Over the Garden Wall is such a special cartoon for me, and it is unlike anything I have ever watched. Every single element of this short series plays a part in conveying a detail important to the story, whether it be the lighting in a given scene, the animation style of a setting, or the tone of the background music. Having only 10 episodes that are each about 10 minutes long, its an extremely concise yet sweet story that for me, personally, evokes a lot of nostalgia.

I would assume this series is set in a small town in the 1970s judging by the overall feel of it, specifically in the fall (which is why I always binge the episodes with my brother on Halloween). Wirt, a self-conscious, anxious high schooler and his little brother Greg, a hyper ball of energy, find themselves lost in a part of the woods called ‘The Unknown’. In an attempt to try to get back home, they embark on a journey with the help of a pure-hearted yet deceiving bluebird named Beatrice. They meet many people with diverse origins and mindsets along the way, but trust becomes a dangerous game as the band struggles to avoid an evil spirit known as ‘The Beast’.

This cartoon grapples with topics such as moving on, feeling like you don’t fit in, self acceptance and feeling confident/comfortable about who you are, etc. It indirectly gave me a lot of insight on the existence of different personalities in the real world, and how you should be selective of the people you choose to surround yourself with and avoid. I was also reminded that just because individuals may find it hard to open up or express their feelings, it doesn’t mean that they don’t have good intentions; they’ll always support you. The story makes me appreciate how lucky I am to have true friends and family who love me, and reassures me that I’m not alone in trying to figure out exactly who I am.

Despite all of these heavy topics that can be interpreted from this series, it is a roller coaster of emotions suitable for all ages that never ceases to pull on my heartstrings and sense of attachment.

So, given that the plot is so amazingly thought out and the animation as a whole is absolutely beautiful, I would never not recommend this journey of a cartoon to anyone.

Over the Garden Wall available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.