It’s been a very long time since a new Fall special has come along and truly captured the vibe and essence of the classics I grew up on in the 80s. There’s so many elements to hit on, and somehow Patrick McHale’s OVER THE GARDEN WALL managed to find the right combination, positioning itself as a modern perennial classic. Originally airing as a miniseries on Cartoon Network back in 2014, OVER THE GARDEN WALL was presented in 10 parts – with two shown each night for five nights. A 2015 DVD release brought them all together in one package, and there is definitely some real magic there. In fact, our entire family was captivated by the tale of two young brothers on a quest to escape a mysterious forest called “The Unknown” – my wife and I watching the entire thing in one shot, cuddled on the couch with our girls. OVER THE GARDEN WALL secures a place in my annual 31 Days of Halloween here at THE ROCK FATHER Magazine. Check out the entire first episode below!
About OVER THE GARDEN WALL: The critically acclaimed and Emmy® Award-nominated, Over the Garden Wall is the story of two brothers, Wirt (voiced by Elijah Wood) and Greg (voiced by Collin Dean), who find themselves lost in the Unknown; a strange forest adrift in time. With the help of a wise old Woodsman (voiced by Christopher Lloyd) and a foul-tempered bluebird named Beatrice (voiced by Melanie Lynskey), Wirt and Greg must travel across this strange land, in hope of finding their way home. At the heart of Over the Garden Wall are two brothers who are looking for direction in different ways. Wirt gets lost in his own thoughts, while Greg gets lost in the wonder and fun of the world around him. Join them as they encounter surprises and obstacles on their journey through the wood.
The visually stunning series offers a soft and nostalgic storybook feeling, inspired by folk art, classical illustrations and features a soundtrack full of Americana-influenced original songs. The ten-part miniseries includes guest voices from film, television, theater and music. They include Chris Isaak, Bebe Neuwirth, John Cleese, Shannyn Sossamon, Jack Jones, Samuel Ramey, Tim Curry, Deborah Voight among others.
OVER THE GARDEN WALL is available now on DVD from my associate, Amazon.
