With Halloween days away, I’m sure Halloween movies and shows are being watched to get in the spooky spirit. My personal favorite show for this time of year is “Over the Garden Wall.” This short 10-episode mini-series aired in November 2014 on Cartoon Network. The cast stars Elijah Wood as Wirt, Collin Dean as Greg, the main protagonists, as well as Christopher Lloyd and Tim Curry. Patrick McHale, director of “Adventure Time,” created the series, basing it off of his short film “Tome of the Unknown.”
The plot revolves around Wirt and Greg ending up in the Unknown and them trying to get back home. Wirt, being the oldest of the two half-brothers, picks on Greg for getting them into trouble. They run into a cast of characters throughout the episodes, but Beatrice, a talking blue bird and the Woodsman follow them throughout their journey, aiding them in their quest to a witch’s house.
The art style of “Over the Garden Wall” is amazing. The sky is not as bright blue in other cartoons like “Adventure Time,” but greyer, giving it the autumn vibe. The entire style brings in darker shades to present a more 20th century and gothic tone. It makes me want to pull on a sweatshirt and boots and go walking around the woods. Also, the opening title screens for each episode reminisce of an old painting or faded portrait from the 1900s as well as the titles for each episode hearken back to old cartoons.
The soundtrack of “Over the Garden Wall” also reflects the setting and adds to the tone of the story. Most of the songs heighten the gothic or creepiness of the scene. Unless it’s “Potatoes and Molasses,” of course. I think that’s the only song that randomly pops into my head from time to time. Yes, it’s in my head right now.
This neo-cult classic has sparked up a lot of theories about the Unknown. I won’t share much about them as they can spoil the ending, but I will say I definitely believe some of them. If you’re a literature major then the themes and symbolisms kind of smack you over the head whereas if you’re not, then it’s nice to read up on the fan theories and explanations.
Overall, I think this show is an annual classic for the Halloween season. If you want to check out “Over the Garden Wall,” it’s on Hulu and HBO Max. It’s definitely worth the watch if you have two hours to spare. I do wish that the series was expanded on, sort of like the seasons of “Infinity Train,” where new characters enter the Unknown and we see their journeys.
