As if Over the Garden Wall couldn’t be any more of a fall season vibe, fans of the limited series have been granted a new gift from The Unknown; a new, stop-motion short. Created by Patrick McHale and Aardman (Wallace & Gromit), the new stop-motion short is being released to celebrate the beloved show’s 10th Anniversary.
Created by McHale, and starring Elijah Wood and Collin Dean, Over the Garden Wall follows Wirt and Gregory as they stumble into the mysterious Unknown on their way home. Along the way, they encounter strange creatures and characters, who guide and hinder their journey home. The series features voice cameos from beloved actors like Christopher Lloyd, Melanie Lynskey, Fred Stoller, John Cleese, Bebe Neuwirth, Tim Curry, and more. Released in 2014, the 10-episode miniseries has become a spooky season staple for its dedicated fan base, who re-watch the short episodes annually.
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For this year’s re-watch, fans will have something new to bring to the harvest. Aardman’s stop-motion short releases for free on YouTube and social media on November 3. However, if you thought Over the Garden Wall‘s episodes were short, then be prepared for the stop-motion special’s very limited runtime. The new short has a runtime of just two minutes. As frustrated as fans are that the new story won’t be longer, we’ll take whatever we can get as we still daydream about a second season. To celebrate the stop-motion short, Patrick McHale took to X to promote the project, and share his praise for Aardman’s work. He wrote:
“New 2-minute Over the Garden Wall short is coming Nov 3rd! In stop-motion! It’s pretty beautiful, i think, and i hope people like it.”
Why Is Over the Garden Wall So Beloved?
Over the Garden Wall is something of a cultural anomaly. How has a 10-episode animated series, with an average episode length of 11 minutes captured the hearts of audiences so strongly? The most important answer is vibes. Whether you embrace the term, or absolutely despise the word, in the case of Over the Garden Wall, it makes sense. The Unknown, when it’s not being terrifying, is the idyllic Fall that introverts across the world wish for year in year out. The leaves are brown, pumpkin-headed creatures roam the wilderness, and spooky (but not scary) characters lie around every corner.
Add to that the entrancing voice performances of Elijah Wood as Wirt (the embodiment of anxiety) and Collin Dean as Gregory (the embodiment of unfiltered, intrusive thoughts), and Over the Garden Wall features two of the most relatable main characters ever written. Throw in some amazing A-list cameos, lending their voices to memorably unhinged side-characters, and it’s hard not to think about Over the Garden Wall after hearing the first crunch of leaves under your shoes.
- Release Date
- November 3, 2014
- Seasons
- 1