.org/Blog/elfman-turned-up-to-eleven-eleven|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Vocals===
Elfman often incorporates choral or vocal arrangements into his film scores,<ref name="vulture2015" /> notably the use of women's and children's [[choir]]s (''[[Scrooged]]'', ''[[Nightbreed]]'', ''[[Edward Scissorhands]]'', ''[[Batman Returns]]'', ''[[Sleepy Hollow (film)|Sleepy Hollow]]'', ''[[Alice in Wonderland (2010 film)|Alice in Wonderland]]'', ''[[The Grinch (film)|The Grinch]]''), and solo voice or vocal effects (''[[Beetlejuice]]'', ''[[Mars Attacks!]]'', ''[[Men in Black II]]'', ''[[Flubber (film)|Flubber]]'', ''[[Nacho Libre]]'', ''[[Iris (Cirque du Soleil)|Iris]]'', ''[[Dark Shadows (film)|Dark Shadows]]'', ''[[The Girl on the Train (2016 film)|The Girl on the Train]]''). Evoking the "O Fortuna" from [[Carl Orff]]'s ''[[Carmina Burana (Orff)|Carmina Burana]]'', he set made-up, Latin-sounding text for [[SATB]] choir in standout cue "Descent into Mystery" from ''[[Batman (1989 film)|Batman]]''.<ref name="halfyard2004" />{{rp|131}}

Elfman also adds his own vocals into compositions in much the same way he mixes his percussion and guitar performances into orchestral arrangements. Prominent use can be heard in the scores for ''[[To Die For]]'' (sung with director [[Gus Van Sant]], credited to "Little Gus and the Suzettes"),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.soundtrack.net/album/to-die-for/ |title=Soundtrack Information: ''To Die For'' |website=[[Soundtrack.Net]] |access-date=November 5, 2019 }}</ref> ''[[Silver Linings Playbook]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.filmtracks.com/titles/silver_linings.html |title=Editorial Review: ''Silver Linings Playbook'' |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=December 3, 2012 |website=[[Filmtracks]] |access-date=November 5, 2019 }}</ref> and his music for the [[Hong Kong Disneyland]] ride [[Mystic Manor]].<ref name="napolitano2013" /> He provided the singing voice for characters in ''[[The Nightmare Before Christmas]]'' and ''[[Corpse Bride]]'' in addition to composing the scores and songs, and can be heard singing the "Day-O" call in the style of [[Harry Belafonte]]'s "[[Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)|Banana Boat Song]]" in the first bars of the ''Beetlejuice'' [[main title]].<ref name="bond2015" />{{rp|63}}

For Tim Burton's ''[[Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (film)|Charlie and the Chocolate Factory]]'', Elfman [[Set to Music|set]] [[Roald Dahl]]'s text for the [[List of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory characters|Oompa-Loompa]] characters as four stylistically distinct songs: the [[Bollywood]]-influenced "Augustus Gloop", the [[funk]]-infused "Violet Beauregarde", the [[psychedelic pop]] stylings of "Veruca Salt" and the [[Baroque pop|baroque rock]] of "Mike Teavee".<ref>{{cite news|last=Hochman|first=Steve|date=July 3, 2005|title=A return to format for Elfman|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-jul-03-ca-popeye3-story.html|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=July 3, 2005}}</ref> For all songs in the film, Elfman sang, manipulated and mixed several layers of his vocals to create the singing voices and harmonies of the Oompa Loompas, and incorporated his vocals into non-song score tracks that featured the characters, including "Loompa Land", "Chocolate River", "The Boat Arrives" and "The River Cruise".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Danny Elfman 's Music For A Darkened People: Charlie and The Chocolate Factory (2005) |url=http://elfman.cinemusic.net/films/charlieandthechocolatefactory/index.html |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=elfman.cinemusic.net}}</ref>

===Lyrics===
Elfman typically writes the [[lyrics]] to songs he has composed for movies. He employs [[song structure]]s from [[Tin Pan Alley]] and early musical theatre composers ([[Thirty-two-bar form|32-bar form]]), and pop and rock of the 1950s and 1960s ([[Verse–chorus form|verse-chorus]]). As his songs serve to advance the plot and develop characters, lyrics reflect storylines and imagery specific to the film and express the inner life of characters.

He wrote the lyrics and music for ten songs featured in the [[Stop motion|stop-motion]] musical ''[[The Nightmare Before Christmas]]''. Drawing from Tim Burton's parody poem of ''[[A Visit from St. Nicholas]]'' and concept drawings, Elfman wrote each song in consultation with Burton before the film even had a script.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-ca-cm-danny-elfman-jack-skellington-20151025-story.html|title=Danny Elfman can relate to ''Nightmare Before Christmas'' hero Jack Skellington|last=Ng|first=David|date=October 24, 2015|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=October 14, 2019}}</ref> These include the full-cast songs "This Is Halloween", "Town Meeting Song" and "Making Christmas"; four songs for the main character Jack Skellington, "Jack's Lament", "What's This?", "Jack's Obsession" and "Poor Jack", all sung by Elfman; and the other character songs "Kidnap the Sandy Claws", "Oogie Boogie's Song" and "Sally's Song". An eleventh song, "Finale/Reprise", reworks lyrics from the songs "This Is Halloween", "What's This?" and "Sally's Song" for the film's ending. Though uncredited, Burton contributed some lyrics to ''Nightmare'', including the line "Perhaps it's the head that I found in the lake" in "Town Meeting Song".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/tim-burton|title=Tim Burton|last=Elfman|first=Danny|date=January 11, 2010|website=[[Interview (magazine)|Interview]]|access-date=November 5, 2019}}</ref>

Elfman composed five songs for Burton's ''[[Corpse Bride]]'':<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.filmtracks.com/titles/corpse_bride.html|title=Editorial Review: ''Corpse Bride''|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=June 8, 2011|website=[[Filmtracks]]|access-date=November 4, 2019}}</ref> "According to Plan", with lyrics co-written by screenwriter John August; "Remains of the Day" (which he sung as the character Bonejangles) and "Tears to Shed", both with additional lyrics by August; and "The Wedding Song", credited solely to Elfman. The song "Erased" was not used in the final film.

He wrote the lyrics to "Lullaby" from ''[[Charlotte's Web (2006 film)|Charlotte's Web]]'', the rock track "The Little Things" from ''[[Wanted (2008 film)|Wanted]]'' which he also sang in English and Russian,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2011/07/22/danny-elfman-tim-burton-interview/|title=Danny Elfman on Tim Burton, Gus Van Sant, and why it's so hard to sing in Russian: An EW Q&A|last=Anderson|first=Kyle|date=July 22, 2011|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|publisher=[[Meredith Corporation]]|access-date=November 5, 2019}}</ref> and "Alice's Theme" from ''[[Alice in Wonderland (2010 film)|Alice in Wonderland]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.filmtracks.com/titles/alice_wonderland.html |title=Editorial Review: ''Alice in Wonderland'' |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=March 9, 2010 |website=[[Filmtracks]] |access-date=November 5, 2019 |quote=Late in the recording process, while stuck during a storm at an airport in London, Elfman decided to write lyrics to his main theme for Alice in Wonderland after recognizing his subconscious earlier choice to make the two final notes of the theme perfectly lend themselves to a performance of the name 'Alice.'}}</ref> Elfman co-wrote the lyrics to "Twice the Love" from ''[[Big Fish]]'' and the "Wonka's Welcome Song" for ''Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'' with John August.

Elfman wrote the lyrics to all of [[Oingo Boingo]]'s original songs 1979–1994<ref name="Prato">{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/oingo-boingo-mn0000390532/discography|title=Oingo Boingo {{!}} Album Discography|last=Prato|first=Greg|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=November 1, 2019}}</ref> and has made [[Residual (entertainment industry)|residuals]] on the titular two-word opening phrase sung in his [[The Simpsons Theme|''The Simpsons'' theme]] since the series first aired in 1989.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.classicfm.com/composers/elfman/news/the-simpsons-tim-burton/|title=''The Simpsons'': three notes that pay composer Danny Elfman's health insurance|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=January 21, 2015|website=[[Classic FM (UK)|Classic FM]]|publisher=[[Global Media & Entertainment|Global]]|access-date=November 5, 2019|archive-date=November 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106063209/https://www.classicfm.com/composers/elfman/news/the-simpsons-tim-burton/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Personal life==
As a teenager, Elfman dated his classmate [[Kim Gordon]], who would later become one of the members of the rock band [[Sonic Youth]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Friedman|first1=Ann|title=Even Kim Gordon Doesn't Have It All|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/120936/kim-gordon-girl-band-review-when-riot-grrl-grows|access-date=March 9, 2017|magazine=The New Republic|date=February 5, 2015}}</ref> He has two daughters, Lola and Mali, from his marriage to Geri Eisenmenger.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Roberts |first1=Randall |title=After 30 years as Hollywood's coolest film composer, Danny Elfman still has something to prove |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2021-06-08/danny-elfman-solo-album-tim-burton |access-date=August 28, 2021 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=June 8, 2021}}</ref> Mali is a film producer and actress.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstshowing.net/2016/watch-new-fun-size-horror-short-film-loop-directed-by-mali-elfman/|title=Watch: New Fun Size Horror Short Film 'Loop' Directed by Mali Elfman|website=FirstShowing.net|date=October 25, 2016 |access-date=August 17, 2019}}</ref> Elfman and Mali collaborated on her 2011 film ''Do Not Disturb''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.the-other-view.com/interview7.html|title=Entertainment Magazine|website=The Other View|access-date=August 17, 2019}}</ref>

On November 29, 2003, Elfman married actress [[Bridget Fonda]].<ref name="PeopleBoingoWedding">{{cite news|last1=M. Silverman|first1=Stephen|title=Passages: Bridget Fonda's Boingo Wedding|url=http://people.com/celebrity/passages-bridget-fondas-boingo-wedding/|access-date=March 9, 2017|work=People|date=December 4, 2003}}</ref> They have a son, Oliver.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Gilbey|first=Ryan|date=October 2, 2013|title=Danny Elfman on Tim Burton, ''The Simpsons'' and his return to singing live|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/oct/02/danny-elfman-tim-burton-singing|access-date=June 16, 2020|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> In 1998, Elfman scored ''[[A Simple Plan (film)|A Simple Plan]]'', starring Fonda.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Maslin|first1=Janet|title=Film Review; A Frozen Setting Frames a Chilling Tale|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9F06E7DA103AF932A25751C1A96E958260|access-date=March 9, 2017|work=The New York Times|date=December 11, 1998}}</ref> He is the uncle of actor [[Bodhi Elfman]], who is married to actress [[Jenna Elfman]].<ref name=NYPBatmanBroke>{{cite news|last1=Phull|first1=Hardeep|title=How ''Batman'' almost broke composer Danny Elfman|url=https://nypost.com/2015/07/04/how-batman-almost-broke-composer-danny-elfman/|access-date=March 9, 2017|work=New York Post|date=July 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705221306/http://nypost.com/2015/07/04/how-batman-almost-broke-composer-danny-elfman/|archive-date=July 5, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

Elfman has been an [[atheist]] since the age of 11 or 12. In an interview with the New York Post, he referred to himself as a [[Cynicism (philosophy)|"cynic-ologist"]].<ref name=NYPBatmanBroke />

Describing his politics during the 1980s, Elfman said, "I'm not a doomist. My attitude is always to be critical of what's around you, but not ever to forget how lucky we are. I've traveled around the world. I left thinking I was a revolutionary. I came back real right-wing patriotic. Since then, I've kind of mellowed in between."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Stambler|first1=Irwin|title=Encyclopedia of Pop, Rock and Soul|date=1989|publisher=St. Martin's Press|location=New York|isbn=0312025734|pages=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofpo00stam/page/495 495–497]|edition=Rev.|url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofpo00stam/page/495|url-access=registration}}</ref> Several of his songs written for Oingo Boingo during this period satirized social politics, although Elfman stated his message was to "question, resist, challenge" and that his songs were not aligned to any one political agenda.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Flans |first1=Robyn |title=Oingo Boingo's Mondo Schizo! |publisher=BAM |date=October 7, 1983}}</ref>

In 2008, Elfman expressed support for [[Barack Obama]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Elfman|first1=Danny|title=Battling Our Greatest Fear|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/danny-elfman/battling-our-greatest-fea_b_139246.html|newspaper=HuffPost|date=October 30, 2008|access-date=December 26, 2016}}</ref> For the [[2020 Democratic National Convention]], he scored the biographical video played ahead of [[Joe Biden]]'s acceptance of the presidential nomination in the [[2020 United States elections]].<ref name="Biden Video">{{cite web |last1=Tangcay |first1=Jazz |title=Joe Biden's DNC Videos Were Shot by An Oscar-Winning Documentarian |date=August 21, 2020 |url=https://variety.com/2020/politics/news/short-films-dnc-davis-guggenheim-1234743807/ |work=Variety |access-date=August 31, 2020}}</ref> In a series of posts on his Instagram page discussing the video, Elfman criticized [[Donald Trump]], Richard Nixon, and the [[United States electoral college|electoral college]], and linked to several voter resources.<ref name="Elfman Instagram Vote">{{cite web |last1=Elfman |first1=Danny |title=Vote 2020 |url=https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/18158439781046424/?hl=en |website=Instagram |access-date=August 31, 2020}}</ref>

During his 18 years with Oingo Boingo, Elfman developed significant [[hearing impairment|hearing damage]] as a result of the continuous exposure to the high noise levels involved in performing in a rock band. Afraid of worsening his condition, he decided to leave the band, saying that he would never return to that kind of performance. His impairment was so bad that he could not "even sit in a loud restaurant or bar anymore." However, he found performing in front of orchestras more tolerable, and returned several times to reprise his live performance of [[Jack Skellington]].<ref name=denman2015/><ref>{{cite web|last1=Parker|first1=Lyndsey|title=A Danny Elfman Q&A: From Boingo to Burton|url=https://www.yahoo.com/music/a-danny-elfman-q-a-from-boingo-to-burton-106016969751.html|publisher=Yahoo!|access-date=March 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309202538/https://www.yahoo.com/music/a-danny-elfman-q-a-from-boingo-to-burton-106016969751.html|archive-date=March 9, 2017|date=December 24, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Ng|first1=David|title=''Nightmare Before Christmas'' and Danny Elfman returning to Hollywood Bowl for 2016 Halloween|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-nightmare-before-christmas-danny-elfman-20160824-snap-story.html|access-date=March 9, 2017|work=Los Angeles Times|date=September 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160905183058/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-nightmare-before-christmas-danny-elfman-20160824-snap-story.html|archive-date=September 5, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Sexual harassment allegations===
Composer [[Nomi Abadi]] has alleged that Elfman had been involved in multiple instances of sexual harassment and misconduct with her that took place from 2015 to 2016. Elfman has denied these claims. The allegations reportedly resulted in Elfman and Abadi agreeing to a non-public settlement and nondisclosure agreement, wherein Elfman would have paid Abadi a total of $830,000 over time. In 2024, Abadi sued Elfman for defamation for statements he made to ''[[Rolling Stone]]''. Elfman's bid to dismiss the suit was denied in 2024.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/films/news/danny-elfman-defamation-nomi-abadi-sexual-harassment-b2577846.html |last=Yamin |first=Shahana |title=Danny Elfman sued for defamation after denying sexual harassment allegations |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=July 11, 2024 |access-date=February 12, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2023-07-20/danny-elfman-sued-failing-to-pay-830-000-alleged-sexual-misconduct-settlement |last=St. Martin |first=Emily |title=Suit against Danny Elfman raises previous sexual misconduct allegations, quiet settlement |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=July 20, 2023 |access-date=February 12, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Siegel |first=Tatiana |date=January 6, 2025 |title=Danny Elfman Loses Bid to Dismiss Defamation Lawsuit Over Statements Made About a Secret Sexual Harassment Settlement |url=https://variety.com/2025/film/news/danny-elfman-loses-bid-to-dismiss-defamation-lawsuit-over-secret-sexual-harassment-settlement-1236267291/ |access-date=February 12, 2025 |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> Abadi's ex-boyfriend from the time contacted ''Rolling Stone'' to express his concern, noting the relationship between her and Elfman was never sexual and also citing the false allegations she had levelled against him after their breakup, resulting in a judge ruling in his favor. The validity of Abadi's allegations was called into question when text messages and emails revealed the nature of their relationship was non-sexual and that Abadi had become enraged when her advances had been rejected. After the initial settlement, Abadi's attorneys emailed Elfman's attorneys informing them that she wanted to meet with him for "closure", though Elfman declined.<ref name="AirMail News Article">{{cite magazine |last=Bernstein |first=Jacob |date=March 29, 2025 |title=The Alien and the Fawn |magazine=[[Air Mail (magazine)|Air Mail]] |url=https://airmail.news/issues/2025-3-29/the-alien-and-the-fawn}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
Since ''[[The Simpsons]]''' second annual ''[[Treehouse of Horror II|Treehouse of Horror]]'' episode aired in 1991, launching "[[Treehouse of Horror#Scary names|scary names]]" tradition in the opening and closing titles, Elfman has been alternately credited for the [[The Simpsons Theme|theme]] music as "Red Wolf Elfman", "Danny Skellingelfman", "Li'l Leakin Brain Elfman", "Boris Elfmonivich", "Danny Elfblood", "Danny 'Hell'fman", "The Bloody Elf", "Danny Elfbones", "Elfmunster" and "Daniel Beilzebelsman".

Elfman's composition "Clown Dream" from ''[[Pee-wee's Big Adventure]]'' is used in the video game ''[[Grand Theft Auto V]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://grandtheftauto.net/gta5/music|title=Music {{!}} ''Grand Theft Auto V''|website=grandtheftauto.net|access-date=October 15, 2019|archive-date=October 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015210325/https://grandtheftauto.net/gta5/music|url-status=dead}}</ref> and has often been used as the opening music for [[Primus (band)|Primus]] concerts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ocweekly.com/primus-brings-goblins-to-the-greek/|title=Primus Brings Goblins to the Greek|last=Feinblatt|first=Scott|date=July 5, 2018|website=OC Weekly|access-date=October 15, 2019}}</ref>

In the 2007 sixth season ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' parody "[[Blue Harvest]]", ''[[Family Guy]]'' lampooned Elfman's orchestral style. A scene shows Elfman replacing an incinerated [[John Williams]] to conduct a full orchestra playing the [[film score|score]], only to be decapitated by a [[lightsaber]] after conducting a few bars of [[oom-pah]] music.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Blue Harvest |episode-link=Blue Harvest |url=https://www.fox.com/family-guy/ |series=[[Family Guy]] |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] |date=September 23, 2007 |season=6 |number=99 |time=14:10 }}</ref>

[[200 (South Park)|Episode five of the 14th season]] of ''[[South Park (season 14)|South Park]]'' in 2010 criticized [[Tim Burton]] for using the "same" music in all his films, referring to Elfman's scores.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/south-park-stars-forgot-appeared/ |title=20 Stars You Forgot 'Appeared' in South Park |last=Torok |first=Franchesca |date=August 31, 2017 |website=Screenrant |access-date=October 14, 2019 |quote=Tim Burton is ridiculed for having Johnny Depp play main characters in all of his movies, and for using "the same crappy music" (meaning Danny Elfman) in all of his films.}}</ref>

In October 2016, Elfman produced a video clip for [[Funny or Die]] with original "horror" music composed to footage of [[Donald Trump]] pacing around [[Hillary Clinton]] at the second [[United States presidential election debates, 2016]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Leight |first=Elias |date=October 14, 2016 |title=Danny Elfman Scores Creepy 'Trump Stalks Hillary' Clip |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/danny-elfman-scores-creepy-trump-stalks-hillary-clip-112712/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=October 14, 2019 |quote=In Elfman's new clip, titled 'Trump Stalks Hillary,' the swell of the music overwhelms Hillary's words. The composer builds anxiety with a tense string section, screechy, jarring effects and a haunting choir. }}</ref><ref name="Canfield">{{cite magazine|last1=Canfield|first1=David|title=Danny Elfman Wrote a Horror Movie Score Specifically For the Footage of Trump Looming Over Hillary |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2016/10/14/danny_elfman_creepily_scores_a_video_compiling_footage_of_trump_lurking.html|access-date=October 14, 2016|magazine=Slate|date=October 14, 2016}}</ref>

In 2019, selections from Elfman's ''[[Midnight Run]]'' score were used in the third season of [[Netflix]]'s ''[[Stranger Things]]'',<ref>{{cite news |last=Lindquist |first=David |date=July 5, 2019 |title=''Stranger Things 3'' music digs up gems from '80s charts and movies |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/entertainment/music/concerts/2019/07/05/stranger-things-3-music-digs-up-gems-80-s-charts-and-movies/1614717001/ |work=Indianapolis Star |location=Indianapolis, IN |access-date=September 27, 2019 }}</ref> including "Stairway Chase" in episodes 5 and 6, and "Wild Ride" and "Package Deal" in episode 6.

[[Christina Aguilera]] revealed that Elfman's music inspired her Las Vegas [[concert residency]] [[The Xperience]].<ref>''The Christina Aguilera Interview''. ''Sun on the Strip''. ''Las Vegas Sun''. Greenspun Media Group. June 12, 2019.</ref>

==List of compositions==
{{Main|List of compositions by Danny Elfman}}

==Awards and nominations==
{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Danny Elfman}}
{| class=wikitable style="width: 35em; text-align: left; vertical-align: left;"
|+ <span style="font-size: 9pt">'''Danny Elfman awards and nominations'''</span>
|-  style="background:#d9e8ff; text-align:center;"
!style="vertical-align: middle;"| Award
|  style="background:#bfd; width:60px;"| Wins
|  style="background:#ecc; width:60px;"| Nominations
|- style="background:#eef;"
| style="text-align:center;"|
;[[Academy Awards]]
|{{won|0}}
|{{nom|4}}
|- style="background:#ddf;"
| style="text-align:center;"|
;[[Annie Awards]]
|{{won|0}}
|{{nom|1}}
|- style="background:#eef;"
| style="text-align:center;"|
;BMI Film & Television Awards
|{{won|24}}
|{{nom|24}}
|- style="background:#ddf;"
| style="text-align:center;"|
;[[British Academy Film Awards]]
|{{won|0}}
|{{nom|2}}
|- style="background:#eef;"
| style="text-align:center;"|
;[[Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards]]
|{{won|0}}
|{{nom|2}}
|- style="background:#ddf;"
| style="text-align:center;"|
;[[Chicago Film Critics Association|Chicago Film Critics Association Awards]]
|{{won|0}}
|{{nom|4}}
|- style="background:#eef;"
| style="text-align:center;"|
;[[Emmy Award]]s
|{{won|3}}
|{{nom|5}}
|- style="background:#ddf;"
| style="text-align:center;"|
;[[Golden Globe Award]]s
|{{won|0}}
|{{nom|2}}
|- style="background:#eef;"
| style="text-align:center;"|
;[[Grammy Award]]s
|{{won|1}}
|{{nom|11}}
|- style="background:#ddf;"
| style="text-align:center;"|
;Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards
|{{won|0}}
|{{nom|1}}
|- style="background:#eef;"
| style="text-align:center;"|
;[[Satellite Awards]]
|{{won|1}}
|{{nom|6}}
|- style="background:#ddf;"
| style="text-align:center;"|
;[[Saturn Award]]s
|{{won|7}}
|{{nom|16}}
|- style="background:#eef;"
| style="text-align:center;"|
;Sierra Awards
|{{won|1}}
|{{nom|2}}
|- style="background:#ddf;"
| style="text-align:center;"|
;World Soundtrack Awards
|{{won|0}}
|{{nom|2}}
|- style="background:#d9e8ff;"
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | '''Totals'''
|-
| {{won|Awards won}}
| colspan="2" width=50 {{won|39}}
|-
| {{nom|Nominations}}
| colspan="2" width=50 {{nom|105}}
|}

===American Film Institute===
Elfman's scores for ''[[Batman (1989 film)|Batman]]'' and ''[[Edward Scissorhands]]'' were nominated for [[AFI's 100 Years of Film Scores]].

==Discography==
{{Main|Danny Elfman discography}}Including commercial recordings of his film scores and the [[Oingo Boingo discography]], Elfman has produced over 100 albums as of 2019.<ref name="monger" /><ref name="Prato"/>

==Appearances in film and television==
{{Main|List of Danny Elfman film and television appearances}}

==See also==
*[[Music of the Marvel Cinematic Universe]]
*[[Batman music|''Batman'' music]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Danny Elfman}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{AllMusic}}
* [http://www.fabermusic.com/composers/elfman-danny Danny Elfman] at [[Faber Music]]
* {{Discogs artist}}
* {{MusicBrainz artist}}

{{Danny Elfman}}
{{Navboxes
|title = [[List of awards and nominations received by Danny Elfman|Awards for Danny Elfman]]
|list =
{{Disney Legends Awards 2010s}}
{{EmmyAward MusicDirection}}
{{EmmyAward MainTitleThemeMusic}}
{{Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Original Score in a Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror Film}}
{{International Film Music Critics Association Award for Best Original Score for a Documentary}}
{{International Film Music Critics Association Award for Best Original Score for Television}}
{{International Film Music Critics Association Award for Film Composer of the Year}}
{{International Film Music Critics Association Award for Film Music Composition of the Year}}
{{Max Steiner Film Music Achievement Award}}
{{Satellite Award for Best Original Score}}
{{Saturn Award for Best Music}}
}}
{{Boingo}}

{{Authority control}}

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