A musical with catchy songs and trippy visuals, it may be a little more sophisticated than some of the other entries on this list. There are multiple twists to this cartoon that warrant discussion-a retelling of “The Devil and Daniel Webster” with mice, set to a rock ‘n’ roll beat. The Devil and Daniel Mouse –A rarity from Canadian animation studio Nelvana. My personal favorite is “The Telltale Vacuum,” an irreverent parody of Poe’s classic “The Tell-Tale Heart.” It is evocative of “The Simpsons ” “Treehouse of Horror, ” as it is a horror anthology episode and in fact parodies some of the same subjects, such as “Night Gallery.” But it’s great fun, chock full of hilarious jokes and amazing animation. Smarter, funnier and of an overall higher quality than its counterparts, it is the progenitor of shows like “Animaniacs” and “The Ren and Stimpy Show.” “Tiny Toons’ Night Ghoulery” is one of three holiday specials, obviously focusing on Halloween. Tiny Toons’ Night Ghoulery- “ Tiny Toon Adventures,” a “Looney Tunes” offshoot, was a staple in 1990s television animation. Not only does it pay homage to classic horror like “The Twilight Zone,” “Bram Stoker’s Dracula,” and “The Devil and Daniel Webster,” it’s also hilarious. With segments “The Devil and Homer Simpson,” “ Terror at 5 1 ⁄ 2 Feet” and “ Bart Simpson’s Dracula,” the “Treehouse of Horror ” series is a whole lot of fun. This year will be the 34th, but my personal favorite is “ Treehouse of Horror IV ” all the way back from season five. Since the first in 1990, during the show’s second season, “ The Simpsons ” has always kept up with adding a horror anthology episode in its roster. Treehouse of Horror IV – “ The Simpsons ” yearly “Treehouse of Horror ” episodes are legendary. “Witch’s Night Out” may be less polished than the other specials mentioned in this article, but it’s also very raw and genuine in a way all great art is. Hijinks ensue, and it’s all thoroughly entertaining due to the highly inventive, impressionistic art direction and great voice acting from the late Gilda Radner. Two children summon a has-been witch, who turns them and their babysitter into monsters. Witch’s Night Out- “ Witch’s Night Out” is a Canadian animated special which is actually a sequel to “The Gift of Winter,” both produced by independent studio Leach/Rankin Productions. The visuals are what truly sell the spookiness, and while it may not be the most terrifying of Halloween tales, props to Garfield for willing to scare kids. When the old man deserts them, Garfield and Odie have to try to escape ghost pirates in an impressive sequence. He starts telling them a story of pirates who buried treasure a hundred years ago this very night. When the two cross a pond and end up wandering inside a destitute mansion, an old man startles them. A candy-crazed Garfield is determined to bag as many treats as possible, with Odie as a tagalong. Garfield’s Halloween Adventure- One of twelve Garfield specials, this stands out as being a gutsy entry. While it may not look as impressive now, it’s still spooky, fun and an interesting time capsule. Unlike traditionally animated specials, CGI technology has changed and grown drastically in the last three decades. Using CGI circa 2004, the special tries its best to evoke the art of Jill Thompson, the illustrator of the original books. The most interesting aspect of this special to me is the animation itself. ![]() The Scary Godmother- A whimsical outing based on the picture books of the same name, “The Scary Godmother” is the story of a witch helping to make a little girl’s Halloween the best ever. Here’s a list of animated Halloween specials you may have missed in between your rewatches of “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” Halloween, like animation, is ignorantly assumed to be something only children can participate in. With Halloween upon us, it only makes sense to take in a rewatch of your favorite spooky show or movie.
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