Monday, October 11, 2010

Top 5 Halloween Cartoon Specials


Some of the Halloween-themed specials are still broadcast every year in October, due to popularity and nostalgia. The Peanuts gang, Garfield, The Simpsons, and Walt Disney interpreting the stories of Washington Irving are just a few examples.
It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
A bona fide classic beloved by hundreds of children around the U.S and originally broadcast in 1966, this cartoon continues to air every October and is widely available on DVD. The cartoon begins with Linus writing and mailing a letter to the "Great Pumpkin," as the Peanuts gang prep themselves for the long night of trick-or-treating. Linus is a loner in believing that the Great Pumpkin exists, having sat alone in the pumpkin patch the previous year waiting for him. He convinces Sally Brown to keep him company while the rest of the gang are in costume and trick-or-treating. Meanwhile, Snoopy is busy fighting the Red Baron on top of his doghouse and crash lands in the patch. When he rises, Linus mistakes him for the Great Pumpkin and Sally is distraught for believing in Linus and missing the festivities. The cartoon ends with Linus and Charlie sitting on a rock wall, with Linus defiantly convinced that the Great Pumpkin will appear next year.

Garfield's Halloween Adventure
This cartoon was produced in 1985 and has some very silly songs with nice melodies ("Scaredy Cat," "What Shall I Be?") sung by the legendary Lou Rawls. Garfield, dressed as a pirate and Odie, in costume as his sidekick, go out trick or treating for "all that candy, candy, candy." In a greedy attempt for more of the sweet stuff, Garfield steals a boat, and they end up in a house on an island where a creepy old man tells them that pirates had buried treasure under the house and are coming back for it "this very night." The old guy steals Garfield's boat and the pirate ghosts arrive at midnight. Garfield and Odie hide in a cupboard, Odie sneezes, and the ghosts find them. Garfield sports a huge smile and shuts the cupboard door. It's a rapturous comedic moment. This special is available on DVD and kids growing up in the 80s look upon this special with lots of nostalgia.
Disney's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
There's been a live-action feature directed by Tim Burton as well as a made for TV movie with Jeff Goldblum. However, the Washington Irving-penned story of schoolteacher Ichabod Crane's fateful, nightly run in with the Headless Horsemen effectively come to life in this animated Disney short film with a great mix of comedy, suspense, and a memorable image of a pumpkin on-fire. Ichabod, perfectly animated as a lanky, feeble man, comes across hooting owls and hears whispers in the woods before his fateful encounter. Created in 1949, sung and narrated by Bing Crosby. It is available on DVD.
The Simpsons: "Treehouse of Horrors"Series
For the last 22 years, there has been a Halloween-themed Simpsons episode usually split into three short stories. Many episode segments have been inspired by other shows and movies. A few Twilight Zone episodes, The Shining, and even, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown have been parodied. A full list of the story titles and episodes can be found here.
Witch's Night Out (1978)
A bizarre, almost psychedelic theme song, crudely-drawn, goofy, monochrome characters, and a witch voiced by the late SNL star Gilda Radner, this is the most "special" animated show listed. It has never been released on DVD and rare VHS copies can sell for over $20. Siblings Small and Tender join forces with adults Nicely and Goody in throwing a Halloween party at a decrepit old mansion housed by a sweet old witch, who is despondent at the townsfolk for lacking Halloween spirit. When Small and Tenders' Halloween costumes fail to scare anybody in town, Miss Witch grants the two siblings their Halloween wish. She transforms Small into a werewolf and Tender into a ghost. Along for the ride is their babysitter Bazooey, who turns into Frankenstein. The party gets out of hand and chaos ensues when some townsfolk are creeped out by the monsters. But, all is well in this bizarre world, when everybody ends back at the mansion, partying the night away.
You may be able to catch some of these classic animated specials on network television in October. Adults who grew up in the 70s and 80s can wax nostalgic about these classic specials that they have probably seen multiple times, and are most likely showing them to their kids.
Source:
For more rare Halloween shows not listed, check out Halloween Specials.
Copyright David Wesley. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.
Great pumpkin - debaird

Pumpkins - Kathy Kimpel


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