No Corpse Bride or Caroline: 5 Lesser-Known Horror Animations to Watch This Halloween
Zombies, vampires, ghosts, skeletons and other animated characters for the scariest day of the year.
When Halloween comes around, everyone wants a little mystery and scary stories. And there is no better way to create a festive atmosphere than to dive into the world of animation, full of ghosts, monsters and magic.
Halloween animations are not only scary tales, but also stories that bring laughter and a little magic.
1. The Halloween Tree, 1993
Based on Ray Bradbury's novel of the same name, the animation tells the story of a group of children who embark on a journey through time to save their friend's soul. Along the way, they encounter the major elements of Halloween mythology – pumpkins, demons, witches, vampires, and even mummies.
In addition to the main traditions of the holiday, the film tackles a subject as unpopular for modern animation as death, and does so with far less sentimentality than Pixar's Coco.
2. Fear(s) of the Dark, 2007
The little-known French anthology Fear(s) of the Dark is a combination of 2D and 3D animation, each story dedicated to topics of fear, trauma, or paranoia.
The anthology is somewhat reminiscent of Netflix's Love, Death & Robots, with one difference: thanks to its black-and-white palette and surreal drawing, Fear(s) of the Dark is truly capable of scaring viewers and then haunting them in nightmares for several days. The anthology contains stories about bug people, Japanese funerals with ghosts, and even crocodiles – in general, all shades of horror for the most sophisticated.
3. Wendell & Wild, 2022
Just in time for October 31, two years ago, Netflix released an animated movie by Henry Selick – a perfect option for those who missed the work of the master of puppet animation.
The plot revolves around two demon brothers, Wendell and Wild. As events unfold, they are forced into a battle with a nun who performs exorcisms. A couple of goth teenagers help the servant of God in conducting the sessions.
4. Monster House, 2006
A haunted house is a classic setting for every other horror movie, but it is quite rare in animation. In Gil Kenan's film, the house becomes a metaphor for unconscious childhood fears, and the spooky ghost story has a completely rational psychological background.
The plot revolves around three teenagers trying to protect their neighborhood on the eve of Halloween. The problem is that the haunted house, which stands silently in the middle of the street, is capable of absorbing anyone who dares to cross its threshold. Faced with mortal danger, the kids grow closer and even find the strength to make very adult decisions.
5. ParaNorman, 2012
ParaNorman is an underrated movie from Laika, the studio behind Coraline, a company that continues to push stop-motion animation despite its absolute unprofitability.
The plot revolves around a guy named Norman who has an unusual ability: he can talk to the dead. He has to help his small town deal with an unexpected attack by otherworldly evil spirits. But here's the problem – the main enemy is not aliens from another world, but the ignorant adults with guns at the ready.