In celebration of its 10th anniversary, the fantastical Cartoon Network miniseries Over the Garden Wall has been given a new, three-minute stop-motion short. The beloved show, created by Patrick McHale, follows half-brothers Wirt and Greg as they navigate a surreal and hauntingly beautiful forest called the Unknown, encountering mysterious characters and strange places in their quest to find a way back home. Known for its whimsical yet dark storytelling, Over the Garden Wall has gained cult status since its debut, receiving acclaim for its unique animation style and stellar voice cast, including Elijah Wood as Wirt, Collin Dean as Greg, and Melanie Lynskey as Beatrice.
To mark this milestone, Cartoon Network released a new stop-motion short for Over the Garden Wall made in collaboration with McHale and Aardman Studios’ directors Mikey Please and Dan Ojari. Featuring the original voice actors and crafted almost entirely from practical effects, the short brings back Wirt, Greg, and Beatrice in stunning detail, with hand-carved wooden puppets on intricate miniature sets, including an intricate recreation of the magical forest. Watch the short in full here:
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The short opens with a golden twilight view of a foggy forest. A deep voice begins, “Somewhere lost in the clouded annals of history lies a place few have seen, a mysterious place called The Unknown.” Wirt and Greg wait for their avian companion Beatrice next to the “ugliest tree in the world.” Wirt laments aloud about their purpose in the woods, to which Beatrice surprises them with a cool reply from above: “Who cares? We’re together now. That’s all that matters.”
The anniversary short wonderfully captures the Over the Garden Wall‘s original story while showcasing the whimsy craftsmanship of stop-motion. The practical art evokes a seasonal nostalgia that characterizes the autumnal limbo experienced by many in November. The choice to use practical effects, from wooden puppets to miniature forest sets, shows a thoughtful interaction with the show’s original animation style. The stop-motion short emphasizes the creative team’s attentiveness and care in handling the source material, which viewers are sure to appreciate.
The release of this anniversary short signifies Cartoon Network’s recognition of Over the Garden Wall as a beloved piece of its animated lineup—a miniseries audiences often revisit once the leaves start to change and the sun sets sooner. The new short may raise questions about an Over the Garden Wall revival, but McHale notes this is unlikely (via Inverse.)
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The short is a meaningful nod to Over the Garden Wall and a testament to its enduring appeal. It’s clear that Cartoon Network and McHale recognize the special place this series holds for audiences, blending dark fairy-tale elements with heartwarming themes of family, perseverance, and purpose. Collaborating with Aardman Studios brings a fresh visual spin while staying true to the show’s quirky style, giving a nostalgic yet novel experience. As Over the Garden Wall celebrates its legacy, this latest short immerses audiences once again in a world of the beauty and mystery that made the series an instant classic ten years ago.
Source: Cartoon Network
Over the Garden Wall is a fantasy-adventure series created for Cartoon Network by Patrick McHale. Two brothers named Wirt and Greg become lost in a winding wooded realm known as the Unknown and must work with various forest-dwelling people and creatures within to find their way home. The series was continued in a comic book run to expand the world further.
- Release Date
- November 3, 2014
- Seasons
- 1
- Network
- Cartoon Network
- Writers
- Katie Krentz , Bert Youn , Patrick McHale
- Directors
- Nate Cash , Bert Youn
- Showrunner
- Patrick McHale