10 underrated animated kids movies that are perfect for Halloween

A selection of animated kids movies are the perfect fare for the Halloween season, Offer a variety of delightful ghouls and ghosts. The titles range from lighthearted adventures with Halloween trappings to truly terrifying nightmare fuel, which makes it surprising that they would be considered children’s movies. Such movies and TV shows are great transitional horror to introduce kids to the genre, at a time of year when everyone is embracing the spooky spirit.

A handful of amazing Halloween TV specials make for short movie-like experiences, while some movies people mistakenly think Tim Burton directed are also movie fan favorites for October. Despite being marketed to children, not all perfect Halloween movies have happy endings, Sometimes concluding on a bittersweet or ambiguous note. The way they blend fantasy and horror curates experiences that are shy in visuals and tone but still have the whimsical personality of the best animated Disney movies.

10

The Halloween Tree (1993)

A magical adaptation of Ray Bradbury’s The Halloween Tree

Play The Halloween Tree is a television movie with the presentation of a Scooby-doo episode, bringing to life the classic holiday novel by Ray Bradbury. As in the book, a Halloween night takes a dark turn when a friend is kidnapped by a shadowy monster. With the help of a mysterious guide, the remaining children travel through time to save their friend. With some interesting horror designs and action sequences, Play The Halloween Tree is essentially educational television disguised as fantasy.

Young viewers learn about the holiday as the on-screen children discover the origins of Halloween as they travel through history on their mission to save Pip. Bradbury cameos as the narrator, while Leonard Nimoy lends his voice to the vibrant and wacky Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud. constituting both a dose of history and classical literature, Play The Halloween Tree is a fascinating and overlooked book-to-film adaptation.

9

Monster House (2006)

Monster House is an Oscar-nominated haunted house story for kids

In a shocking year for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars, Happy Feet, CarsAnd Monster House Competed for the biggest animated movie award of the year (the Oscar went to Happy Feet). Monster Houses animation is subtly morbid all the way, with the biggest star being the haunted house design, Clever makes the anatomy of a house and a face.

A trio of kids set out to investigate the strange house in their neighborhood, fearing what lies within. Monster House Pulls out some of the favorite haunted house plot tropes To motivate the kids to kick off their adventure. What they reveal supports themes young viewers will be familiar with.

The letters in Monster House experience fear, bullying, and being ignored, All unfortunate realities. But, what Monster House Offers is a group of heroes who help each other, the spirit of the house and the rest of their neighborhood, resulting in a more peaceful living space.

8

The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949)

An often-forgotten Disney classic of fabulous fall characters

Two narrators, locked in a domestic library, compare who they believe they are “Most Fabulous” Characters in literature – one English and one American. The first half of The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad Depicts the oddly pleasant and moderately autumnal adventures of the charismatic but reckless Mr. Toad, Caught in legal troubles because of his passionate desire for a motorcar. This serves as an effective juxtaposition and prelude to the classic Halloween tale of Ichabod and his encounter with the Headless Horsemen.

Most of the characters in the second half of the short film are despicable but prompt some contemplation about how the highly gendered characters are depicted. However, the story of the ambitious Ichbod who opposed for the hand of a rich farmer’s daughter is only set for the real draw of the movie: the ride of the headless horseman. The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad Claims amazing old-school, stunning animation for its main villain, Rendering one of the most famous icons of Halloween.

7

Corpse Bride (2005)

An underrated Burton movie if ever there was one, dead bride Demonstrates a surprisingly deep story and visuals. dead bride Doesn’t get the credit it deserves when it’s definitely the worst installment in the unofficial comps too The Nightmare Before Christmas And Coraline. It’s also hardly one of Burton’s best movies. Its biggest weaknesses are that the soundtrack and design of Afterlife don’t live up to the Nightmare counterparts, but it is otherwise a strong movie.

Burton tried to produce a film that he was unable to direct NightmareWith a beautiful ghostly vision of the title character and the Victorian setting. dead bride is a gothic horror satire of Victorian society, With themes of tragedy, unrequited love, and finding the person who is one’s perfect partner. Featuring some spectacular Halloween-inspired images, dead bride Worth another look (and still not as scary for kids as Coraline).

6

The Secret of Nima (1982)

The Secret of NIMH features some deep themes and ghostly rats

The core theme of The secret of NIMH And the book it’s based on is The Consequences of Animal Experimentation and Scientific Pursuit, featuring a community of escaped lab rats who offer solutions to human threats. Despite their experiences, the rats of NIMH have established a functioning, productive society. However, it is perhaps their design in the movie that best reminds audience members of their dark origins.

Although it may not be strictly holiday themed, The secret of NIMH Includes a dark owl and some rats with glowing eyes that exude Halloween vibes. The story is permeated with light terror as Mrs. Frisby searches for a way to save her family from a seemingly insurmountable threat and discover her late husband’s past. The cheaper mice land The secret of NIMH In the space of a fun kids movie, but it will scare everyone just a little bit.

5

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)

A goofy Halloween staple about Linus’ ongoing quest to find the Great Pumpkin

The Peanuts boast every special holiday, but Halloween is one of their best because of its silly, unique premise. Every year Linus waits out Halloween at the pumpkin patch hoping to meet the Great Pumpkin, His idea of ​​a Halloween-themed Santa Claus. Everyone, including the ever ridiculous Charlie Brown, rolls their eyes at his efforts.

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Showcases a wonderful palette of fall colors and the whole gang in Halloween costumes, With regular Peanuts gags like Charlie Brown’s attempt to kick the football and Snoopy’s crazy adventures. Snoopy plays a World War I dogfight “flying” His doghouse and Linus “missing” The Great Pumpkin Again; Throughout, there is a characteristic blend of Peanuts’ mocking and friendly humor.

Additionally, the DVD special of It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Including the episode “It’s Magic, Charlie Brown,” another underrated feature that strangely resonates with Halloween. It’s worth looking for the episode where Snoopy learns magic from a library book and turns Charlie Brown invisible To complement the normal Halloween special.

4

Scary Godmother: Halloween Spectacular (2003)

Scary Godmother shows Hannah facing her fears in a Halloween adventure

Based on the books by Jill Thompson, Scary Godmother: A Halloween Spooktacular is followed by Scary Godmother: Jimmy’s Revenge. In the same way as Monster House, Scary godmother Taps into themes of children feeling powerless to be emboldened by a spooky turn of events. In Hannah’s case, her scary godmother appears to help her turn the tables on her older cousin, who bullies her when she’s left in his care on Halloween.

Scary Godmother also takes Hannah to the scary side, Allowing a colorful cast of characters to enter the story and make it a true Halloween feast. This includes the vampire family, including the young vampire Orson, who Hanna has a crush on. With a kid-friendly version of the vampire romance and Halloween spirit, Scary godmother Is a perfect kids’ function for Halloween, but is sadly overlooked, at least partly because of its strange animation.

3

Frankenweenie (2012)

The culmination of Tim Burton’s horror animation career

Frankenvenie Nor does it get the love it deserves when compared to The Nightmare Before Christmas, But it was generally well received when it was released. It’s a brilliant movie because it’s an homage to various iconic horror characters and Burton’s work, led by a serviceable story about friendship and outcasts. In the final act, iterations of some of the more famous monsters appear, while several Burton collaborators from his spookiest movies join the cast, including Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara and Martin Short.

Then there’s the beautiful style of stop-motion meeting old-school black and white. moreover, The live-action short film version of Frankenvenie Said to be the project that led to Burton being fired by Disney Early in his career; This animated movie has been in the works for a long time. Frankenvenie Demonstrates a deep affection for the history and iconography it depicts, understandable given its place in Burton’s career.

2

Phineas and Ferb: Night of the Living Pharmacists (2014)

A zombie spoof that is arguably Phineas and Ferb’s best Halloween special

Phineas and Ferb had long perfected the spoof/parody episode formula by the time season 4 was coming to an end, including the medieval fantasy, Star WarsAnd Indiana Jones-inspired episodes. As the beloved Disney Channel cartoon (allegedly) nears its final episode, the creators delivered a fantastic Halloween special unlike any of their previous examples.

Season 4, episode 26, “Night of the Living Pharmacists,” is a two-episode special that is effectively a short movie, in which Doofenshmirtz accidentally triggers a pseudo-zombie outbreak, turning everyone into mindless zombie versions of themselves (It is implied to be set in an alternate universe). It’s up to Phineas, Ferb, Candace and the gang to find a way to heal the rest of Danville.

characteristic of Phineas and FerbThere are some hilarious meta-jokes and nods to the genre the episode is parodying. “Night of the Living Pharmacists” has a wild ending that will have viewers laughing for the rest of Halloween – and maybe ask them to revise Phineas and Ferbs older, more typical Halloween specials.

1

Wendell and Savage (2022)

Henry Selick’s returns to spooky stop-motion for a collaboration with Key and Pele

Henry Selick is a massively underappreciated visionary, Who steps in to direct The Nightmare Before Christmas in Burton’s place and then led the best Neil Gaiman adaptation with Coraline. Shockingly, his next Halloween-primed stop-motion movie, backed by Netflix, flew under the radar.

in Wendel & WildeSelick gets more creative with character designs to tell a tale about an orphaned schoolgirl who finds herself with two demons (voiced by Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele) at her command. Also, anyone who appreciates the use of wacky fantasy designs to comment on real-world issues needs to see this.

Wendel & Wilde is also an impressive display of the grief and anger felt by the characters, As well as subplots about identity, corporate greed and discrimination. It’s surprising that this movie has been largely missed, along with other fantastic Halloween specials, when it has so much to offer.