Halloween cartoon specials that will hit you right in the nostalgia
As Halloween approaches, the childhood memory of sitting in front of the TV to watch a new spooky episode of a favorite show returns to mind. Halloween-themed media is a childhood staple to anyone who grew up with TV. They provided great family-friendly entertainment. These characters even became costume ideas, or were plastered onto lunchboxes and t-shirts.
If you’re craving some Halloween nostalgia, grab a bag of your favorite candy and turn on one of these beloved animated Halloween specials.
United Feature Syndicate Press Photo
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
This Peanuts special is about as iconic as it gets. It originated the Halloween special genre, and its classic jazz compositions perfectly set the tone for a cozy autumn day. Running just 25 minutes, it’s a great addition to any Halloween marathon.
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown follows the kids as they prepare costumes and go trick-or-treating. Linus, however, opts to go to the pumpkin patch so he can see the mythical Great Pumpkin. Meanwhile, Snoopy spends the episode adorably dressed as a pilot.
The special is currently available exclusively on Apple TV+.
Hanna-Barbera Productions Press Photo
Scooby-Doo Where are You? (1969-1978)
As a mystery show, almost every episode is fair game for Halloween. If you’re looking to watch only the best of the best, check out these highest-rated episodes:
- A Gaggle of Galloping Ghosts (S1E11)
- A Night of Fright is No Delight (S1E16)
- Haunted House Hang-Up (S2E5)
While Scooby-Doo Where are You? is the oldest of the franchise’s TV shows, there are plenty of great Halloween watches in the other films and TV shows. The “Addams Family” episode of The New Scooby-Doo Movies offers a crossover for anyone wanting a little more spookiness. The Where Are You? episodes are all available on Tubi for free.
Fox Television Press Photo
The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror (1990)
For something more adult, The Simpsons’ original Treehouse of Horror episode is the ultimate nostalgia trip. The episode is the first in The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror series. In each episode, there’s a Halloween-themed opening and three spooky, non-canon segments that spoof famous horror-themed media. In this case, the supernatural film The Amityville Horror, the short story “To Serve Man,” and Edgar Allen Poe’s poem “The Raven” are all parodied. The plot is framed by the kids telling stories in the treehouse. These tales cover sentient haunted houses, hidden burial sites, alien abductions, and more.
Each Treehouse of Horror episode is available on Disney+.
Nickelodeon Animation Studio Press Photo
SpongeBob SquarePants: Scaredy Pants (1999)
One of the earliest SpongeBob episodes, this Halloween edition is full of old cartoon charm. The show’s title card has been changed, featuring pumpkins and ghosts in the background. The episode takes place on the eve of Halloween, with SpongeBob being scared by everything in sight. The highlight of the episode is everyone’s costumes for the Krusty Krab Halloween party. Sandy dresses up as a pet goldfish in a bowl, and Pearl, the young whale, is the Bride of Frankenstein. In SpongeBob, Patrick lets himself be shaved to make his head rounded for his costume, the Ghost of the Flying Dutchman.
The episode is available to watch with Paramount+.
Cartoon Network Studios Press Photo
Over the Garden Wall (2014)
While less spooky and more modern than some other Halloween favorites, Over the Garden Wall quickly gained a cult following. The miniseries has 10 episodes, with each being under 15 minutes. It’s a perfect length to binge-watch one night with friends or family. The series is about two half-brothers who get lost in a forest and must travel through it to get home. Of course, they meet whimsical characters like Beatrice the Bluebird and an elderly man. Elijah Wood, who famously played the Hobbit, voices one of the brothers, adding a folksy element.
All episodes are available through Hulu.
Warner Bros. Animation Press Photo
Bugs Bunny’s Howl-oween Special (1977)
Even though it was released on CBS in the 70s, this special contains some of the oldest footage of all the picks on this list. It features clips from older Looney Tunes cartoons, including Scaredy Cat (1948). This is a perfect way to see the evolution of Looney Tunes over almost 30 years. As usual, Mel Blanc voices multiple characters — Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Tweety Bird, and more. In the story, Bugs and his friends go trick-or-treating and wind up in a plethora of spooky shenanigans.
This special is included in Apple TV’s Bugs Bunny Halloween Collection.
Walt Disney Television Press Photo
Halloween is Grinch Night (1977)
Also known as It’s Grinch Night, or just Grinch Night, the nostalgia of this 26-minute special comes from its distribution history. It was released multiple times on VHS and DVD, including a sing-along version in 1996. Winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children’s Program in 1978 proved its value as a classic family watch.
The story is set before How the Grinch Stole Christmas, on Halloween. When a storm falls on Whoville, the Grinch comes down from Mount Crumpit to terrorize the citizens. A young Who, however, stalls and ruins his plan.
The show is easily accessible on YouTube (with ads from 1979 included).
Walt Disney Television Animation Press Photo
Boo to You Too! Winnie the Pooh (1996)
This whimsical, short special makes an excellent feel-good watch as the leaves start to fall. Outside of its wholesome story, the visuals made this special worthy of a 1997 Primetime Emmy award for its animation.
In this special, Winnie the Pooh and his friends plan to go trick-or-treating, but Piglet, timid as always, is afraid of Halloween. His friends decide to throw a wholesome “Hallo-wasn’t” party, and he ultimately braves his fear of the spooky holiday.
The full special is available on YouTube.
H-B Production Co. Press Photo
The Addams Family: Puttergeist (1992)
The Addams Family was the second animated TV series based on the comics and was part of ABC’s Saturday morning programming for three years. The cast features timeless voices like John Astin (Freaky Friday), Carol Channing (Thumbelina), and Jim Cummings (Winnie the Pooh). This episode also features multiple Addams relatives, like Uncle Vermin and Aunt Queasy.
In this episode, Granny Frump tells a Halloween story about the Puttergeist — a ghost with a golf ball for a head. The ending answers the big question: Is the Puttergeist even real?
The series is available for rent or purchase through Amazon Video and Apple TV.
Group W Productions Press Photo
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Super Irma (1992)
Based on the comic book series of the same name, the original TMNT animation was loved internationally. No one loved the characters as much as the actors themselves, though. In an interview, Renae Jacobs, the voice of April O’Neil, praised the cast’s dedication to the characters. She said, “Those guys put the heart and soul into those turtles and came up with those personalities.”
In the Halloween episode, Irma, a friend of the turtles, develops superpowers and starts fighting crime. She gets caught when her powers wear off, and the turtles come to rescue her.
All TMNT episodes are available for free on Tubi.
Jambalaya Studio Press Photo
The Proud Family: A Hero for Halloween (2002)
The Proud Family is, according to ScreenRant, a perfect mix of “hilarious and heartfelt,” and their Halloween episode keeps up with that standard. The show was highly rated, featuring positive role models and themes like bullying, gossip, and responsibility. It also includes songs from well-known R&B singers like Alicia Keys and Aretha Franklin.
While the show is typically rooted in realism, this spooky episode deviates from that. On Halloween night, Penny takes a bite of some snacks, giving her superpowers. These abilities allow her to fight off the mysterious, threatening ghoul that shows up at her family home.
This episode is available on Disney+.
Disney Television Animation Press Photo
Phineas and Ferb: One Good Scare Ought To Do It! (2008)
While most P&F episodes are broken into two 11-minute episodes, their extra-long Halloween special runs 23 minutes. It contains all the usual running gags, including the boys’ large-scale project that conveniently disappears when Candace tries to reveal it to their mom.
In this episode, Phineas’ friend Isabella has the hiccups, and the brotherly pair team up to build a haunted house to scare them away. Meanwhile, Candace goes to Jeremy’s home and faces the fright of her life: his little sister, Suzy.
This episode is available on YouTube through Disney Channel Animation.
Scholastic Media Press Photo
The Magic School Bus: In the Haunted House (1994)
The Magic School Bus’s nostalgia factor comes from its widespread use as a classroom tool to teach science in a fun way. The highly rated adventure series featured a thrilling roster of celebrity guest voice talents and an iconic, easily recognizable theme song.
In this episode, Carlos, one of the students, works unsuccessfully to invent a new instrument. To teach the class about how sound is made, Mrs. Frizzle takes them on a late-night trip to the Sound Museum. The twist? The Sound Museum doubles as a haunted house.
This episode is available on The Magic School Bus’s YouTube channel.
Bagdasarian Film Corporation Press Photo
The Alvin Show: Haunted House (1962)
When it comes to mixing vintage cartoons, musical numbers, and cute cartoon animals, The Alvin Show does it best. The show follows the three chipmunks — mischievous Alvin, brainy Simon and gluttonous Theodore — along with their father figure, Dave. Though it aired in February, it still makes a great Halloween watch.
In this holiday episode, Dave inherits a haunted house with a ghost bent on winning the Ghost of the Year award. Throughout the story, the ghost makes multiple unsuccessful attempts to scare Dave and the chipmunks.
The episode is available for free on both YouTube and Internet Archive.
Scholastic Press Photo
Clifford the Big Red Dog: Boo! (2000)
Even though it’s an educational children’s show, the animation style and Clifford’s cuteness make this show a treat for the whole family. Some scenes show storylines from Clifford’s point of view, primarily as he interacts with the other, average-sized dogs.
In the episode, it’s Halloween, and Clifford is adorably dressed in a lion costume. Meanwhile, a friend of Clifford’s owner, Jetta, tells the whole town that nothing scares her. After a scary movie screening, however, everything begins to frighten Jetta. With the townspeople’s help, she learns that it’s okay to be afraid on Halloween.
This episode is available on YouTube.
Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.
Conclusion
No matter how much time passes, it’s certain that these Halloween specials will always be dear to us. They bring comfort and familiarity when rewatching them with others, and offer a way to enjoy the spooky season without suffering through too much of a scare. Most of all, though, these episodes and specials serve as reminders of all the good memories we made during our childhood Halloweens.
Load up the streaming services, pull up YouTube, and dig out those old VHS tapes and DVDs. Light your favorite pumpkin-scented candle, dim the lights, and choose a few of these October watches to relive the spooky magic of years long ago.
- Related: Rocky Horror turns 50: Where the cult cast ended up
- Related: Nostalgic gold: 1980s cartoons worth rewatching as an adult
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This article was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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