The Hotel Transylvania Series - A Look Back

 

 It's common place now days to get just as many Halloween movies for kids and families as it is to get horror movies for adults. Less common however are for them to become franchises. There are some exceptions, and one of the biggest to take on a life all its own was the "Hotel Transylvania" franchise. 

It began as a simple little animated Adam Sandler comedy for kids, and then it took off with multiple sequels, spin-offs and TV shows. As someone who loves consuming Halloween specials and the like, I wanted to look through the series from start to finish and see where each instalment lands with me.

  

 “Hotel Transylvania” (2012) 

  With all the really dark and scary Halloween films like “ParaNorman” and “Coraline”, it’s nice to know that kids have alternatives in the form of films like “Hotel Transylvania”. The story revolves around Count Dracula as he’s built a safe haven for all the classic monsters, but his daughter Mavis wants to see the world, and when a young human boy stumbles into monster land ... an unexpected romance is born, and it’s one energized situation after another as the Count tries to maintain peace in his castle. This movie has got just about everything ... funny moments, touching moments, colorful characters, terrific animation, lots of energy, upbeat music, and a location that’s just drenched in Halloween goodness.

      Dracula's daughter Mavis has a secure spot as one of my favorite new animated Halloween characters, and the rest of the cast play their parts great. It may be overshadowed by other Halloween films that are a pinch more adult, but I hope more people discover this film. It really is a gem, and a good one to share with kids. On my personal Halloween re-watch scale, I give the original “Hotel Transylvania” a perfect 10/10.     

“Goodnight Mr. Foot” (2012)

 The first DVD of “Hotel Transylvania” came complete with a traditionally animated short film titled “Goodnight Mr. Foot”, which revolves around Big Foot trying to get some sleep in his hotel room, but is constantly disturbed by an overly excited Witch maid. It’s a cute little short episode, well animated, and gives a small taste of the expanded potential for the “Hotel Transylvania” setting. I probably wouldn't have given it a second thought, but since it's joined at the hip with the first, I don't mind looking back on it for light comfort food. On my personal Halloween re-watch scale, I give “Goodnight Mr. Foot” a more then generous 6/10.

"Hotel Transylvania 2" (2015)

In 2015, there was the first theatrical sequel titled “Hotel Transylvania 2”, and I found this to be a half-way decent sequel, as it recaptured some of the charm from its predecessor, but not all of it. Following the events of the first film, Mavis and Johnny get married and have a new baby boy named Little Denise. Since he’s the child of a human and a vampire, there’s a clash between Dracula and Mavis as to whether Little Denise should live among people or monsters. In the plus column, this is a proper progression of the story, and the characters haven’t lost an ounce of their charismatic charms. Unfortunately, while this sequel still captured the heart of the first film, it for some reason failed to get me in the mood for Halloween like its predecessor did. I think a lot of that has to do with the characters being outside of the hotel for most of the movie. Personally, I think the best parts of “Hotel Transylvania 2” come at both the opening and closing acts of the film, while the middle half just seems to meander around, and get lost in some cringe worthy jokes.

Still, even with my reservations, this film had more than enough highlights. I love the opening wedding scene, especially this one moment in which Dracula and Mavis share a father/daughter dance on the ceiling by a giant chandelier. I also enjoyed the climax, in which we see humans and monsters team up to battle an army of evil Gargoyle looking creatures. My favorite thing I took from this movie was actually Little Denise’s sweet relationship with the little Werewolf girl Wendy, whose voiced again by Adam Sandler's eldest daughter Sadie Sandler. 

While their scenes are brief, every moment they share together is absolutely precious, and it’s just great to see more of that little Werewolf girl. I also liked the inclusion of The Phantom of the Opera, who was sorely missing from the first film, and I really liked the addition of Mel Brooks as the voice of Dracula’s father Vlad. I grew up loving Mel Brooks comedies, and ever since he stopped directing, I always look forward to him making appearances in other comedy projects like this film. Although, for some people, having Mel Brooks voice a Dracula-esk character may bring back bad memories of his final comedy, and biggest critical failure called “Dracula Dead and Loving It”. Overall, I don't return to this film quiet as often as the first, but I'd certainly place it among Adam Sandler's better movies, and I'm glad I have this sequel as an option to return to every couple Halloween seasons. On my personal Halloween re-watch scale, I give “Hotel Transylvania 2” a decent 8/10.     

  

“Hotel Transylvania: The Series” (2017-2020)

2017 marked the premier of a 2D animated “Hotel Transylvania” TV series, which focuses on Mavis in her younger teenage years at the hotel. The show ran for two seasons, with a total of 52 episodes, and four shorts. Full disclosure, I haven't watched this show and have no real desire to view the whole thing. While I love the movie, I'm content to let the show appeal to its target audience. All that being said, I did watch their special Halloween episode titled “The Legend of Pumpkin Guts”, and that was kind of amusing. In a clever twist, Halloween night is a dangerous time for monsters, but Mavis and company are eager to venture out and discover the joy of Trick R' Treating. Participating in a human pass time for Halloween is where all the trouble comes in, as it unleashes a giant pumpkin creature hellbent on transforming all other monsters into Jack O’ Lanterns. It’s about as crazy as it sounds, but still kind of clever, and bursting with decorative Halloween animation. In general, I adore Halloween specials that make Trick R' Treat the main focus, and it made this a welcome add on to the franchise. While I can't rate the series as a whole, I can say that for my personal Halloween re-watch scale, I give the stand-alone episode “The Legend of Pumpkin Guts” a worthy 7/10.  

“Puppy!” (2017)

Also, in 2017 there was yet another short film simply titled “Puppy!”, which revolved around Dracula getting a giant dog for his grandson. It had a higher animation budget then the first short, with equal quality CGI to the movies, and even brought back the full cast. It's harmless enough, although very forgettable in the long run, and isn't one I actively seek to re-watch. More to the point, the short ended with Dracula stating that “he needs a vacation”. In short, this was a set-up for yet another theatrical sequel ... as for this short, on my personal Halloween re-watch scale, I give “Puppy” a dismissive 4/10.

“Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation” (2018)

The following summer of 2018 saw the release of “Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation”, the first non-Halloween-esk instalment of the series. I was very concerned when I saw both the ads and marketing for this film, as I feared the series may be going the rout of the “Ice Age” movies, and just producing sequels with no thought or care. Well, I still gave it a chance, and thankfully to my surprise, I really didn’t hate this film at all, in fact it was perfectly passable. Granted, this film did even less to put me in the Halloween mood than its predecessor, which is no surprise considering that it’s summer themed, but the same charm and appeal of these characters, and this universe is still intact. I still love the feel of these terrific characters coming together, Mavis hasn’t lost an ounce of her charm, the relation between the two little kids Denis and Werewolf Wendy is still very cute, and Dracula even gets a good character arc falling in love with the doubter of his oldest human adversary Van Helsing. The animation once again looks great, there’s occasional highlights, and some funny gags. The downside is that the plot is very one note, predictable, and like with its predecessor, this film meanders around with detours that overstay their welcome. In the end, I coasted on a single viewing for this film and I probably won’t be re-watching this one, the same way I do with the first or even second, but I was at least happy that after three films, these characters still hold my attention, and it was fine to go on another goofy venture with them. On my personal Halloween re-watch scale, I give “Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation” a split 5/10.        

   

"Monster Pets" (2021)

 Of course, things never stay away for too long, and in 2021, a new animated short was released theatrically titled "Monster Pets", which continued the goofy antics of Dracula and his giant pet dog. The only difference this time is the addition of new monster themed pets that Dracula finds himself looking after. Honestly, this short is so similar to the previous short that the two blend together in my mind, and my feelings aren't all that different. On my personal Halloween re-watch scale, I give “Monster Pets” another dismissive 4/10. 

 

"Hotel Transylvania: Transformania" (2022)

With the franchise putting a foot hold in the 2020's, it was time for a fourth sequel in 2022 titled "Hotel Transylvania: Transformania" ... and at this point, I'm convinced the series will probably go on until the sun burns out. In this instalment, Dracula is ready to hand the deed of the hotel over to his daughter, but he still has reservations about his son-in-law. Johnny likewise feels he'll never get the Counts blessing as long as he remains human. Thus, through a series of events, Johnny is suddenly transformed into a monster, while Dracula and the others are accidently transformed into humans. A quest is soon underway, as they seek a magic stone that can reverse their conditions, all while character bonding, and goofy hijinks ensue along the way. As expected, this sequel once again feels less like a Halloween special but succeeds in capturing the spirit of a family friendly adventure film. The plot also retreads many beasts from the first two films, but I still found this sequel a pinch better than the previous "Summer Vacation". While it threatens to buckle under its silly tone, hyper fast motion, and Johnny's irritating quirks, this fourth instalment once again maintains the overall charm of the series and gives its characters some great moments to shine. Mavis especially gets a great action scene during the climax, in which she has to avoid the sun, while also trying to rescue her husband from becoming a mindless dragon. Most of the cast remains the same, all except for Adam Sandler. This time Dracula was voiced by Brian Hull, who did an excellent job recapturing Adam Sandler's energy, charm and voice ... to the point where I barely even noticed a difference. Even though "Transformania" isn't on par with the first two, it was still another okay sequel. On my personal Halloween re-watch scale, I give “Hotel Transylvania: Transformania” a generous 6/10.   

 In the end, I feel the series can finally stop, because there's only so much of a good thing that I can take. That being said, there are still plans for more movies, short films and even more TV shows on the way ... so, I'll just have to pick and choose which one's appeal to me as they come along. I still love the first "Hotel Transylvania", will gladly return to it for many Halloweens to come, and the sequels have been passable one-off experiences. If any of them look good to you, be sure to check them out for yourself.    

Thanks for reading my look back at the “Hotel Transylvania” franchise ... and continue to make every day in October feel like Halloween! 

Horror of Dracula (1958) (Movie Review)

 

 When it comes to famous names in the history of Horror, Count Dracula has survived through the ages as one of the most famous, and one who’s had quite a legacy on screen. One of the Counts most classic and acclaimed movies was the 1958 British Picture “Dracula”, which outside of Europe is better known as “Horror of Dracula”. Following after the B-Sci-Fi movie boom of the 1950’s, Brittens Hammer Horror Studio brought back the classic monsters in a new colorful makeover, and by extent helped the genre find its roots again. “Horror of Dracula” was one of the first, marking Count Dracula’s first appearance in color, and more importantly … the first time he’d be played by Christopher Lee, who’d go on to portray the character in more films than any other actor.

 Loosely based on Bram Stokers original novel, this version of the tale opens with Jonathan Harker arriving at a remote castle in Germany and is posing as a librarian to one Count Dracula. In reality, he’s there to kill a vampire, and knows of Dracula’s dark secret. His first attempt to slay Dracula culminates in the death of his vampire bride, and his own demise being transformed into an undead creature of the night. With the loss of his titular Queen, Dracula seeks out Harker’s extended family to find himself a new bride. Meanwhile, Harker’s mentor, Doctor Abraham Van Helsing picks up the trail and aims to put a stop to Dracula’s reign of terror, before he can take another innocent life. Similar to Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 picture “The Shining”, this film strays from its literary source material, but it hasn’t impeded its status as a classic. In truth, this is neither the most technically impressive, nor even the most frightening telling of the Dracula tale … but I’d argue it’s the classiest.

 Most of the films appeal comes from director Terence Fishers’ sense of grandeur and Gothic aesthetic. The other half of the film’s strength comes from its cast, with Peter Cushing’s effortless class in the leading role of Van Helsing carrying the bulk of the film’s energy and intrigue. 

At the time, Peter Cushing was most famous for his portrayals of Sherlock Holmes and the mad Doctor Frenkenstien, and he brings the same conviction to Van Helsing. Even after he memorably appeared in “Star Wars”, his screen appearance as Van Helsing remains my personal favorite of Peter Cushings career. Acting at his side is Michael Gough as Arthur Holmwood, a sceptic to Van Helsings talks of vampires, but eventually becomes his partner in battling Dracula in order to protect his family. Michael Gough would of course famously serve a man who adorns the look of a bat in Tim Burton’s 1989 classic “Batman”, so it’s cool to see him in this early picture, facing another famous creature of the night. Once again, he brings a good deal of sophistication to the film, and when paired with Peter Cushing, they are perfect at making the mundane exciting.

 Most of the film’s vampire action, and even Dracula himself, are utilized sparingly, which is why this cast was so important to sustaining a tight pace, when there’s very little action in the narrative. 

Naturally, the main appeal of the film is Christopher Lee in his iconic debut as Dracula. While Bela Lugosi’s 1931 “Dracula” classic set the iconic templet of the character, Christopher Lee’s portrayal likewise achieved legendary status as one of the great villains in horror cinema. He’s so commanding in the role, and when he struts about in his long cape, he gives off this presence like he’s the one and only Dracula. His introduction scene as the count is charming and benevolent, without a trace of what one would expect from a traditional Dracula performance. It makes for a sharp contrast for when the switch goes off, and he becomes a ravage beast of the night. He’s faster, deadlier, sinister and just plain awesome in the role, making him one of the definitive Dracula’s, and my personal favorite Vampire performance in the movies.

 Naturally, being the first colored Dracula film, it marked the first to feature blood. Thankfully, as far as this first instalment is concerned, the gore is used sparingly and is mainly present in the iconography of Dracula’s bloody fangs. Also, despite featuring vampires, this first film curiously decides to ground its supernatural elements with limitations. Dracula can’t fly, climb walls or transform into bats, which may be off-putting for some fans. In the plus column, this film takes an intriguing approach with the Vampire victims, and how they treat their afflictions like drug attics hopelessly drawn to something that’s slowly killing them. For me, the creepiest part of the whole film is when Aunt Lucy embraces her vampire transformation and proceeds to draw her little niece out into the woods for a late-night snake.

 For all the eerie moments in the film, there’s also a reserved sense of hummer too. One scene features a mortician recounting in a humorous quip how an old man took a fatal tumble while visiting – “He came to pay his respects … and remained to share them”. To reiterate, there isn’t much action on the surface, but the film is tightly paced and structured in a way that keeps me engaged. When something exciting happens, it pops, and the final battle between Dracula and Van Helsing remains one of the best of the genre. Seeing Van Helsing put two rods together to form a cross has become an iconic visual replicated in several vampire movies to follow. While the novel depicted the Count perishing after being stabbed by knives, this film features Dracula slowly melting away in the sunlight. For a late 1950’s picture, it’s an extraordinary death scene.

 On the topic of comparisons to the book, many of the established characters are present in name, but the relationships are all switched around, while other characters are heavily altered. 

The character of Jonathan Harker and events sounding him in the film are the biggest deviations from the book. Also, Dracula’s famous servant Renfield is absent all together. Perhaps the most curious deviation is switching the location of Dracula's castle from Transylvania to Germany ... maybe for closer proximity for the characters to travel, which for the sake of the film tightens the narrative. Again, this film is far from a faithful book adaption … but it makes up for it with a stealer presentation. The gothic scenery, captivating period setting and set design were all elevated above the original classics, and the overall tone is perfect. The film finds the perfect middle ground, with gore and sensuality present without being over kill … unlike the majority of its sequels and successors.

 This film kicked off a massive franchise, with nine sequels, seven of which featured Christopher Lee back in his signature role. 

My personal favorite is the third sequel from 1968 titled “Dracula has Risen from the Grave”, which by extent is probably my personal favorite Dracula movie. Outside of this series, Lee portrayed the titular Vampire King in a number of other films, including a second book adaption in 1970 titled “Count Dracula”, which was closer to the original text, but not as memorable a movie. By contrast, 1958’s “Horror of Dracula” remains one of the best and most classic of Dracula’s theatrical offerings. Many have debated this version as superior to the original 1933 classic. Regardless of which one you prefer, this film is one of the rare horror remakes that’s earned its status as a classic in its own right and was one of the absolute best Horror movies of the 1950's. Personally, it's remained a favorite of mine, and I give it a stamp of recommendation to any long-time Dracula or Vampire movie fan.

Thanks for reading my review of the 1958 Horror movie classic “Dracula” or “Horror of Dracula” … and continue to enjoy the movies you Love!   

 

My Top 10 Animated Halloween Disney Channel Episodes

 

 For every TV series I grew up with or still watch today, I always look forward to the annual Halloween episode. It’s a special time when a familiar TV program can get a dark makeover and swim with the best of what my favorite holiday has to offer. 

A while back I ranked my favorite live-action Disney Channel Halloween themed episodes, and being a completionist … I figured it was time to go animated with my next countdown. Just like before, I’m not trying to make any official “best of list”, I’m just singling out my own personal favorite Halloween themed or Spooky themed episodes from Disney channels animated programs that have still stuck with me long after I stopped watching their respected shows. 

I’ll only have one episode per series, and they need to originate from Disney, as opposed to being purchased by them along the way (no Simpsons or Spider-Man for this list). With that said, here are my personal, Top 10 Favorite animated Halloween episodes from Disney channel productions.

 

#10 “Halloween with Hades” from “House of Mouse” (Season three, Episode 49) 

In this animated Disney crossover series, Mickey Mouse hosts his own night club, which is frequently visited by classic animated Disney characters. Halloween naturally is a great time for villains to appear, and for this occasion, the Lord of the Underworld himself - Hades - finds himself smitten with none other than the Mistress of all Evill - Maleficent. Despite being an A-list Disney villain, Hades still has a long way to go before impressing the likes of Maleficent, forcing him to call on Mickey for guidance. 

Through many hurdles, and funny situations, Hades and Maleficent finally come together and begin a relationship. It would have been amusing as a one-off Halloween event, but it’s become cannon of sorts, with several other Disney movies, specials and games highlighting Hades and Maleficent as a romantic couple … and it all started here with this silly but fun little Halloween crossover. 

 

#9 “Hallow-Weenies” from “Goof Troop” (Season 1, Episode 35) 

When greedy neighbor Pete acquires a deserted old mansion for a potential hotel, the boys Max and PJ think it’ll make for a fun Halloween adventure to go exploring the mysterious structure. The kids get more than they bargained for, as they find themselves at the mercy of some troublesome ghosts. Soon, their parents Goofy and Pete arrive at the scene to rescue the kids, only to be captured by the spooks themselves. 

After several failed attempts to drive the phantoms out of the house, the last hope comes in the form of Goofy’s late ancestor, who arrives on the scene as a spiritual manifestation, with information on how to be rid of troublesome ghosts. Disney channel Halloween specials were usually pretty basic, but this one has great detail on display, and swims in its holiday. 

There’s even a top tear opening title card, which is matched with a rapid-fire montage of decorative Halloween images flying at the screen. While the concept of kids trapped in a haunted house on Halloween has been done to death … and will continue to appear on this countdown, this episode at least executes its premise effectively and is just a fun little October adventure.

 

#8 “October 31^st” from “Kim Possible” (Season One, Episode 14) 

Good old Kim Possible, the fan favorite show about a teenage highschooler who doubles as a superhero spy, battling evil scientists and the like. While her Halloween episode has one of the dumbest and laziest episode titles … “October 31^st” … it at least has a unique premise. A busy schedule on Halloween night is forcing Kim to lie to various people about her real party intentions. 

That’s bad on principle, but the situation is elevated with a mysterious metal bracelet, which gradually covers more of her body in metal with each lie. The more it covers her, the more it acts like a weaponized body suit, which gets the attention of multiple villains … in short, it’s going to be a wild Halloween night. Naturally, dressing in costumes is a staple of the event, and having the focus on a suit that transforms the wearer is a clever concept.  

 

#7 “Ghost of a Chance” from “Chip N’ Dale: Rescue Rangers” (Season 2, Episode 9) 

Back when I was just a little kid in the early 90’s and grew up with the Disney Channel, my favorite program by far was “Chip N’ Dale: Rescue Rangers”. Regrettably, they never had a specific Halloween themed episode, but they did at least have a number of spooky adventures that could pass for one. A personal favorite of mine is the season two venture titled “Ghost of a Chance” in which the team’s strongest member Monterey Jack meets the ghost of his great ancestor and must do a brave deed in order to save his trapped soul. 

What follows is an exciting venture into a spooky castle, a battle with a giant ghost-cat monster, and a confrontation with the show’s best villain Fat Cat. The castle setting gives the episode its atmosphere, and there’s even a tense climax with our hero’s caught in a slow-moving death trap. This episode also has a humble message about concurring one’s fear, and it’s cool to have a supernatural venture with a Ghost that needs to redeem himself for past failures.

 

#6 “Spooky” from “Lilo and Stitch: The Series” (Season 1, Episode 5) 

As a continuation from the classic Disney movie of the same name, “Lilo & Stitch: The Series” follows the duo as they discover more of Stitch’s alien relatives, who’ve been scattered across Hawii. On Halloween night, a new alien arrives on the scene with the fitting ability to take on the appearance of one’s greatest fear and spreads panic across their island home. Naturally, Lilo and Stitch set off on an all-night venture to stop the rouge experiment and face their personal haunts along the way. 

The message is predictable but earned, and the execution of the premise meets all the charming standards of the series. The highlight for me being Lilo’s choice of costume … a princess with an axe in her head … that’s a perfect example of why Lilo is one of Disney’s all-time great child characters. Also, since I’m posting this in October 2026 … rest in peace Daveigh Chase, who’d been the voice and spirit of Lilo since the original animated classic back in 2002. 

 

#5 The Phineas and Ferb Halloween collection 

Okay … so, I’m cheating on this one, but it’s the one case in which I couldn’t single out one episode, especially since it’s an anthology series with segments ranging from fifteen to thirty minuet episodes. The show follows two siblings who are determined to make the most fun out of their Sumer experiences … and their just as determined to make the most of Halloween when it annually rolls around. 

Many of the episodes are “Spooky” themed, dealing with the possibilities of turning into a vampire or saving the neighborhood from experiments gone wrong. Sometimes it’s a little more out of the norm, like retelling the story of “Frankenstein”, with the shows leads in the roles and an obviously lean on cartoon antics. My personal favorites were the episodes set on the holiday itself, with haunted houses and Trick R’ Treating at the center.  

I suppose my highest recommended episode is “One Good Scare Ought to Do It!” from Season One, which featured Phineas building a make-shift spooky house in his back yard to impress his friend Isabella. This is simply a classic episode of the series, with some of the funniest jokes and the songs are fantastic. Actually, you can cherry pick any one of the Phineas and Ferb Halloween episodes and it’s a decent treat to go along with the season.

 

#4 “The Boy Who Cried Ghost” from “Quack Pack” (Season 1, Episode 28) 

Now, unlike “Chip N’ Dale: Rescue Rangers”, I was never really a fan of “Quack Pack”. Having said that, whenever the Disney channel had a marathon of all their Halloween episodes, it was the “Quack Pack” episode “The Boy Who Cried Ghost” that always stood out as a personal favorite of mine. While Donald Duck escorts his nephews to a Halloween dance, the always troublesome Dewey is driving everyone crazy with his spooky pranks. His antics lead to a car crash, forcing them to stay the night at a mysterious old house. 

The place turns out to be the home of classic Halloween monsters including a vampire, a werewolf, a zombie and a ghost who all aim to scare the new arrivals to death … and their serious about that “death” part. With no-one believing him, Dewey has to utilize all his prankster skills to protect his family from the monsters. This episode boasts some quality animation, lots of great Halloween visuals, and even some really funny jokes. One of my favorite gags revolves around Dewey’s “tough conscience”. Needless to say, this episode has been ingrained in my mind as a personal animated Halloween staple.

 

#3 “Eye of the Beholder” from “Gargoyles” (Season 2, Episode 7) 

It’s not uncommon for superhero shows to have Halloween themed episodes, but I think that the Gargoyles lend themselves to the season better than any of them. If you’re unfamiliar with “Gargoyles”, the show revolves around stone warriors brought to life every night to protect New York City from any dangers it may face. On Halloween night, danger comes in the form of a savage Werewolf monster, which has gotten the attention of the human detective Elisa and our heroic Gargoyles. 

However, there’s more to this beast than meets the eye, as it’s soon revealed to be the wife of our hero’s human enemy David Xanatos. Now in order to save her from this monstrous form, enemies must put their feuds aside and work together. Complimenting the Halloween event is an overarching theme of the metaphorical masks one conceals themselves in from others. For fans of the show, this episode offers great character interaction and development, while casual viewers looking for a cool Halloween episode will be pleased with all the exciting monster action on display. 

This episode also knows how to take full advantage of its Halloween setting, with decorative scene transitions and other special novelties. A standout moment is when the Gargoyle leader Goliath gets to have a dance with his female human friend Elisa, who just happens to be wearing Bells yellow dress from “Beauty and the Beast” … very nice touch. 

 

#2 “The Trickening” from “DuckTales” 

The new “DuckTales” is one of those animated Disney programs that took me by surprise, as it channeled all-age comedy, with a slightly mature edge that wasn’t as commonplace in their programs. The thought of this show having a Halloween adventure got me very excited, and it didn’t disappoint. 

Scrooge McDucks four kids Huey, Dewey, Webby, and Louie set-off to go trick r’ treating, only for Louie to lead the group into a creepy old house, where he thinks he’ll find mountains of candy left behind by frightened kids. Naturally, the house is haunted, and the kids find themselves trapped, with a number of horrific obstacles threatening to scare them … to death. The premise may sound very formulaic, especially when compared to the previously mentioned episodes, but this one transcends its premise, and gives us more twists and turns, with a genuinely dark edge. 

In a fun twist, the haunts were all staged by the classic monsters in the vein of the Wereduck, Witch Hazel, Nosferatu, and Frankenstein, who’ve lost the ability to scare kids, and thus are resorting to contemporary scares. It becomes a fun game of “name that horror movie”, with visual references to “Poltergeist”, “The Ring”, Steven Kings “IT”, “Dead Silence”, and especially “The Shining” … which is utilized brilliantly in the final shot. 

Another funny joke revolves around Donald Duck and his sister Della, who are dressed as an angel and devil, and they amusingly act out their characteristics. Finally, this is a gorgeous looking episode, with phenomenal details, atmospheric lighting, twisted angels, and elaborate backdrops. It’s a solid, spooky Halloween adventure that packs all the wright chills, visuals, and laughs in one tight package.         

 

There were a number of great shows and episodes to pull from, and unfortunately, I only have so much room for one list. So, before I reveal my number one favorite animated Halloween Disney Channel episode, here are some quick Honorable Mentions …

The Little Mermaid – The Series: “The Island of Fear”

Quack Pack: “Cat & louse”

The Proud Family: “A Hero for Halloween”

Timon and Pumbaa: “Jamaica Mistake?”

Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure’s: “The Wrath of Ruthless Ruth”

 

#1 “Summerween” from “Gravity Falls” (Season 1, Episode 12) 

This series revolves around a pair of siblings who spend the Summer investigating paranormal oddities in their local town. While the series is set during the summer time, the people of Gravity Falls love the holiday so much that they celebrate it twice, and one of the events is during the summer in which it’s lovingly called Summerween. That premise alone is ingenious and makes me wish I could have grown up in that town. The lead Brother named Dipper is ready to grow up and spend Halloween with the older guys as opposed to his sister Mable, who still wants to Trick R’ Treat. 

This causes a rift between the two and to make matters worse, the kids are soon chased by a deadly entity called The Trickster … who threatens to harm all who don’t keep the holiday spirit alive. The details in this episode are great as it creates a perfect Halloween atmosphere and feels like a Holiday special I’d watch yearly around the season. The back story behind the Trickster is brilliant, the spooky action sequences are great, and there’s yet another really sweet sibling story going on between Mable and Dipper. 

More than anything, I love that this episode actually features kids trick r’ treating, which is a charm lacking in so many other Halloween episodes. This is one special that just seems to combine everything I love in one perfect package, including nostalgic childhood ties to the season, a mythos surrounding a mysterious creature, thrilling monster action and no shortage of funny jokes. “Summerween” is a solid treat for the season and personally my all-time favorite Halloween themed episode I’ve ever seen from any animated Disney Channel TV series.

Thanks for reading my countdown, share some of the animated Halloween episodes you’re fond of (Disney or not) ... and continue to enjoy the Halloween specials you love!