As soon as it hits September, I start craving pumpkin pie and corn mazes. And that’s not even because I’m crazy for Halloween—like many, autumn is just my favorite season. Yet somehow, even though fall is a very beloved time of the year, there aren’t too many ‘autumn’ shows or movies. There are a ton of Halloween movies, but hardly any that just celebrate the tranquility of the season itself. Hardly any—that’s the keyword.
There’s one show I’ve found that I would consider perfect for autumn, and perfect as a show. Over the Garden Wall, created and directed by Patrick McHale, is an animated series that’s made up of ten fifteen-minute long episodes. The show follows two brothers lost in an unknown reality, with the goal of finding their way back home. Its art style is unique, the story is immersive, and it is—by my own standards—a creative masterpiece.
The animation of the show is 2D, and it’s heavily influenced by a vintage sort of style. The best way the art of this show could be described is a cartoon that has a flair of mid-late 19th-century inspirations.
The music in the show varies between a swing-style jingle about potatoes to a sleepy lullaby sung by a frog.
The fashion worn by the citizens of the Unknown are characterized by various vintage designs—some characters sport French rococo dresses, others wear Georgian suits that look like they’re from 1850s Europe. I’ve always associated vintage fashion and music with fall, so this show fits into that category perfectly. I’ve found that it’s difficult for shows to encapsulate this specific aesthetic without it being somewhat stoic, so Over the Garden Wall is unique in this sense because it doesn’t take itself too seriously. It allows itself to have fun with the medium of animation, and you can really tell that the people who worked on the show had a good time making it.
Much like the art for Over the Garden Wall, you can tell that the story was thought out especially well. I’ll try not to spoil anything for those that haven’t watched the show, but I will say that every single episode is unique from the others, and yet, still interconnected seamlessly as a cohesive story. The premises of the episodes can range from a wistful teacher in a school full of literal animals, to a ferry ride with frogs in gowns and suits. Over the Garden Wall is simply very whimsical, so every episode will find a way to charm you and make your chest feel warm with joy.
The way the main characters—two brothers named Wirt and Greg—interact with the world around them is captivating, heart-racing, and somehow extraordinarily ridiculous at the same time. Even during the end, the most serious, most dangerous part of the show, there will be jokes nestled into the dialogue that get a brief chuckle from you.
As for the “meaning” of the show: you’ll have to watch it to find out. It’s a well-crafted, nuanced moral that you’d only understand if you adopted this story in its entirety. But without spoiling too much, I think it’s a very sweet message that high school students, more than anyone, would benefit from. Over the Garden Wall encourages its consumers to never forget the joy of being young and starry-eyed, and have confidence in their abilities to help others.
So, if you’re in the market for a short, feel-good story this coming fall, I highly recommend you give this show a watch. It’s refreshingly unique, beautifully animated, and wonderfully cozy. Just the perfect thing for autumn, isn’t it?
