Wow! To get a mention in one of my favorite newsletters, in an issue about one of my favorite shows, slotted right below one of my favorite directors -- it's an honor. Thank you for the shout out, Jules and John!
Happy to boost a fellow Substacker who's trying to build something in indie animation! It's an unforgiving road but so necessary right now. Keep it up!
I love this show. Its our 1 remaining holiday special that has survived my children's teen years. I'll never tire of it. It is brilliant. You did a great job here discussing it.
It's a wonderful series -- and it's so great that it's stayed an annual tradition after all these years! So few things manage it. Thanks very much for the kind words.
I'll have to check this out as it came LONG after my time. I'm of the cohort that watched Rocky and Bullwinkle the first night it aired and was all we could talk about the next day at school. By the second night everyone one watched it.
Curiously The Twilight Zone aired for the first time two months before. Both became must watch TV.
It's a great series that can definitely resonate across generations, even if it's done in a different style from classic shows like Rocky and Bullwinkle. (If nothing else, they both have smart writing in common.) It's amazing to hear these memories -- thank you!
It was absolutely the writing. If you look at the cartoon shows of 1958 , Mighty Mouse, Woody Woodpecker, Tom and Jerry and the like this was a quantum leap in what was presented and the credit it gave kids. Nothing came close to it. I think Fractured Fairy Tales was almost everyone's favourite and was created by Jim Henson before The Muppets became famous.
The same way The Twilight Zone stood by itself. There was something in the water in 1958. I'll have to go back and see what else may have happened then. Sputnik was 1957 so I'm not sure that counts.
It's such a good show. And Adventure Time really was kind of ground zero for the next 5-10 years of American animation, and even beyond. So much talent worked on that series.
I'm surprised to learn how much leeway the staff was given for Over the Garden Wall's production. It's definitely a one-of-a-kind case unseen before that won't be seen again the current TV animation landscape (or at least not for a while). I probably should give this a rewatch.
They had a crazy amount of freedom, especially by today's standards. There were certainly notes and tweaks in the story department, but, even there, McHale has said that things were pretty straightforward. CNS was open to wild ideas back then (Adventure Time, Problem Solverz, Steven Universe, etc.), but OTGW was in many ways still an outlier. We're all really lucky that it got made.
I didn't know the creator had problems with OTGW. As a series, I find it virtually perfect. I wish it were longer though - I remember reading that at one point they had 18 stories they wanted to tell or something, and I occasionally thought some episodes could've been split in two and expanded.
But now, I can see that if it were longer, it might've never gotten finished. Or at least come out as well animated as it did.
Yeah, we've come across the 18 figure as well -- that's likely one of McHale's concerns, that the series didn't match the longer, more winding story he imagined. The show really does feel kind of perfect as-is, but it's probably different for some of the people behind the scenes! A lot of artists struggle with that gap between idea and execution, even when the execution is (at least to people on the outside) so close to flawless. OTGW really was like a perfect storm of a show.
Wow! To get a mention in one of my favorite newsletters, in an issue about one of my favorite shows, slotted right below one of my favorite directors -- it's an honor. Thank you for the shout out, Jules and John!
Happy to boost a fellow Substacker who's trying to build something in indie animation! It's an unforgiving road but so necessary right now. Keep it up!
I love this show. Its our 1 remaining holiday special that has survived my children's teen years. I'll never tire of it. It is brilliant. You did a great job here discussing it.
It's a wonderful series -- and it's so great that it's stayed an annual tradition after all these years! So few things manage it. Thanks very much for the kind words.
We are now watching this show and loving it. Also can’t get enough of the Timelapse of the background paintings. So much inspo there!
This is awesome to hear! Glad you're liking the series and its art -- it's all so good.
I'll have to check this out as it came LONG after my time. I'm of the cohort that watched Rocky and Bullwinkle the first night it aired and was all we could talk about the next day at school. By the second night everyone one watched it.
Curiously The Twilight Zone aired for the first time two months before. Both became must watch TV.
It's a great series that can definitely resonate across generations, even if it's done in a different style from classic shows like Rocky and Bullwinkle. (If nothing else, they both have smart writing in common.) It's amazing to hear these memories -- thank you!
It was absolutely the writing. If you look at the cartoon shows of 1958 , Mighty Mouse, Woody Woodpecker, Tom and Jerry and the like this was a quantum leap in what was presented and the credit it gave kids. Nothing came close to it. I think Fractured Fairy Tales was almost everyone's favourite and was created by Jim Henson before The Muppets became famous.
The same way The Twilight Zone stood by itself. There was something in the water in 1958. I'll have to go back and see what else may have happened then. Sputnik was 1957 so I'm not sure that counts.
Just rewatched this and was wondering about the look because I love it so much! Perfect timing for me haha. So interesting
Haha, awesome! Glad we could bring you this story at just the right time. Thank you, and happy you enjoyed it!
I was obsessed with all creatives who orbited Adventure Time, back in the day. OTGW is amazing and is an annual special in this household. :)
It's such a good show. And Adventure Time really was kind of ground zero for the next 5-10 years of American animation, and even beyond. So much talent worked on that series.
I'm surprised to learn how much leeway the staff was given for Over the Garden Wall's production. It's definitely a one-of-a-kind case unseen before that won't be seen again the current TV animation landscape (or at least not for a while). I probably should give this a rewatch.
They had a crazy amount of freedom, especially by today's standards. There were certainly notes and tweaks in the story department, but, even there, McHale has said that things were pretty straightforward. CNS was open to wild ideas back then (Adventure Time, Problem Solverz, Steven Universe, etc.), but OTGW was in many ways still an outlier. We're all really lucky that it got made.
I remember Problem Solverz fairly well. As reviled as it was in its day, you couldn't accuse it of not being unique!
Such a nice read, Chris Tsirgiotis's layouts are impressive
Thank you! And definitely -- we love his work for the show. There are a lot more like those in the OTGW artbook. A huge talent.
I didn't know the creator had problems with OTGW. As a series, I find it virtually perfect. I wish it were longer though - I remember reading that at one point they had 18 stories they wanted to tell or something, and I occasionally thought some episodes could've been split in two and expanded.
But now, I can see that if it were longer, it might've never gotten finished. Or at least come out as well animated as it did.
Yeah, we've come across the 18 figure as well -- that's likely one of McHale's concerns, that the series didn't match the longer, more winding story he imagined. The show really does feel kind of perfect as-is, but it's probably different for some of the people behind the scenes! A lot of artists struggle with that gap between idea and execution, even when the execution is (at least to people on the outside) so close to flawless. OTGW really was like a perfect storm of a show.
so cool! thank you for covering OTGW!
Happy you enjoyed the piece! This series is definitely one of our favorites of the 2010s.
I love this. Thanks for sharing. OTGW is a rare gem.
For sure -- and very glad you liked it!